Controls Engineer (Engineer / Senior / Staff)

Deterrence; Mesquite (TX); On-site; USD 90,000 - 130,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Equity

Medical

Dental

Vision

Uncapped PTO

Travel assignment premium

Job summary

Deterrence Defense, Inc. in the Dallas-area production site seeks an experienced Controls Engineer to own PLC and HMI/SCADA development for our automated equipment.

You will design, program, integrate, and commission control systems on the floor, supporting ramp and production. Responsibilities span Siemens TIA Portal, Ignition SCADA, and FANUC robotics; lead I/O checkout and FAT/SAT, read schematics, and implement safety architectures per ISO/IEC standards.

Qualifications

• Hands-on proficiency with Siemens TIA Portal; experience with Ignition or comparable SCADA.
• Experience commissioning equipment on a live production floor.
• Working knowledge of machine safety standards and safety-rated motion.
• Ability to read electrical schematics and panel drawings.
• Revision control experience (GitHub, Siemens Project Server, or similar).

Responsibilities

• Design and implement Siemens PLC control systems for automated production equipment.
• Develop HMI/SCADA screens, UDTs, faceplates, and alarming in Ignition.
• Design and specify industrial control panels (480VAC / 24VDC), I/O architecture, and device networks.
• Configure and integrate servos, VFDs, vision systems, sensors, and safety devices (ProfiSafe, fail-safe I/O).
• Implement safety architectures aligned with ISO 13849, IEC 61508, and ISO 10218.
• Program in ST (SCL), LAD, FBD, and SFC; maintain code under revision control.

Skills

Industrial controls experience

On-floor live production commissioning

Revision control familiarity

Education

Bachelor's degree in Electrical/Controls/Mechatronics or related engineering

Tools

Siemens TIA Portal

Ignition SCADA

FANUC robotics

Job description

Summary

The Controls Engineer designs, programs, integrates, and commissions the control and safety systems that run Deterrence's automated manufacturing equipment at our Dallas-area production site. This is an execution role: you will own PLC and HMI/SCADA development for assigned equipment, bring systems up on the floor, and support production through ramp. Primary platforms are Siemens TIA Portal, Ignition SCADA, and FANUC robotics. We are hiring multiple engineers across levels; scope and independence scale with level.

Key Responsibilities

• Design and implement Siemens PLC control systems for automated production equipment.
• Develop HMI/SCADA screens, UDTs, faceplates, and alarming in Ignition.
• Design and specify industrial control panels (480VAC / 24VDC), I/O architecture, and device networks.
• Configure and integrate servos, VFDs, vision systems, sensors, and safety devices (ProfiSafe, fail-safe I/O).
• Implement safety architectures aligned with ISO 13849, IEC 61508, and ISO 10218.
• Program in ST (SCL), LAD, FBD, and SFC; maintain code under revision control.
• Integrate Profinet, OPC UA, Modbus TCP, and Ethernet/IP devices.
• Integrate and validate FANUC robot cells with PLC and safety controllers.
• Lead I/O checkout, system bring-up, FAT/SAT, and production support on the floor.
• Troubleshoot controls, network, and electromechanical faults to root cause.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Electrical, Controls, Mechatronics, or related engineering field, or equivalent experience.
• Engineer: 2+ years · Senior: 5+ years · Staff: 8+ years in industrial controls on production equipment.
• Hands-on proficiency with Siemens TIA Portal; experience with Ignition or comparable SCADA.
• Experience commissioning equipment on a live production floor.
• Working knowledge of machine safety standards and safety-rated motion.
• Ability to read electrical schematics and panel drawings.
• Revision control experience (GitHub, Siemens Project Server, or similar).

Staff additionally owns controls architecture for a full equipment line, leads design reviews, mentors engineers, and interfaces directly with the customer's controls and maintenance teams.

Preferred Skills

• Ignition Core Certification or higher.
• ROBOGUIDE or other virtual commissioning tools.
• Brownfield retrofit and multi-vendor integration experience.
• Industrial networking fundamentals (VLANs, managed switches, network diagnostics).

Compensation

This role is eligible for equity (employee stock options) and benefits including medical, dental, vision, and uncapped paid time off. Roles with significant travel may be eligible for an assignment premium.

Export Control.

This position may require access to information controlled under the International Traffic in Arms Regulations (ITAR) or Export Administration Regulations (EAR). Applicants must be a U.S. person as defined in 22 CFR 120.62 (U.S. citizen, lawful permanent resident, or protected individual) or be eligible to obtain any required authorization.

Equal Opportunity.

Deterrence Defense, Inc. is an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, age, disability, veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by law. We are committed to working with and providing reasonable accommodations to applicants with disabilities; if you need an accommodation at any point in the process, contact [e-mail].