Darwin Recruitment
Senior / Staff Controls Engineer
Bay Area, California | Full-Time Onsite
Industry: Automation, Test Equipment, Manufacturing, Aerospace
Base pay range $120,000.00/yr - $140,000.00/yr
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
Build control systems for things like vacuum systems, robotic tools, welders, thermal chambers, and custom test rigs
Write Python-based control software that talks to PLCs, sensors, relays, and other hardware
Design state machines and logic that control timing, safety, and repeatability
Gather requirements from other teams and translate them into clean, scalable control solutions
Troubleshoot live hardware and automation issues, sometimes in high-pressure test situations
Support and improve existing PLC systems using Beckhoff, Allen-Bradley, Siemens, and others
Select sensors, actuators, power supplies, and safety components for long-term reliability
Maintain documentation, including system diagrams, I/O maps, code structure, and operating procedures
Help develop better safety and performance standards across the automation group
Mentor junior engineers and technicians on good automation practices
What You’ll Need
At least 5 years of experience developing automation or control systems for real-world hardware
Hands‑on experience writing and debugging Python for test or manufacturing setups
Solid understanding of industrial control systems, safety devices, and panel design
Experience with at least one PLC platform (Beckhoff, Siemens, Allen‑Bradley, etc.)
Familiarity with protocols like Modbus, CAN, EtherCAT, or TCP/IP
Strong sense of how to make systems repeatable, testable, and safe
Comfortable working with large or sensitive hardware like vacuum chambers or engines
Able to document your systems clearly from design to deployment
Good communicator who can balance input from mechanical, electrical, and software teams
Bonus Points For
Experience building controls for vacuum test chambers or high‑pressure systems
Background in automation for medical, semiconductor, or aerospace manufacturing
Familiarity with LabVIEW, SQL databases, or custom data logging platforms
Exposure to robotics, vision systems, or motion control
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.
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Base pay range $120,000.00/yr - $140,000.00/yr
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
Build control systems for things like vacuum systems, robotic tools, welders, thermal chambers, and custom test rigs
Write Python-based control software that talks to PLCs, sensors, relays, and other hardware
Design state machines and logic that control timing, safety, and repeatability
Gather requirements from other teams and translate them into clean, scalable control solutions
Troubleshoot live hardware and automation issues, sometimes in high-pressure test situations
Support and improve existing PLC systems using Beckhoff, Allen-Bradley, Siemens, and others
Select sensors, actuators, power supplies, and safety components for long-term reliability
Maintain documentation, including system diagrams, I/O maps, code structure, and operating procedures
Help develop better safety and performance standards across the automation group
Mentor junior engineers and technicians on good automation practices
What You’ll Need
At least 5 years of experience developing automation or control systems for real-world hardware
Hands‑on experience writing and debugging Python for test or manufacturing setups
Solid understanding of industrial control systems, safety devices, and panel design
Experience with at least one PLC platform (Beckhoff, Siemens, Allen‑Bradley, etc.)
Familiarity with protocols like Modbus, CAN, EtherCAT, or TCP/IP
Strong sense of how to make systems repeatable, testable, and safe
Comfortable working with large or sensitive hardware like vacuum chambers or engines
Able to document your systems clearly from design to deployment
Good communicator who can balance input from mechanical, electrical, and software teams
Bonus Points For
Experience building controls for vacuum test chambers or high‑pressure systems
Background in automation for medical, semiconductor, or aerospace manufacturing
Familiarity with LabVIEW, SQL databases, or custom data logging platforms
Exposure to robotics, vision systems, or motion control
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.
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