Senior Controls & Robotics Engineer

Aalo Atomics•Austin, TX

7d•Onsite

About The Position

As a Senior Controls & Robotics Engineer at Aalo Atomics, you will design and build the automated and semi-automated manufacturing lines that produce our modular nuclear reactors. You will architect control systems from the ground up, program PLCs and HMIs, integrate robotic cells and motion systems, and commission production equipment on the factory floor. This is a senior technical role responsible for defining Aalo's factory automation strategy and delivering production-ready manufacturing systems from concept through high-rate operation.

Requirements

Bachelor's degree in Electrical Engineering, Controls Engineering, Mechatronics, or related discipline
7+ years of hands-on experience in industrial controls engineering, automation, or robotics integration
Expert-level PLC programming (Structured Text, Ladder Logic, Function Block) and/or IPCs on at least one major platform (Rockwell, Siemens, or Beckhoff)
Experience with HMI/SCADA development (FactoryTalk, Ignition, TIA Portal, or similar)
Hands-on experience commissioning automated production equipment through FAT/SAT and production ramp
Solid understanding of servo/motion control and industrial robotics integration
Working knowledge of industrial safety standards and safety PLC programming
Experience doing safety risk assessments for automated processes and building in safeguards that minimize risks to safety
Track record of independently delivering automation systems from concept through production handoff
Applicants must be authorized to work in the U.S. without the need for visa sponsorship now or in the future.
Based in the United States
Willing to work on-site in Austin, TX
Applicants must be U.S. Citizens or U.S. Persons in compliance with 10 CFR Part 810 and may not hold non-compliant foreign citizenships.

Nice To Haves

Experience in nuclear, aerospace, defense, or other highly regulated manufacturing environments
Experience integrating controls with MES/ERP platforms
Experience with IPCs for use in automation and control
Background in automated welding systems (orbital TIG, electron beam, laser)
Experience in a greenfield or major capital-project factory buildout
Knowledge of IEC 61131-3 programming best practices and ISA-88 batch standards
TÜV Functional Safety Engineer (FSEng) or CFSE certification
Experience building controls standards and templates for multi-line factory deployments
Experience developing tech packages for industrial robots (Kuka, Fanuc, ABB)
Experience integrating robotics with CNC equipment
Experience with offline robot programming and virtual commissioning simulations
Background in routine robot data acquisition and analysis
Prior experience in a vertically integrated hardware company where engineers build what they design
Experience writing code (Python, C++, Rust) and ability to utilize AI effectively
Strong communication skills to convey technical reasoning and mission-critical messaging clearly

Responsibilities

Design and architect PLC/HMI-based control systems for automated and semi-automated manufacturing lines (welding, machining, assembly, material handling, inspection)
Develop and program PLC logic (Rockwell/Allen-Bradley, Siemens, Beckhoff, or similar), HMI screens, and SCADA systems
Specify and select instrumentation, sensors, actuators, drives, motion control systems, safety devices, and industrial networking hardware
Integrate robotic systems (articulated arms, cobots, gantries) into manufacturing cells with appropriate safety protocols.
Commission and validate production equipment on the factory floor — from FAT/SAT through full production handoff
Develop system functional specifications, control narratives, I/O lists, network architecture drawings, and panel design packages
Implement industrial communication networks (EtherNet/IP, EtherCAT, PROFINET, OPC-UA, MQTT, Modbus)
Design safety systems in compliance with relevant machine safety standards (NFPA 79, ISO 13849, IEC 62443)
Collaborate with MES/IT teams on data acquisition, recipe management, and production traceability systems
Drive schedule and throughput on automation equipment — identify risks early, solve problems fast, and keep commissioning milestones on track
Develop and document standards in the factory for robot programming, PLC/Robot communications, safety systems, wiring and pneumatics.
Troubleshoot complex electromechanical systems and drive root cause analysis for production issues
Mentor junior controls engineers and technicians; establish controls standards and templates for factory-wide deployment and maintenance