Controls Engineer

Reposted 5 Days Ago
Be an Early Applicant
Menlo Park, CA, USA
In-Office
3-5 Annually
Mid level
Artificial Intelligence • Hardware • Information Technology • Robotics
From bits to atoms.
The Role
The Controls Engineer will define controls architecture, specify platforms, and design supervisory dashboards for an autonomous lab, focusing on effective automation and safety.
Summary Generated by Built In
About Periodic Labs

We are an AI + physical sciences lab building state of the art models to make novel scientific discoveries. We are well funded and growing rapidly. Team members are owners who identify and solve problems without boundaries or bureaucracy. We eagerly learn new tools and new science to push forward our mission.

About the Role

Join a world-class team of scientists and engineers pushing the boundaries of materials research in a groundbreaking lab where AI and automation unlock discoveries at unprecedented speed and scale.


We’re building an autonomous lab to speed up materials discovery, and we are looking for a Controls Engineer who loves turning complex equipment into reliable, safe, and observable systems. You’ll design the controls architecture for outsourced tools and in-house automation, then work with integrators to bring it to life. You’ll be hands-on from specification through installation and production handoff, partnering with scientists, facilities, and vendors to make the whole lab run as one coherent system.

Responsibilities
  • Define the controls architecture: states, alarms, naming, and data flows that make systems understandable and maintainable.

  • Specify platforms and components (PLC/robot controller, operator interface, motion, I/O, networks) to meet safety and performance needs.

  • Build and execute bring-up plans: I/O checkout, sequence dry runs, and end-to-end workflow trials; drive issues to closure.

  • Design and roll out real-time supervisory dashboards (Ignition or similar)

  • Implement observability: trending, diagnostics, alarm rationalization, and set sensible thresholds and responses.

Qualifications
  • BS in EE/ME/Controls or equivalent.

  • 3+ years in industrial automation for labs/pilot/manufacturing.

  • Hands-on experience with PLCs, HMIs, motion, and industrial networks.

  • Experience with safety PLCs, functional safety validation, and LOTO practices.

  • Scripting for test/diagnostics (Python preferred) and practical electrical debugging.

  • Experience with SCADA platforms (e.g., Ignition), data historians, and OPC UA or similar data standards.

Bonus Qualifications
  • Experience with robotic cells or vision integration; basic electrical panel practices.

  • Containers or CI/CD for deploying controls logic; Git-based workflows.

  • Functional safety coursework or certification.

  • Demonstrated accomplishments recognized in your field

Top Skills

Hmi
Ignition
Opc Ua
Plc
Python
Am I A Good Fit?
beta
Get Personalized Job Insights.
Our AI-powered fit analysis compares your resume with a job listing so you know if your skills & experience align.

The Company
32 Employees
Year Founded: 2025

What We Do

We're building AI scientists and the autonomous laboratories for them to operate.

Similar Jobs

General Motors Logo General Motors

Design Engineer

Automotive • Big Data • Information Technology • Robotics • Software • Transportation • Manufacturing
Remote or Hybrid
4 Locations
165000 Employees
125K-217K Annually

Valar Atomics Logo Valar Atomics

Controls Engineer

Greentech • Energy • Industrial
Easy Apply
In-Office
Hawthorne, CA, USA
38 Employees
165K-195K Annually

Mesh Optical Technologies Logo Mesh Optical Technologies

Controls Engineer

Hardware • Wearables • Manufacturing
Easy Apply
In-Office
Gardena, CA, USA
14 Employees
140K-170K Annually
Easy Apply
In-Office
San Jose, CA, USA
283 Employees

Similar Companies Hiring

Fairly Even Thumbnail
Hardware • Other • Robotics • Sales • Software • Hospitality
New York, NY
30 Employees
Bellagent Thumbnail
Artificial Intelligence • Machine Learning • Business Intelligence • Generative AI
Chicago, IL
20 Employees
Golden Pet Brands Thumbnail
Digital Media • eCommerce • Information Technology • Marketing Tech • Pet • Retail • Social Media
El Segundo, California
178 Employees

Sign up now Access later

Create Free Account

Please log in or sign up to report this job.

Create Free Account