Electrical and Controls Engineer

PHNX Materials Inc.; San Leandro (CA); On-site; USD 120,000 - 170,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Growth opportunities

Dynamic startup environment

Mission-driven team

Job summary

PHNX Materials is seeking an Electrical and Controls Engineer to design and deploy electrical and automation systems as we scale our technology from bench to pilot and demonstration scale. You will collaborate with R&D, process engineering, operations and external partners to deliver robust systems.

The ideal candidate has 5+ years in electrical/controls engineering, hands-on wiring, PLC/HMI expertise, and a strong foundation in power, instrumentation, and safety interlocks.

Qualifications

• 5+ years in electrical/controls engineering or industrial automation
• Hands-on wiring experience including cable splicing and termination
• Experience designing, programming, commissioning PLC- and HMI-based control systems
• Foundation in three-phase power, load calculations, and motor controls
• Experience developing safety interlocks and shutdown systems
• Proficiency in process instrumentation and control loops for temp/pressure/flow

Responsibilities

• Design and implement control systems as we scale from bench to pilot to demonstration and beyond
• Develop and validate safety interlocks, emergency stops, and safe shutdown sequences
• Scope electrical power requirements and specify power distribution, control panels, motor controls
• Translate R&D and process engineering requirements into control narratives, electrical drawings, and equipment specifications
• Perform hands-on wiring and equipment connections and lead commissioning and troubleshooting of electrical and controls systems

Skills

Electrical wiring

PLC programming

HMI development

Instrumentation

Safety interlocks

Education

Bachelor's or Master’s in Electrical/Controls Engineering

Tools

AutoCAD

P&ID drafting

Job description

Note: We can only hire U.S. nationals due to obligations around our funding.

About PHNX Materials:

China controls 98% of the world's gallium, 92% of germanium, and 93% of silicon. In 2024, China weaponized export restrictions on gallium and germanium, putting the vulnerability on full display. Each of these metals is a byproduct of heavy industry that no longer exists in the United States. We cannot reshore the supply chain because the underlying industries are gone.

PHNX is the Department of Energy's and Department of War's answer to closing that gap. We are a "solids refinery" turning industrial waste, primarily coal ash and zinc slag, into three product streams: critical metals for semiconductors and defense, cement replacement material for construction, and fertilizer for agriculture.

Our platform delivers a triple win: securing domestic critical mineral supply chains, helping power producers retire coal ash liabilities, and giving concrete producers a cheaper, lower-carbon alternative to cement. We support coal communities and remediate groundwater. PHNX was founded by Stanford, Tesla, and national lab alumni, backed by Trust Ventures, Overture, and KdT, and sponsored by the U.S. Department of War and the U.S. Department of Energy.

The Role:

We are seeking an Electrical and Controls Engineer to design and deploy the electrical and automation systems that will take our technology from bench to pilot to demonstration scale and beyond. This role will be a critical technical contributor during our scale-up phase, working cross-functionally with R&D, process engineering, operations, and external engineering partners.

The ideal candidate brings hands‑on experience wiring equipment and designing, programming, and commissioning controls for industrial systems, with a strong foundation in electrical power systems, instrumentation, and process safety. You will own control system development, design and validate safety interlocks, and scope power requirements for pilot equipment operating at a small industrial scale. This is a unique opportunity to build the systems that enable novel chemical processes to operate safely, reliably, and at increasing scale.

What You Will Own:

• Design and implement control systems as we scale from bench to pilot to demonstration and beyond, including PLC programming, HMI development, instrumentation, and data acquisition.

• Develop and validate safety interlocks, emergency stops, and safe shutdown sequences in collaboration with process engineering and operations.

• Scope electrical power requirements and specify power distribution, control panels, motor controls, and related equipment for pilot and larger-scale systems.

• Translate R&D and process engineering requirements into control narratives, electrical drawings, and equipment specifications, coordinating implementation with vendors and engineering partners.

• Perform hands‑on wiring and equipment connections and lead commissioning and troubleshooting of electrical and controls systems, including instrument calibration, loop checks, and verification of safety functions.

Who You Are:

• 5+ years of experience in electrical engineering, controls engineering, or industrial automation, ideally in chemical processing or a similarly demanding industrial environment.

• Hands‑on electrical wiring experience required, including cable splicing and termination, outlet installation, and equipment connections; experience with both low- and high‑voltage systems preferred.

• Hands‑on experience designing, programming, commissioning, and troubleshooting PLC- and HMI‑based control systems.

• A strong foundation in industrial electrical systems, including three-phase power, load calculations, power distribution, motor controls, and electrical protection.

• Experience developing safety interlocks and shutdown systems, with an understanding of functional safety principles and the distinction between process controls and safety functions.

• Proficiency in specifying process instrumentation and implementing control loops for temperature, pressure, flow, level, and other critical operating parameters.

• Strong ability to read, interpret, and draft electrical schematics, with experience developing panel layouts, P&IDs, control narratives, and I/O lists.

• Ideally, experience bringing pilot plants or manufacturing facilities from design through startup and operation.

• Comfortable working directly with equipment and collaborating across R&D, engineering, operations, and external partners in a rapidly evolving startup environment.

• Bachelor's / Master’s degree in Electrical Engineering, Controls Engineering, or a related discipline.

• A commitment to safety, environmental responsibility, and engineering rigor.

What We Offer:

• Opportunity to shape and build a facility tackling major challenges.

• Dynamic startup environment with mission-driven team and room for growth.

• The chance to revolutionize heavy industries.

PHNX Materials is an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, race, color, religion, disability, protected Veteran status, age, or any other characteristic protected by applicable laws.