Staff Controls & Automation Engineer

WHO YOU ARE

You are a self-sufficient, experienced, highly capable Controls and Automation Engineer with an aptitude for learning new things and taking big, sophisticated projects across the finish line. In your work at Sila, you will be responsible for architecting, designing, and deploying industrial machine control software and electronics that are robust, expandable, deterministic, and exceptionally well-documented. You have excellent communication skills to harmoniously collaborate with a wide range of skill sets: from scientists to technicians during the design stage, to out-of-house service providers across big, complicated interfaces during the build stage.

RESPONSIBILITIES AND DUTIES 

• Work collaboratively with other teams to craft robust, modular, well documented machine control code and electrical subsystems for synthesis tools.
• Architect and deploy software for next generation synthesis tools
• Contribute to and improve internally-developed software libraries that are used across the company, from research to production-scale tools.
• Improve and debug hardware and equipment-driving software throughout the company.
• Develop meaningful, robust unit tests for machines and document them rigorously.
• Capture feedback from end-users of your work and distill into actionable modifications. Iterate.

KNOWLEDGE AND SKILL REQUIREMENTS

• Extensive experience with high-level, object-oriented programming (C# or Python).
• Experience deploying code on systems that interact with the physical world.
• Experience designing HMIs and writing the underlying code.
• Experience with revision control software (Git preferred) .
• Ability to write Structured Text and familiarity with other IEC 61131-3 languages.
• Development, testing, and implementation experience of safety programs (TwinSAFE preferred).
• Strong fundamental understanding of field-deployed electronics, sensors, and motion components.
• Implementation of industrial Fieldbus communication protocols (EtherCAT, Profinet, EthernetIP, Modbus, etc.).
• Familiarity with industrial electrical design, including: wiring diagrams, industrial network architecture, control panel design, power distribution, and protocols for process automation. Experience with unique and challenging industrial electrical safety requirements.
• Understanding of how to integrate machines with facility/business interfaces (SCADA, MES, ERP, etc.).
• At least a B.S. in Mechanical Engineering, Electrical Engineering, or Software Engineering and 8+ years of industry experience (fewer for candidates with an advanced degree)

PHYSICAL DEMANDS AND WORKING CONDITIONS

• Wear personal protective equipment including, but not limited to, a lab coat, gloves, safety glasses, and steel toe safety shoes
• Move long distances (such as from building to building) and be stationary for extended periods of time
• Operate a computer and other office equipment, such as a laptop, copier/printer, etc in a fixed location