Automation Controls Engineer

About the position

At Aircapture we're creating and scaling a circular carbon economy to solve what we believe to be our lifetime's most pressing challenge: the climate crisis. We supply commercial and industrial customers with clean CO2 captured from our atmosphere to radically improve the environment, our economy, and our lives. We value building a team of people who represent diverse backgrounds--be it thought, education, gender, ethnicity, age, sexual orientation--to reach our goals. Thank you for considering us. We are seeking a super skilled and detail-oriented Automation Controls Engineer to design, implement, and maintain control systems used in novel direct air capture "DAC" systems. You have experience in ladder programming for PLCs, HMI development, controls circuit design, and data logging programming. You will be responsible for ensuring our systems operate safely, efficiently, and meet performance targets. This role is onsite at our development and production facility in Berkeley, California. If you are excited to have a major impact at a groundbreaking climate technology startup, this is the role for you!

Responsibilities

• Develop, modify, and troubleshoot ladder logic programs for various PLC platforms (e.g., Allen Bradley, Siemens, Schneider). Create custom control logic for automation systems
• Design and configure Human-Machine Interfaces (HMIs) to monitor and control manufacturing equipment. Customize the display screens for operational efficiency and ease of use
• Design, review, and implement electrical control circuits, including selecting components (relays, sensors, switches, VFDs, etc.) and developing schematics using CAD tools
• Ensure seamless integration between PLCs, HMIs, and other field devices such as sensors, actuators, and communication protocols (e.g., Modbus, Ethernet/IP, Profibus)
• Design and implement data logging systems to record operational data from industrial processes. Work on data collection, visualization, and analysis to improve system performance and troubleshooting
• Perform Factory Acceptance Testing (FAT) and Site Acceptance Testing (SAT) for control systems. Commission systems at customer sites and ensure smooth startup
• Diagnose and resolve issues related to automation and control systems. Provide support to operations teams for corrective and preventive maintenance
• Create and maintain comprehensive documentation, including control system designs, ladder logic, wiring diagrams, and operation manuals
• Work closely with mechanical and electrical teams, project managers, and customers to ensure systems meet technical specifications and project timelines

Requirements

• Bachelor's Degree in Electrical Engineering, Control Systems, Automation Engineering (or a related field), or equivalent experience
• 5+ years of experience in PLC programming and automation systems, designing and building HMI interfaces for industrial applications
• Hands-on experience with controls circuit design and electrical schematics and knowledge of data logging software and data management systems
• Proficiency in ladder logic programming for PLCs such as Allen Bradley, Siemens, etc.
• Familiarity with HMI/SCADA software (Wonderware, Ignition, Rockwell FactoryTalk)
• Strong knowledge of control circuit design, including electrical standards and safety
• Familiarity with communication protocols (Ethernet/IP, Modbus, Profibus)
• Proficiency in CAD tools for electrical schematics and control panel layouts

Benefits

• Salary: $125,000-$160,000 per year