Early Career Machine Controls & Instrumentation Engineer

Karman Industries; Los Angeles (CA); On-site; USD 75,000 - 110,000; Full time

Job summary

Karman Industries, headquartered in Signal Hill, California, is seeking a motivated early-career Machine Controls and Instrumentation Engineer to bring control concepts to deployed units. From day one you will own PLC programming, instrument selection, process control development, electrical design, integration, and hands-on troubleshooting, with opportunities to travel to customer sites for commissioning.

This role supports disruptive heat processing tech for data centers and AI factories in a

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Mechanical or Electrical or aerospace engineering or related discipline.
• Some experience with computer programming.
• Strong problem-solving instincts and interest in controls engineering; on-site work and occasional travel.

Responsibilities

• Translate system operation into state machines, CA diagrams, control narratives, and instrument lists.
• Size and select instruments for high pressure/temperature thermal systems.
• Design electrical schematics and control panels with internal/external partners.
• Program and test PLC/IPC software.
• Develop HMI dashboards.
• Install, wire, and troubleshoot instruments and control panels.

Skills

PLC programming

Instrument selection

Process control

Modeling

Electrical design

Troubleshooting

Education

Bachelor’s degree in Mechanical Engineering or Electrical Engineering or Aerospace

Tools

PLC/IPC software

Job description

Karman Industries

Long Beach, CA/ Gardena, CA

Founded in 2024 and headquartered in Signal Hill, California, Karman Industries is at the forefront of revolutionizing industrial thermal energy. Our mission is to electrify global thermal systems across data centers, manufacturing, and energy industries. Karman is developing the revolutionary Heat Processing Unit (HPU) to reinvent thermal handling for giga-scale data centers & AI factories. The HPU is built around a supercritical CO2 chiller system utilizing a high-speed electrically driven turbomachinery core. Our system aims to reduce energy consumption in data center thermal management by greater than 25% and increase energy density by 10x.

At Karman Industries, we are committed to fostering a dynamic and inclusive work environment where innovation thrives. Our team is composed of passionate professionals dedicated to making a tangible impact on the future of industrial manufacturing. Join us in our mission to transform the industry and contribute to a more sustainable world.

Machine Controls and Instrumentation Engineer

Karman Industries is seeking a motivated early career engineer to join our team to help bring our control systems from whiteboard ideas to deployed units running at customer sites. You’ll join an experienced, hands-on team with a direct role in all facets of industrial controls engineering. As an early career position, you will have the opportunity to develop a skillset that is required of all machinery. This is not a glorified internship, from day one you will have ownership over PLC programming, instrument selection, process control development and modeling, electrical design and integration, and myriad other responsibilities. You will also quickly gain experience with hands-on integration, troubleshooting, and commissioning activities.

Responsibilities:

• Work with systems engineers and controls engineers to understand the intended operation of Karman machinery. Translate these understandings into state machines, cause & effect diagrams, control narratives, and instrument lists.

• Size and select instruments for use in high pressure and high temperature thermal systems.

• Partner with internal and external partners to design electrical schematics and control panels.

• Program and test PLC/IPC software.

• Develop HMI dashboards.

• Install, wire, and troubleshoot instruments and control panels.

Required Qualifications:

• Bachelor’s degree in Mechanical Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Aerospace engineering, or a related discipline

• Some experience with computer programming.

• Strong problem-solving instincts and a genuine interest in controls engineering as a career path.
  Ability to work on-site and travel occasionally to customer sites for commissioning support

Karman Industries is an Equal Opportunity Employer; employment with Karman Industries is governed on the basis of merit, competence and qualifications and will not be influenced in any manner by race, color, religion, gender, national origin/ethnicity, veteran status, disability status, age, sexual orientation, gender identity, marital status, mental or physical disability or any other legally protected status.