Controls & Automation Engineer
Controls & Automation Engineer at Limelight Steel — Oakland, CA, US
- Company: Limelight Steel
- Location: Oakland, CA, US
- Employment type: Full-time
- Posted: 2026-10-01
About this role
ROLE SUMMARY
As an Automation & Controls Engineer at Limelight Steel, you will support the commissioning, maintenance, troubleshooting, and upgrades of the electrical and controls systems for our demo-scale laser furnace and related process equipment.
ROLES & RESPONSIBILITIES
- Support day-to-day troubleshooting, maintenance, and improvement of existing SCADA, and PLC systems.
- Assist with field wiring, panel changes, device configuration, checkout, and commissioning of furnace subsystems.
- Make and test HMI/SCADA updates in Ignition, including screen changes, tag updates, alarm updates, trends, and operator interface improvements.
- Support Codesys PLC troubleshooting, logic changes, I/O mapping, function block testing, and controls verification.
- Create and maintain controls-related engineering documentation, including P&IDs, control narratives, I/O lists, loop drawings, panel schematics, and device settings.
- Integrate and troubleshoot equipment such as lasers, vacuum pumps, chillers, sensors, valves, VFDs, heaters, and other industrial devices.
- Support safe operation of furnace subsystems, including laser systems, high-temperature equipment, vacuum equipment, cooling systems, and power distribution.
- Provide hands-on support during equipment startup, testing, maintenance, and operational troubleshooting.
QUALIFICATIONS
- 3–5 years of experience in electrical controls, automation, industrial maintenance, or related hands-on engineering work.
- Working knowledge of industrial control systems, PLCs, SCADA/HMI systems, electrical panels, field wiring, instrumentation, and troubleshooting.
- Ability to read and update electrical schematics, wiring diagrams, I/O lists, device documentation, and P&IDs.
- Strong hands-on troubleshooting skills and willingness to work in the field on wiring, installation, checkout, and commissioning tasks.
NICE TO HAVE
- Experience with Ignition or similar SCADA platform
- Experience with Codesys or similar PLC platform
- Experience with industrial fieldbuses including IO Link/Ethernet/IP/Modbus
- Experience supporting pilot plants, R&D equipment, or industrial process equipment.
- Experience with lasers, vacuum pumps, chillers, high-temperature equipment, heaters, gas systems, or metallurgical equipment.
- Experience updating control panels, terminating field wiring, configuring sensors, replacing devices, and validating control system changes.
BENEFITS
- Competitive stock option package
- Comprehensive health benefits that include:
- Full premium coverage for PPO Gold for employees with 80% coverage for dependents
- Full premium coverage for Vision and Dental for employees
- Generous time-off schedule
- 20 days paid time off (accrued according to number of hours worked)
- 10 holidays (personalized to the holidays you observe)
- 401(k) with a 4% safe harbor company match
- 2x weekly catered team lunches
- A team of curious, passionate, kind, and courageous people committed to eliminating industrial emissions that contribute to climate change
- Unparalleled opportunities for growth, leadership, and project ownership in a dynamic and rapidly-growing startup company
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