Automation & Controls Engineer-CA

CelLink; San Carlos (CA); On-site; USD 125,000 - 150,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Stock options

120 hours of PTO

Comprehensive medical and dental coverage

Job summary

CelLink is seeking an Automation & Controls Engineer in San Carlos, CA, to integrate advanced automation solutions for next-generation manufacturing systems. In this role, you'll work with PLCs, robotics, and machine vision while collaborating with a talented engineering team.

Applicants should have a BS in engineering and 3+ years of hands-on experience. The position offers a competitive salary of $125,000–$150,000, stock options, and comprehensive benefits including medical and dental coverage.

Qualifications

• 3+ years of hands-on experience in Automation and Controls Engineering or a similar field.
• Experience with software development in complex process tools.
• Ability to travel 15% as needed.

Responsibilities

• Design and integrate advanced automation solutions.
• Troubleshoot equipment and engineer solutions to correct failures.
• Develop and maintain technical documentation.

Skills

Control system engineering

Software development

Troubleshooting

Communication

Problem-solving

Education

BS in Electrical, Mechanical, Mechatronics, Automation, or Computer Engineering

Tools

Beckhoff TwinCAT

Mitsubishi PLCs

Siemens PLCs

Omron PLCs

FANUC robotics

TensorFlow

Job description

Automation & Controls Engineer

At CelLink, we’re transforming how the world’s most advanced vehicles and energy systems are powered. Our lightweight, flexible circuits are used in electric vehicles, data centers, and other cutting‑edge technologies, helping major OEMs and Tier 1 suppliers build more efficient, sustainable products.

We’re looking for an Automation & Controls Engineer to help us scale our next‑generation manufacturing systems. In this role, you’ll design and integrate advanced automation solutions, spanning PLCs, robotics, motion control, and machine vision, while collaborating with an exceptional team of engineers driving innovation at the intersection of hardware and software.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities

• Integrate controls and develop software for a wide range of hardware, such as PLC, PC, and RC (robot controller) based equipment and automation control systems, motion controllers, and machine vision systems, high‑resolution test, measurement, and data acquisition equipment, heater controllers, web handling and roll‑to‑roll system web velocity and tension, and web edge guiding and steering mechanisms, pneumatic actuators, encoders, force sensors, thermocouples, analog devices, and various location, distance, and material presence sensors.
• Engage directly with new product design, process, equipment, quality, and manufacturing engineers to develop and modify controls and software that improve equipment usability and efficiency, product capability and performance, and process control data integrity.
• Troubleshoot equipment, including finding the root cause of failures and engineering solutions to correct them.
• Provide timely and accurate project status, documentation, and training.
• Develop and execute test plans to validate equipment functionality.
• Develop and maintain equipment and automation controls and software‑related technical documentation such as BOMs, schematics, functional specifications, design and test specifications, and standard operating procedures.
• Develop, deploy, and maintain revision control of changes made on equipment where the Hardware and software must be copied exactly.
• Support controls engineering, standards compliance, assembly, modification, and documentation upkeep.
• Work closely with equipment vendors throughout all phases of a project’s development on software and controls requirements and related issues.
• Support factory expansion efforts, including supplier acceptance testing, equipment commissioning, and process qualification.

Minimum Qualifications (Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities)

Experience/Education

• BS in Electrical, Mechanical, Mechatronics, Automation, or Computer Engineering (Software Engineering may be considered as a complement).
• 3+ years of hands‑on experience in Automation and Controls Engineering, or a similar field.

Knowledge/Skills/Abilities

• Control system engineering and software development of complex process tools and automation, primarily using Beckhoff TwinCAT, Mitsubishi, Siemens, and Omron PLCs in both structured text
  and ladder logic, Inductive Automation Ignition HMI and user interfaces, FANUC robotics, Basler cameras, Keyence cameras, code readers, and marking controllers.
• Electrical design (AutoCAD Electrical or equivalent) and control panel fabrication/wiring.
• Experience with Windows and Linux operating systems, and programming using Python, C#, C++, SQL, or experience with machine vision programming using TensorFlow, TensorRT, YOLO, or MVTec HALCON is beneficial but not required.
• Real‑time data acquisition for process control monitoring; MES experience is a plus.
• Ability to travel 15% as needed.
• Strong troubleshooting and problem‑solving skills.
• Excellent communication and documentation ability.

Physical Demands and Work Environment

The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this position. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the functions.

Compensation

Salaried Exempt.

$125,000–$150,000 + Stock Option/120 hours of PTO, with the final salary determined by experience and level. We’re hiring for multiple positions and will align compensation accordingly.

We believe that each employee should have the opportunity to become a CelLink shareholder through participation in CelLink's discretionary employee stock option plan. You'll also receive comprehensive medical and dental coverage and other benefits.

Working Conditions/Hours

Physical Demands – Office and Manufacturing Environment

While performing the duties of this position, the employee is regularly required to talk or hear. The employee is frequently required to use hands or fingers, handle or feel objects, tools, or controls. The employee is required to stand, walk, sit, reach with hands and arms, pull/push, climb or balance, and stoop, kneel, crouch, or crawl. The employee must lift and/or move up to 50 pounds without assistance. Specific vision abilities required by this position include close vision, distance vision, color vision, peripheral vision, and the ability to adjust focus.

Work Environment

Includes both a typical office environment, with minimal exposure to excessive noise or adverse environmental issues, and a shop environment, with exposure to high noise levels from operating machines, physical hazards from moving equipment and machine parts, nuisance dust, and skin exposure to chemicals used to run/maintain machines.

PPE

May be required to wear Personal Protective Equipment, including but not limited to safety glasses, safety shoes, bump‑caps, gloves, hair nets, masks, & clean‑room frocks while adhering to the prescribed safety procedures.

Location: San Carlos, CA

EEO Statement

We believe diversity and inclusion among our teammates are essential to our success. We celebrate diversity and are committed to creating an inclusive environment for all employees while building teams that represent a variety of backgrounds, perspectives, and skills. We are an equal opportunity employer. All employment is decided based on qualifications, merit, and business needs. CelLink participates in the E‑Verify program in specific locations as required by law.