Automation Controls Engineer

1w1 week ago

Hadrian Automation

Los Angeles, US · Full-time · $130,000 – $220,000

About this role

Hadrian builds autonomous factories helping aerospace and defense companies manufacture rockets, satellites, jets, and ships up to 10x faster and 2x cheaper. Join the Special Projects team as a generalist Automation Controls Engineer, standing up customer production lines with custom tooling, robotic cells, and machine vision. Own end-to-end controls architecture from requirements through handoff.

Handle controls design from concept through run-off for robotic, CNC, and tooling cells. Write and deploy PLC code, tune multi-axis motion with servos and VFDs, and integrate sensors. Design panels, architect networks like EtherCAT and PROFINET, build HMIs, and lead risk assessments.

Work directly with manufacturing engineers, tooling engineers, software engineers, and program managers against aggressive timelines. Collaborate in a fast-growing team backed by T. Rowe Price, Lux Capital, Founders Fund, and Andreessen Horowitz. Support expansion including Factory 3 in Mesa creating 350 jobs and Hadrian Maritime.

Commission on the floor, drive root-cause analysis, and mentor engineers while codifying standards into libraries. High performers advance to Staff Controls Engineer or Tech-Lead roles, setting architecture for multi-cell programs. Reindustrialize American manufacturing for the 21st century.

Requirements

Bachelor's degree in a STEM field (electro-mechanical preferred) or equivalent experience
3-6 years delivering automated cells end-to-end in industrial manufacturing
Production experience with Beckhoff and/or Siemens PLCs, plus hands-on servo/VFD tuning and commissioning
Programmed a major robotics ecosystem (ABB, Fanuc, Kuka, etc.); comfortable simulating cells
Cabinet/panel design to NFPA 79 and UL 508A; fluent in EtherCAT, PROFINET, OPC UA
Select and integrate digital/analog sensors and safety devices; run risk assessments per ISO 13849
Strong floor skills: wrenching, reading schematics, tracing variables, finding root cause fast
Excellent written and verbal communication; works well with manufacturing, tooling, software partners

Responsibilities

Own controls design for new robotic, CNC, and tooling cells from concept through run-off
Write and deploy PLC applications on Siemens or other hardware with reusable libraries and standards
Tune and commission multi-axis motion including servos, VFDs, and steppers; integrate sensors and safety devices
Specify and design electrical panels; architect industrial networks like EtherCAT, PROFINET, OPC UA
Build operator HMIs and lead risk assessments
Commission on the floor and drive structured root-cause analysis to solve issues
Mentor engineers and technicians; codify what works into shared libraries and playbooks