Controls Engineer

AST; Tacoma (WA); On-site; USD 80,000 - 120,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical (HSA & PPO)

Dental

Vision

Disability insurance

401K with company match

Education Assistance

Paid Time Off

Paid Holidays

Bonus potential

Job summary

AST, based in Tacoma, 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, HMIs, vision systems, and robotics, collaborating with peers and vendors to deliver robust controls solutions. Willingness to travel up to 15% is required, with emphasis on safety and regulatory compliance in Life Science applications.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in electrical engineering or equivalent experience.
• Experience with PLC, HMI designs, industrial communications, smart machine tech, AI/machine learning, machine automation hardware/software, and machine vision.
• Ability to travel domestically and internationally up to 15%, as needed.

Responsibilities

• Design and develop control systems for complex automated systems using PLCs, HMIs, vision systems, robotics, and related tech.
• Develop software, schematics, control systems, and smart automation for machines and digital products.
• Lead product design from concept to market readiness.
• Collaborate with peers, vendors, and tech platforms to provide controls solutions.
• Test, evaluate, and document new products and systems.
• Create operations and maintenance manuals and technical docs.
• Assist in installation, startup, and customer-site acceptance testing.
• Maintain technical records and performance history.

Skills

Industrial programming languages

HMI design

Industrial communications

Machine vision

Team collaboration

Education

Bachelor's degree in Electrical Engineering

Tools

Allen-Bradley PLC Platform

AutoCAD

MS Office

Job description

At AST, we enhance the efficiency, productivity, and safety of flexible aseptic manufacturing processes for 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 at a growing company? At AST we strive to build a workplace that enables every team member to meet and exceed their capabilities. We set our expectations high and provide the environment and resources necessary to bring out the very best. AST is proud of our team. Providing challenging and rewarding work, with opportunities for personal/professional development is our key to this longevity. AST is an equal opportunity employer.

Compensation for onsite WA applicants is $80,000-$120,000 annually.

Employee benefits include: Medical (HSA & PPO), Dental, Vision, Long/Short term disability, HSA account with employer contribution, 401(K) (Traditional & Roth options) with up to 5% company match, Education Assistance, Paid Time Off (PTO), Paid Holiday, and bonus potential.

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.

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.

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, advanced sensory systems including machine vision.
• Ability to travel domestically 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.

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

This is a full-time position based in Tacoma. Compensation is competitive, including salary, bonus potential, health plan options, competitive 401K match, and paid time off.