Controls Engineer

AST; Tacoma (WA); On-site; USD 70,000 - 120,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical (HSA & PPO)

Dental (Paid)

Vision

HSA employer contribution

Long/Short term disability

401(K) match

Education assistance

PTO

Paid holidays

Bonus potential

Job summary

AST in Tacoma, WA is seeking a Controls Engineer to design, develop, implement, and maintain complex automated pharmaceutical fill-finish equipment and digital services.

You will work with PLCs, robotics, HMIs, vision systems, and smart machine technologies while traveling up to 15% as needed; senior roles may include lead responsibilities.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in electrical engineering or equivalent experience.
• Experience with PLCs, HMI, industrial communications, smart machine tech, and machine vision.
• Willingness to travel domestically and internationally up to 15%.
• Understand industrial machinery specs and testing environments.
• Knowledge of machine control design and testing environments with strong electrical acumen.
• Proficiency with Allen-Bradley PLC, AutoCAD, MS Office.
• Collaborative team player with problem-solving mindset.
• Detail-oriented, self-motivated, and capable in a regulated environment.

Responsibilities

• Design and develop control systems for automated systems using PLCs, robotics, HMIs, vision systems, and other advanced technologies.
• Develop software, schematics, control systems, and smart technologies for machine automation and digital services.
• Take product designs from concept to market-ready solutions.
• Collaborate with peers, vendors, and platforms to deliver controls solutions.
• Perform testing, evaluation, and reporting on new products and systems.
• Create operations manuals and technical documentation.
• Assist with installation, startup, and acceptance testing at customer sites.
• Maintain records and test results for design history.

Skills

PLC programming

HMI design

Industrial comms

Vision systems

AI/machine learning

Machine automation

Travel 15%

Education

Bachelor’s degree in Electrical Engineering

Tools

Allen-Bradley PLC

AutoCAD

MS Office

PowerPoint

Job description

At AST, we enhance the efficiency, productivity, and safety of flexibleaseptic manufacturing processesfor the worldwide Life Science Industry by offering innovative products, services, and solutions.

Do you want to contribute to a shared vision and mission? Would you like to bring your unique talents to have a significant impact on a growing company?

At AST we strive to build a workplace that enables every team memberto meet and exceed their capabilities. We set our expectations high and provide the environment and resources necessary to bring out the very best.

Competitive compensation range for onsite WA applicants is $70,000 to $120,000.

Employee benefits include:

• Medical (HSA & PPO)
• Paid Dental
• Vision
• HSA account with employer contribution, (eligible the first of the month following your date of hire)
• Long/Short term disability
• 401(K) (Traditional & Roth options) with up to 5% company match (eligible 90 days after date of hire)
• Education Assistance
• Paid Time Off (PTO)
• Paid Holiday
• bonus potential.

All benefits on this page are subject to change.

What will I be doing?

As a controls engineer at AST, you design, develop, implement, and maintain complex automated pharmaceutical fill-finish equipment and digital services and products.

Key Responsibilities

• Design and develop control systems for complex automated systems using programmable logic controllers (PLC), robotic systems, human machine interface (HMI) platforms, vision systems, and other advanced technologies.
• Develop complex software, schematics, control systems, and smart technologies for machine automation, digital products and services.
• Take design of products from conceptual phase to practical solution, to market.
• Work closely with peers, vendors and technology platforms to provide controls and technological solutions.
• Perform testing, evaluation, and reporting on new products and systems.
• Write operations and maintenance manuals and other technical documents.
• Participate in the installation, startup,and acceptance testing of equipment at customer sites
• Maintain technical records, test results, and documentation in support of design and/or performance history.
• Other duties as assigned.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in accredited electrical engineering or engineering curriculum, or equivalent experience.
• Experience with common industrial programming languages, HMI designs, industrial communications, smart machine, AI/machine learning, machine automation hardware/software, and advanced sensory systems including machine vision.
• Ability to traveldomestically and internationally up to 15%, determined by company need.
• Understand industrial machinery specifications and standards.
• Knowledge of machine control system design and the testing environment with a strong electrical acumen.
• Skilled with computer software - Allen-Bradley PLC Platform, AutoCAD, MS Office (Word, -Excel, PowerPoint).
• A collaborative team player who plays well with others, interdepartmentally and cross functionally to achieve company goals.
• A strategic thinker who enjoys innovation and problem solving and goes above and beyond to identify root causes.
• Self-motivated, energetic, and disciplined, with keen attention to detail.
• Character that complements AST's long-standing culture of high integrity throughout all areas of internal and external business activity.
• Senior roles may include more lead responsibilities.

Eligibility Requirements

• Must be legally authorized to work in the United States.
• Must be willing to take and successfully pass a drug test.
• Must be willing to submit to and successfully pass a background check.

AST is proud of our team. Providing challenging and rewarding work, with opportunities for personal/professional development is our key to this longevity.

This is a full-time, on-site position based in Tacoma, WA

AST is an equal opportunity employer.