Staff Controls Engineer, Automation

Are you ready to build America’s energy future? Form Energy is an American manufacturing and energy technology company. We’re revolutionizing energy storage with cost-effective, multi-day technology designed to keep the electric grid secure and reliable, even during extended periods of stress. By strengthening the electric system and reimagining what’s possible, we’re giving clean energy a whole new form! 

In recent years, Form Energy has earned a number of accolades, including being named by TIME as a “Best Invention”, MIT Technology Review as a “Top Climate Tech Company To Watch”, and Fast Company as “One of the Next Big Things In Tech”. We are making rapid progress on our mission of delivering energy storage for a better world, and our team is growing just as rapidly to meet demand. We have signed contracts with leading electric utilities across the United States and production of our iron-air batteries is underway at our first high-volume manufacturing facility in West Virginia.

Working for Form Energy is more than just a job, it’s a chance to be part of something extraordinary. And now - right as we significantly scale up battery manufacturing -  might be the most exciting moment in the company’s history to join. We are assembling a team of highly talented and driven individuals across the country. Driven by our core values of humanity, excellence, and creativity, our team is determined to deliver on our mission and transform the energy landscape for the better.

Feeling energized to make a meaningful impact on the world? Then keep reading - you’ve come to the right place.

Role Description

We are looking for a staff level controls engineer to join the Manufacturing Control and Execution Systems - Automation team. In this role you will be responsible for design, development, and deployment of novel equipment used to manufacture Form Energy’s Iron-Air battery. This role offers an exciting opportunity to be part of a mission critical team that owns control and execution systems throughout their lifecycle including design, development, deployment, and sustaining.

Reporting to our Controls Engineering Manager, Automation, you will be part of a quickly-growing manufacturing control and execution systems team. You will have opportunities in this role to lead efforts to design and develop innovative solutions, as we work together to deploy manufacturing equipment control and execution systems and to make continuous improvements to our equipment, processes, and systems. This is a leadership role where you will have the opportunity to lead multiple large control and execution system projects while mentoring other engineers both technically and professionally.

Bringing your extensive experience in control system design, development, and deployment; you will work closely with a variety of teams, both technical and operational, at Form Factory 1.

Relocation assistance is available.

What you'll do:

• Responsible for design, development, and deployment of industrial control and execution systems

• Serve as the technical lead on multiple simultaneous projects, coordinating with controls engineers for Robotics & Vision, Electrical & Instrumentation, and SCADA to assure all technical requirements are met on budget and on schedule

• Provide technical guidance and mentorship to less experienced automation controls engineers

• After escalation from our sustaining team, provide electrical and controls support for the production operations and maintenance departments, including troubleshooting controls, electrical issues, and problem resolution as they relate to equipment and process downtime, throughput improvement, and/or any safety concerns

• Rotating on-call responsibilities for off-hour escalations from our sustaining team

• Work directly with equipment vendors to assure they are following Form Energy Equipment Standards to deliver quality control systems, including executing FATs at vendor sites and SATs at Form Factory 1

• Execution of internal projects, including development and testing of PLC programming and integration with Robotics, Vision, SCADA, and MES

• Utilize input from production, maintenance supervisors, operators, vendors, and service providers to provide troubleshooting assistance and make improvements

• Responsible for following and assuring team members comply with all Safety and Environmental policies and procedures

• Design, programming, and troubleshooting MES data transactions within PLC programs

What you'll bring:

• 10+ years of experience as a hands-on engineer working on control systems.

• Strong technical communication skills, both written and verbal.

• PLC Programming and Troubleshooting

• Siemens TIA-Portal (Required, can train others)

• Rockwell Studio 5000 (Required, can train others)

• Beckhoff TwinCat (Nice to Have)

• SCADA/HMI Systems

• Ignition Perspective (Required, execute independently)

• Siemens WinCC (Required, execute independently)

• Rockwell FTView ME (Required, execute independently)

• IPC and Panel PC setup and deployment (Required, execute independently)

• Robotics

• FANUC (Required, with supervision)

• FANUC ROBOGUIDE (Required, basic knowledge)

• Epson (Nice to Have)

• Kawasaki (Nice to Have)

• Vision

• Keyence and Cognex Barcode Scanner (Required, execute independently)

• Keyence and Cognex Inspection (Required, with supervision)

• Position (Nice to Have)

• MES

• PLC Product Tracking Programming (Required, can train others)

• PLC Handshake/Data Programming (Required, can train others)

• Ignition Integration for Data (Required, execute independently)

• Electrical

• AutoCAD Electrical Design (Nice to Have)

• SolidWorks Design (Nice to Have)

• Review/Redline/Read Electrical Schematics (Required, can train others)

• Troubleshoot (Required, can train others)

• OT Network

• Configure Siemens Scalance Managed Network Switches (Required, execute independently)

• Troubleshoot (Required, can train others)

• Functional Safety (ProfiSafe, CIP Safety, Hardwired)

• Electrical and Hardware selection and design (Nice to Have)

• Siemens ProfiSafe and Safety Programming (Required, can train others)

• Rockwell CIP Safety and Safety Programming (Required, can train others)

• FANUC DCS Programming (Required, with supervision)

• Review Electrical, Hardware, and Programming (Required, execute independently)

• Troubleshoot (Required, can train others)

• iba (Required, execute independently)

• Octoplant (Required, execute independently)

• Problem-solving

• Read and interpret schematics, diagrams, and blueprints to troubleshoot and repair controls components (Required)

• Attention to detail when testing and troubleshooting (Required)

• Recording data and documenting procedures (Required)

• Control panel fabrication and modification (Nice to Have)

• Bachelor Degree in Electrical/Controls/Mechatronics or equivalent experience

• Extensive controls experience in a Manufacturing Environment

Where you'll work:

This role is based at Form Factory 1 in Weirton, WV—an easy commute from the city of Pittsburgh, PA. This 550,000-square-foot facility is our hub for high-volume battery production and a leader in the new era of American energy manufacturing. Relocation assistance is available.

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Humanity is a cornerstone of Form Energy’s culture, and we make sure our compensation and benefits reflect that. Form Energy offers competitive salaries, stock options, and a holistic benefits package to ensure all employees have what they need to thrive while working here. 

When it comes to you and your family’s health, we cover 100% of medical, dental, and vision premiums for full-time employees - and 80% of healthcare premiums for dependents. This starts from day one. We also offer at least 12 weeks of paid leave for new parents (up to 20 weeks for birthing parents), and generous vacation policies to give employees time to recharge when needed. 

To build America’s energy future, we need everyone at the table. We are proud to be an equal opportunity employer, and encourage candidates from all backgrounds to apply to our open jobs.

If you may require reasonable accommodations to participate in our interview process, please contact [email protected]. Requests for accommodations will be treated with discretion.

Form Energy is committed to maintaining the privacy of our applicants. Please be aware that we will never solicit sensitive personal information such as Social Security numbers or bank account details during the recruiting or hiring process.