Controls & Automation Engineer

Limelight Steel, Inc.; Oakland (CA); On-site; USD 90,000 - 140,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Stock option package

Comprehensive health benefits

Job summary

Limelight Steel, Inc. is seeking an Automation & Controls Engineer to support commissioning, maintenance, troubleshooting, and upgrades of electrical and controls systems for a demo-scale laser furnace and related process equipment.

You will handle SCADA/PLC maintenance, field wiring, panel changes, and Ignition/HMI updates, while assisting Codesys PLC troubleshooting and creating engineering documentation. This role requires hands-on field work and onsite collaboration in Oakland.

Qualifications

• 3–5 years of experience in electrical controls, automation, industrial maintenance, or related hands-on engineering work.

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.

Skills

Industrial automation

SCADA systems

PLC troubleshooting

Electrical wiring

Ignition SCADA

Tools

Codesys

PLCs

Job description

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