Senior/Staff Automation Controls Engineer
About The Position
Heron Power is a startup building power electronics for the modern grid, including converters that connect large-scale renewable energy, storage, and loads to the grid. The company aims to enable high-volume, capital-efficient manufacturing of advanced energy systems through robust automation and controls. The Automation Controls Engineer will own control systems for custom manufacturing equipment, define controls architecture, set the technical direction, and help ensure systems deliver precision, reliability, safety, and throughput at scale. This is a hands-on role focused on building robust, maintainable control systems for manufacturing operations.
Requirements
- Bachelor’s degree in Electrical Engineering, Mechatronics, Controls Engineering, or a related field.
- 7+ years of experience in industrial automation, with a focus on safety systems and controls engineering.
- Expert-level PLC programming proficiency across multiple platforms, specifically Siemens TIA Portal.
- Strong command of Ladder Logic, Structured Text, and SFC/GRAPH.
- Extensive experience with 6-axis robots, gantry systems, and inspection methods.
- Subject matter expertise in evolving safety standards and technologies.
- Deep experience with risk assessments and functional safety validation.
- Experience with high-volume manufacturing process equipment such as fastening, dispensing, thermal processes, laser welding, material handling, and inspection systems.
- Willingness to work in a hands-on role.
- Excellent communication and interpersonal skills.
- Ability to work independently and as part of a team.
- Strong problem-solving skills and attention to detail.
Nice To Haves
- Beckhoff TwinCAT experience.
- Functional safety certification.
- Deep expertise in vision inspection systems.
- Experience with electrical design following UL508 and NFPA79.
- Fanuc robot programming.
- Established strategic relationships with equipment suppliers across power electronics, battery pack, drive unit, general assembly, and other high-volume, high-tech manufacturing domains.
Responsibilities
- Define controls architecture for factories, including platforms, devices, safety systems, and communication protocols.
- Lead virtual commissioning to simulate, test, and validate controls logic before deployment.
- Design, program, and commission in-house control systems for custom manufacturing equipment.
- Write clean, scalable, maintainable control code designed for flexibility and reuse.
- Set up industrial robots, including programming, safety zoning, and cycle optimization.
- Conduct risk assessments and hazard analyses and develop mitigation strategies for new and existing automation cells.
- Troubleshoot controls-related issues and drive resolution on the production floor.
- Manage supplier controls performance to ensure alignment with system requirements, quality standards, and safety expectations.
- Identify and mitigate risks related to compliance gaps, integration challenges, and long-term maintainability.
Benefits
- Competitive compensation, including salary and equity.
Stand Out From the Crowd
Upload your resume and get instant feedback on how well it matches this job.
What This Job Offers
Job Type
Full-time
Career Level
Senior
