Controls Engineer, PLC Programming

Espace; Arlington (TX); On-site; USD 85,000 - 110,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Competitive salaries

Continuous learning and development

Health and wellness care options

Paid holidays

Paid time off

Job summary

Espace, located in Arlington, Texas, is seeking a Controls Engineer to architect advanced control systems for IoT solutions. Candidates should have deep expertise with Beckhoff TwinCAT 3 and EtherCAT automation platforms. Strong software design and hardware integration abilities are required.

This position offers competitive salaries, health care options, and opportunities for continuous learning. Expect to be part of a dedicated team focused on building innovative space-based communication systems.

Qualifications

• 3-8 years hands-on Beckhoff/TwinCAT 3 experience in production automation.
• Strong software design capability with hands-on hardware integration experience.

Responsibilities

• Design, develop, and maintain automation controls using Beckhoff PLCs.
• Create structured, modular code in Structured Text and Function Block Diagram.
• Configure EtherCAT topologies and implement state machines.
• Integrate Beckhoff systems with Fanuc robots and external sensors.

Skills

PLC programming in Structured Text

Motion control tuning

EtherCAT configuration

Familiarity with Fanuc robots

Understanding of electric schematics

Education

B.S. or M.S. in Electrical Engineering, Mechatronics, Controls, or equivalent

Job description

Ready to make connectivity from space universally accessible, secure and actionable? Then you’ve come to the right place!

E-Space is bridging Earth and space to enable hyper-scaled deployments of Internet of Things (IoT) solutions and services. We are building a highly advanced low Earth orbit (LEO) space system that will fundamentally change the design, economics, manufacturing and service delivery associated with traditional satellite and terrestrial IoT systems.

We’re intentional, we’re unapologetically curious and we’re 100% committed to innovate space-based communications and deliver actionable intelligence that will expand global economies, protect space and our planet and enhance our overall quality of life.

Overview

We are seeking a Controls Engineer with deep expertise in Beckhoff TwinCAT 3 and EtherCAT-based automation to architect, program, and deploy advanced control systems across robotic and precision-assembly manufacturing lines. The ideal candidate combines strong software design capability with hands-on hardware integration experience, ensuring world-class reliability and throughput.

Responsibilities

• Design, develop, and maintain automation controls using Beckhoff PLCs (CX / IPC series) and TwinCAT 3.
• Create structured, modular code in Structured Text (ST) and Function Block Diagram (FBD).
• Configure EtherCAT topologies, motion axes, and I/O mapping for deterministic real-time control.
• Implement state machines, PID loops, and coordinated motion for robotics, conveyors, and process equipment.
• Integrate Beckhoff systems with Fanuc robots, FerRobotics tools, and external sensors over TCP/IP, OPC-U A, and Modbus- TCP.
• Conduct real-time debugging, trace analysis, and optimization of PLC cycles and task priorities.
• Support on-site commissioning, troubleshooting, and handover of production-ready automation cells.
• Develop and maintain code libraries, templates, and configuration management standards.
• Collaborate with electrical design, mechanical, and manufacturing engineers to ensure integrated system performance.
• Support MES and ERP data connectivity for traceability and production analytics.

Qualifications

• Education: B.S. or M.S. in Electrical Engineering, Mechatronics, Controls, or equivalent.
• Experience: 3-8 years hands-on Beckhoff/TwinCAT 3 experience in production automation.

Technical Skills

• PLC programming in Structured Text, Ladder, and FBD.
• Motion control tuning, EtherCAT configuration, and real-time synchronization.
• Familiarity with Fanuc robots, end effectors, and safety PLCs.
• Understanding of electrical schematics, servo drives, and industrial communication protocols.

Preferred

Experience in aerospace, semiconductor, or satellite manufacturing.

Working Conditions

As a member of our team, you will play a crucial role in driving our success. Our team members have a strong sense of dedication and responsibility; this includes a strong commitment to our mission to create an entirely new suite of global capabilities to improve lives, business efficiencies and build a smarter planet. This means that there will be times when extra hours, including nights and weekends, may be needed to meet critical deadlines and mission goals.

Benefits

• An opportunity to really make a difference
• Sustainability at our core
• Fair and honest workplace
• Innovative thinking is encouraged
• Competitive salaries
• Continuous learning and development
• Health and wellness care options
• Financial solutions for the future
• Optional legal services (US only)
• Paid holidays
• Paid time off