Controls Hardware Engineer

Pacific Fusion; Fremont (CA); On-site; USD 138,000 - 207,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Equity plan

401k matching

Generous PTO

Medical, Dental, and Vision insurance

Job summary

Pacific Fusion seeks a Controls Hardware Engineer to bridge project teams and define control system requirements. You will design significant parts of our main control system and work with electrical schematics, 24VDC and 480VAC power, PLC/HMI hardware, and safety interlocks.

Requirements include a BS in Electrical/Controls Engineering and 5+ years in industrial automation, plus experience with NFPA standards.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Electrical Engineering, Controls Engineering, or related field.
• 5+ years of experience in industrial automation or control system design.
• Proficiency with PLC-based systems.
• Experience with VFDs, servo drives, and motion control systems.
• Familiarity with systems operating at 24VDC and 480VAC.
• Strong understanding of NFPA 70/70E/79 and IEC 61511 standards.
• Proven ability to develop system requirements and translate them into design documentation.

Responsibilities

• Develop control architectures for safety-critical and utility systems.
• Design electrical schematics, control panels, and wiring diagrams for 24VDC control and 480VAC drive power systems.
• Specify and integrate PLC, HMI, and communication hardware. Configure and commission VFDs, servo drives, and motion control systems.
• Implement and verify safety interlock and process control logic in accordance with SIS and NFPA standards.
• Develop and test PLC programs using structured and modular programming practices.
• Conduct system-level integration testing, troubleshooting, and commissioning support.
• Work with instrumentation and field devices to ensure proper control and feedback integration.
• Develop technical documentation including I/O lists, control narratives, functional requirements, and validation test procedures.

Skills

Industrial automation experience

Proficiency with PLC-based systems

VFDs and servo drives

Motion control systems

24VDC and 480VAC knowledge

NFPA/SIS/IEC 61511 familiarity

Translate requirements to design docs

Education

Bachelor's degree in Electrical/Controls Engineering or related field

Job description

Pacific Fusion was founded in 2023 with the mission to power the world with abundant, affordable, clean energy.

We are rapidly designing and building a pulser-driven inertial fusion system to achieve net facility gain (more fusion energy output than stored energy input). In parallel, we are developing the key components required to build affordable fusion systems.

Our plans are ambitious. We have raised over $900M so far from incredible investors, resourcing us to deliver on these plans. We are bringing together the best scientists, engineers, and operators from the fusion community, hard tech industry, and other sectors. We are united by a shared sense of urgency to provide clean power for the world, particularly managing climate change while meeting growing global energy demand. You can read more about us in this letter from our founders .

Why This Role Matters

As a Controls Hardware Engineer, you will be an instrumental part of interfacing between project teams and gathering controls oriented requirements. Primarily you will take those requirements and design significant parts of our main control system. This role requires an individual who has a passion for controls engineering, and would like to grow in hardware design and implementation.

What You'll Do

• Requirements & System Definition
  • Collaborate with cross-functional engineering teams and system stakeholders to develop, document, and validate control system requirements
  • Translate functional and safety requirements into detailed control logic, hardware specifications, and test criteria
  • Participate in design and hazard reviews to ensure system requirements align with performance, safety, and reliability goals
• Control System Design and Implementation
  • Develop control architectures for safety-critical and utility systems
  • Design electrical schematics, control panels, and wiring diagrams for 24VDC control and 480VAC drive power systems
  • Specify and integrate PLC, HMI, and communication hardware. Configure and commission VFDs, servo drives, and motion control systems
  • Implement and verify safety interlock and process control logic in accordance with SIS and NFPA standards
• Software Development and Integration
  • Develop and test PLC programs using structured and modular programming practices
  • Conduct system-level integration testing, troubleshooting, and commissioning support
  • Work with instrumentation and field devices to ensure proper control and feedback integration
• Compliance and Documentation
  • Ensure system designs comply with NFPA 70 (NEC), NFPA 70E, NFPA 79, and SIS/IEC 61511 standards
  • Develop technical documentation including I/O lists, control narratives, functional requirements, and validation test procedures
  • Support safety validation, risk assessments, and functional testing throughout the system lifecycle
• Collaboration and Technical Leadership
  • Serve as a technical point of contact for controls-related
    aspects of multidisciplinary projects
  • Work closely with fabrication, installation, and operations teams
    to ensure design intent and performance goals are achieved
  • Contribute to continuous improvement of design methods,
    documentation standards, and controls best practices

What You Bring

• Bachelor's degree in Electrical Engineering, Controls Engineering, or
  related field
• 5+ years of experience in industrial automation or control system
  design
• Proficiency with PLC-based systems
• Experience with VFDs, servo drives, and motion control systems
• Familiarity with systems operating at 24VDC and 480AC
• Strong understanding of NFPA 70/70E/79 and functional safety (IEC
  61511) standards
• Proven ability to develop system requirements and translate them into
  detailed design documentation

Bonus Points For

• Experience with safety PLCs and interlock logic design
• Background in large scientific facilities, or other high-reliability
  environments
• CAD experience, EPLAN experience is a significant plus!

Pay Range:

$138,100 - $207,100 USD

Total Compensation & Benefits for Eligible Employees

Equity plan

6% employer 401k matching

Generous paid time off (including sick leave, vacation, paid family leave)

Medical, Dental, and Vision insurance

Actual base salary offered will be determined by: experience, skills, and work location. This range is for base salary, our total compensation includes equity and benefits. We welcome you to apply even if your expectations are outside our listed range.

Pacific Fusion is committed to creating a diverse environment and is proud to be an Equal Opportunity Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, gender, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, national origin, genetics, disability, age, or veteran status.

Pacific Fusion is committed to providing reasonable accommodations for qualified individuals with disabilities in our job application procedures and throughout employment. If you need assistance or any accommodation, please let us know.