Senior / Staff Controls Engineer
Bay Area, California | Full-Time Onsite
Industry: Automation, Test Equipment, Manufacturing, Aerospace
A launch and propulsion company in the Bay Area is hiring a Senior or Staff Controls Engineer to help automate complex test and production systems. These include large vacuum chambers, engine test stands, robotic welders, and other hardware used to build and qualify spaceflight equipment.
You’ll work closely with electrical, test, and software teams to turn technical needs into well-documented, reliable automation systems. This means writing control logic in Python, working with PLCs, selecting hardware, and making sure everything runs safely and repeatably.
The role suits someone who enjoys seeing their code move real hardware. You’ll take ownership of both new and existing systems and help raise the standard for how automation is done across the shop floor and test lab.
What You’ll Be Doing
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Build control systems for things like vacuum systems, robotic tools, welders, thermal chambers, and custom test rigs
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Write Python-based control software that talks to PLCs, sensors, relays, and other hardware
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Design state machines and logic that control timing, safety, and repeatability
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Gather requirements from other teams and translate them into clean, scalable control solutions
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Troubleshoot live hardware and automation issues, sometimes in high-pressure test situations
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Support and improve existing PLC systems using Beckhoff, Allen-Bradley, Siemens, and others
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Select sensors, actuators, power supplies, and safety components for long-term reliability
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Maintain documentation, including system diagrams, I/O maps, code structure, and operating procedures
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Help develop better safety and performance standards across the automation group
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Mentor junior engineers and technicians on good automation practices
✅ What You’ll Need
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At least 5 years of experience developing automation or control systems for real-world hardware
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Hands-on experience writing and debugging Python for test or manufacturing setups
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Solid understanding of industrial control systems, safety devices, and panel design
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Experience with at least one PLC platform (Beckhoff, Siemens, Allen-Bradley, etc.)
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Familiarity with protocols like Modbus, CAN, EtherCAT, or TCP/IP
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Strong sense of how to make systems repeatable, testable, and safe
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Comfortable working with large or sensitive hardware like vacuum chambers or engines
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Able to document your systems clearly from design to deployment
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Good communicator who can balance input from mechanical, electrical, and software teams
⭐ Bonus Points For
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Experience building controls for vacuum test chambers or high-pressure systems
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Background in automation for medical, semiconductor, or aerospace manufacturing
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Familiarity with LabVIEW, SQL databases, or custom data logging platforms
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Exposure to robotics, vision systems, or motion control
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A thoughtful approach to automation that prioritizes reliability and long-term maintainability
If you enjoy solving automation problems that blend code with physical systems and want your work to matter on day one, this is the kind of role where you can make a real impact. You’ll work directly with the teams building flight hardware and help shape how testing and production get done.
Darwin Recruitment is acting as an Employment Agency in relation to this vacancy.
Adam Slade