Senior Controls Engineer

Commonwealth Fusion Systems•Devens, MA

2d•Onsite

About The Position

Commonwealth Fusion Systems is seeking a Senior Controls Engineer to support the development of commercially viable fusion power plants and manufacturing and test equipment. The role independently owns execution approaches for complex machine and process concepts, creates detailed work plans and milestones, helps define department-wide processes, and provides technical leadership and mentorship. The engineer leads equipment conceptual development and serves as the Responsible Engineer for complex equipment assets or SCADA modules, overseeing deployment through commissioning and stabilization. The role develops system architectures and electrical schematics, writes and debugs PLC structured text, diagnoses systemic equipment failures, and leads root cause analyses. It also defines vendor requirements and documentation, contributes to department policies and tools, and helps characterize automated processes using data-driven methods. This position requires a bachelor's degree in an engineering field and at least seven years of controls-engineering experience on complex electro-mechanical systems. The work may involve occasional travel, nights, weekends, or on-call coverage, and requires compliance with U.S. export control laws. Salary is $134,000–$205,000, plus equity and benefits; actual compensation depends on level, location, qualifications, and experience.

Requirements

Bachelor's degree in an engineering field.
At least 7 years of experience as a controls engineer working on complex electro-mechanical systems.
Mastery of programming and troubleshooting automation controllers in all IEC 61131-3 designated languages.
Ability to apply sound reasoning and considerable judgment in ambiguous situations where decisions affect large portions of a project.
Experience with control-reliable safety systems compliant with ANSI/RIA R15.06 and OSHA.
Expertise in enclosure design compliant with NFPA 79, NEC, and UL 508A.
Reliable, persistent work ethic and determination to complete tasks amid uncertainty and failure.
Familiarity with rotating machinery, cable winding, soldering, and/or pipe bending.
Experience collaborating with job shops and external vendors.
High self-motivation and drive to execute quickly, with strong troubleshooting and problem-solving skills.
Commitment to design for manufacturability, serviceability, and simplicity.
Ability to lift up to 50 pounds occasionally.
Ability to type, stand, stoop, and sit for extended periods.
Commitment to safety when working around potential hazards including heat, cold, noise, fumes, strong magnets, lead, high voltage, and cryogenics.
Willingness to travel occasionally or work required nights, weekends, or on-call.
Ability to comply with U.S. laws concerning export-controlled or protected technologies and information.

Nice To Haves

Experience with Beckhoff and Siemens controls platforms.
Experience with Ignition SCADA systems.
Experience integrating equipment data into SCADA or data systems, such as IO-Link or MQTT.
Machine vision experience.
Greenfield or brownfield startup commissioning experience.
Expertise in CAD drafting, specifically AutoCAD Electrical.

Responsibilities

Lead initial equipment conceptual development, balancing product specifications, process control requirements, layout complexity, and lead-time limits.
Act as Responsible Engineer for complex equipment assets or SCADA modules, managing deployment through commissioning and post-commissioning stabilization.
Diagnose complex systemic equipment failures on the production floor and lead formal root cause analyses to deliver long-term solutions.
Provide technical leadership on medium- to long-term problems and share expertise beyond the immediate group.
Create and approve robust system architectures and electrical schematics compliant with NFPA 79, NEC, and UL 508A standards, designed for modularity and reuse.
Write and debug organized, documented, maintainable, and reusable PLC structured text.
Define technical requirements and documentation packages for external equipment vendors and integrators.
Contribute to department policies, tool development, and data-driven characterization of automated processes, including methods such as Cpk and Gage R&R.
Influence cross-functional peers and build alignment using data and rationale.
Help onboard peers and formally mentor junior colleagues.
Identify and mitigate low- and medium-level risks, and identify larger risks and propose solutions to management.