Controls Technician (2nd Shift)

Base Power; Austin (TX); On-site; USD 65,000 - 90,000; Full time

Job summary

Base Power is hiring a hands-on controls engineering technician to keep production lines healthy on the floor. You will work closely with the controls team to diagnose faults, online with Siemens PLCs, and adjust Fanuc robots under engineering direction.

This role focuses on first-line diagnostics, plant-wide system understanding, and documentation, with potential growth into more ownership of the automation architecture over time.

Qualifications

• 2+ years hands-on experience in industrial automation.
• Familiar with Siemens TIA Portal or STEP 7 and online navigation.
• Experience jogging and troubleshooting Fanuc robots (R-30iB+).
• Basic understanding of SCADA/HMI; Ignition is a plus.
• Ability to read electrical schematics and I/O wiring diagrams.
• Strong on-floor situational awareness and clear documentation.
• Exposure to PROFINET or similar fieldbus protocols.
• Familiarity with functional safety concepts and AGV systems.
• Willingness to work 2nd shift: 3:30pm–12:00am CST.

Responsibilities

• Go online with Siemens PLCs to monitor, diagnose, and trace faults to their cause.
• Jog and run Fanuc robot programs; identify issues and perform minor edits.
• Use Ignition SCADA/HMI to monitor line status and review tag history.
• Respond to line stoppages with first-right data collection for root-cause analysis.
• Document fault history and observations in a clear, usable format.
• Support commissioning, upgrades, and change verification with engineers.
• Learn system architecture across conveyors, AGVs, robots, and safety systems.

Skills

Industrial automation

Siemens TIA Portal

Fanuc robots

SCADA/HMI (Ignition)

Electrical schematics

PROFINET/fieldbus

Safety concepts

AGV systems

2nd shift readiness

On-floor fault diagnosis

Tools

Ignition SCADA

Siemens STEP 7

Siemens TIA Portal

Fanuc R-30iB controller

PROFINET

Job description

About Base

Base is America’s next-generation power company. We’re rebuilding the foundation of modern civilization–electricity–by deploying a vast network of distributed batteries that is transforming today’s fragile, centralized grid into a resilient and abundant system. We are engineers, operators, and creatives solving some of the most complex, interdisciplinary challenges of our time.

About the Role

We’re building battery systems at scale, and keeping our production lines running is what makes that possible. We’re looking for a hands-on controls engineering technician to be the first line of response when something stops — or before it does. You’ll work directly alongside the controls engineering team, owning day-to-day line health while they focus on deeper system development.

This isn’t a desk job. You’ll be on the floor, online with PLCs, moving through robot programs, and hunting down faults before they become downtime.

What You’ll Do

• Go online with Siemens S7-series PLCs to monitor, diagnose, and identify fault conditions — not just read the alarm, but trace it back to the cause

• Jog and run Fanuc robot programs, step through sequences, identify positional or logic issues, and perform minor program touchups under engineering direction

• Use Ignition SCADA/HMI to monitor line status, review tag history, and identify trends that indicate developing issues

• Respond to line stoppages and perform first-response diagnostics — gather the right data so the controls engineering team can resolve the root cause efficiently

• Document fault history, observations, and recurring issues in a clear, usable format

• Support PMs and controls engineers on commissioning, upgrades, and change verification

• Learn system architecture across the line — conveyors, AGVs, robots, safety systems — and build toward owning more of it over time

What You'll Bring

• 2+ years of hands-on experience in an industrial automation environment

• Working familiarity with Siemens TIA Portal or STEP 7 — able to go online, navigate program blocks, and interpret ladder or FBD logic

• Experience jogging and troubleshooting Fanuc robots — R-30iB controller or newer preferred

• Basic understanding of SCADA/HMI platforms; Ignition experience is a plus

• Ability to read electrical schematics and I/O wiring diagrams

• Strong situational awareness on the floor — you notice things other people walk past

• Clear written communication; you’ll be documenting faults and observations that the engineering team depends on

• Exposure to PROFINET or other industrial fieldbus protocols

• Familiarity with PROFIsafe or functional safety concepts

• Experience with AGV systems or automated material handling

• Ability to work 2nd shift hours (3:30pm CST - 12:00am CST)

About the Team

Base Power's mission is keeping homes powered through grid failures — and that promise only holds if our manufacturing lines run without fail. The controls team exists to make that possible: we’re building Base's controls standard from scratch, owning the electrical and software architecture that drives production. We write modern, scalable automation software — but the measure of success is whether it works, not whether it's impressive. No over engineering, no technology for its own sake — just systems that are reliable, maintainable, and built to last as we grow.

Please note: Base is a startup, which means priorities shift and evolve quickly. Your role may expand or change based on the needs of the business at any given time, so the responsibilities listed may not be exhaustive.