Senior Controls & Automation Engineer

Posted 22 Hours Ago
Be an Early Applicant
Menlo Park, CA, USA
In-Office
122K-143K Annually
Senior level
Energy
The Role
Lead design, implementation, commissioning, and long-term support of industrial automation systems (PLCs, HMIs, robotics). Develop control software using Beckhoff/TwinCAT and IEC 61131-3, create electrical schematics, perform troubleshooting, continuous improvement, safety interlocks, and mentor junior staff while collaborating across mechanical, electrical, and software teams.
Summary Generated by Built In
About Mainspring

Mainspring Energy manufactures and delivers fuel-flexible, low-emissions local power solutions that rapidly add new capacity and deliver reliable, affordable, and sustainable electric power. The company began commercial shipments of its Mainspring Linear Generators in 2020 and today has hundreds of megawatts in advanced development and field operations for leading Fortune 500 companies, data centers, and utilities. Mainspring also partners with global energy leaders including AEP, NextEra Energy Resources, Schneider Electric, and more.

The core values that ground our work, guide our decisions, and connect us together:

  • Pragmatic Optimism
  • Excellence without Ego
  • Proactive Collaboration

Job Overview
We are seeking a Senior Automation & Controls Engineer who applies sound software engineering practices to design and deliver industrial automation systems using the Beckhoff Platform. This role focuses on building reliable, maintainable, and scalable control systems in a real-world manufacturing environment.
 
You will develop automation solutions that balance deterministic control requirements with modern engineering practices such as modular design, version control, code reviews, and disciplined change management. While the work is rooted in traditional industrial automation, there is an increasing emphasis on improving the development, testing, and deployment of control software.
 
In this role, you will work across the full lifecycle of automation systems—from electrical design and hardware selection to controls software development, deployment, commissioning, and long-term support. A significant portion of your time, approximately 20-25%, will also be dedicated to the maintenance, improvement, and upgrading of existing equipment. You will collaborate closely with manufacturing, electrical, mechanical, and software teams to ensure systems are safe, reliable, and adaptable to evolving production needs.
 
The role is based at Mainspring Headquarters in Menlo Park, California, and is primarily on-site with some travel within North America.

Responsibilities

  • System Design & Architecture: Lead the design of complex automation systems, including PLCs, HMIs, and robotics. Create and maintain electrical schematics, control enclosure layouts, and wiring diagrams using CAD software
  • Programming & Implementation: Program and debug control systems using platforms mainly in Beckhoff products with some possible use of Rockwell , Siemens TIA Portal and Schneider Electric products. Develop and implement closed-loop control systems and novel data structures
  • Project Execution: Own specific engineering projects from conception to completion, ensuring timelines, budgets, and quality standards are met. Contributing to the successful completion of projects in a timely fashion
  • Continuous Improvement: Analyze existing manufacturing processes to identify inefficiencies and bottlenecks. Conduct root cause analyses and troubleshooting to support process improvements
  • Safety & Compliance: Design and deploy personnel safety interlock systems and ensure compliance with industry standards such as NFPA 79, SEMI, and UL508A
  • Collaboration & Mentorship: Collaborate with multidisciplinary teams (mechanical, hardware, software) to ensure proper integration of automated systems. You may supervise the activities of a few others or mentor junior staff and technicians

Required Qualifications

  • 5–10 years of experience in industrial automation or controls engineering
  • Hands-on experience with PLC platforms such as Beckhoff TwinCAT (TwinCAT 3), Allen-Bradley
  • Strong proficiency in IEC 61131-3 with emphasis on Structured Text
  • Proven experience delivering industrial automation projects in manufacturing or production environments
  • Solid understanding of: Industrial sensors and actuators | Electrical control systems and panel design | Industrial networking and fieldbus protocol
  • Experience using Git or similar version control systems in a professional environment

Preferred Qualifications

  • Experience with motion control, robotics, or high-performance automation systems
  • Familiarity with EtherCAT architecture and performance tuning
  • Experience with industrial networks (OT networks) 
  • Experience working alongside MES, SCADA, or higher-level software systems
  • Prior experience acting as a technical lead on projects

Does your experience not meet all of our posted requirements? Studies have shown that some people are less likely to apply to positions unless they meet every listed requirement. At Mainspring, we are committed to building a diverse, inclusive, flexible, and collaborative environment, so if you want to help us transition the world to clean and affordable electricity, and don’t meet all posted requirements for a particular role, we’d still love to hear from you. Mainspring can sometimes be flexible enough to shift responsibilities for the right person, or otherwise identify open or upcoming roles that may better fit your professional background.

In more traditional words, Mainspring Energy, Inc is an Equal Opportunity Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, or protected veteran status and will not be discriminated against on the basis of disability.

This compensation and benefits information is based on Mainspring Energy's estimate as of the date of publication and may be modified in the future. We generally do not negotiate on salary once we have made an offer. The level of pay within the range will depend on a variety of job-related factors that may include location, relevant prior experience and/or education, or particular skills and expertise. New hires joining the company tend to be paid within the starting base pay range noted above, with opportunities to increase pay over time based on development of additional skills, competencies, and company-specific knowledge.

Skills Required

  • 5-10 years of experience in industrial automation or controls engineering
  • Hands-on experience with PLC platforms such as Beckhoff TwinCAT (TwinCAT 3) and Allen-Bradley
  • Strong proficiency in IEC 61131-3 with emphasis on Structured Text
  • Proven experience delivering industrial automation projects in manufacturing or production environments
  • Solid understanding of industrial sensors and actuators, electrical control systems and panel design, industrial networking and fieldbus protocol
  • Experience using Git or similar version control systems in a professional environment
  • Experience with motion control, robotics, or high-performance automation systems
  • Familiarity with EtherCAT architecture and performance tuning
  • Experience with industrial OT networks
  • Experience working alongside MES, SCADA, or higher-level software systems
  • Prior experience acting as a technical lead on projects
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
HQ: Menlo Park, CA
294 Employees
Year Founded: 2010

What We Do

Driven by our vision of the affordable, reliable, net-zero carbon grid of the future, Mainspring has developed a new category of power generation — the linear generator — that delivers onsite, fuel-flexible power to accelerate the transition to the future grid. To learn more visit www.mainspringenergy.com.

Similar Jobs

Varda Space Industries Logo Varda Space Industries

Controls Engineer

Aerospace • Hardware • Software • Biotech • Pharmaceutical • Manufacturing
In-Office
El Segundo, CA, USA
147 Employees
169K-216K Annually

The Walt Disney Company Logo The Walt Disney Company

Hardware Engineer

Digital Media • Gaming • News + Entertainment • Sports
In-Office
Glendale, CA, USA
219548 Employees
129K-173K Annually

Skydio Logo Skydio

Controls Engineer

Artificial Intelligence • Hardware • Robotics • Software
Hybrid
San Mateo, CA, USA
250 Employees
147K-240K Annually

VIAVI Solutions Logo VIAVI Solutions

Controls Engineer

Information Technology
In-Office
Santa Rosa, CA, USA
4570 Employees
134K-250K Annually

Similar Companies Hiring

UL Solutions Thumbnail
Automotive • Professional Services • Software • Consulting • Energy • Chemical • Renewable Energy
Chicago, IL
15000 Employees
Runwise Thumbnail
Greentech • Hardware • Real Estate • Software • Energy • PropTech
New York, NY
199 Employees
Energy CX Thumbnail
Greentech • Professional Services • Business Intelligence • Consulting • Energy • Financial Services • Utilities
Chicago, IL
108 Employees

Sign up now Access later

Create Free Account

Please log in or sign up to report this job.

Create Free Account