Electrical Automation Engineer

viaPhoton; Chicago (IL); On-site; USD 75,000 - 100,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Robust health, dental, and vision

401(k) with 4% match

Flexible PTO

10 paid holidays

Monthly team events

Job summary

viaPhoton in Naperville, IL is seeking an electrical design engineer to own automation machines from concept to deployment, delivering PCBAs and enclosures for fiber-optic manufacturing onsite.

You will work with machine vision, motion control, sensors, and safety standards, collaborating with engineering, operations and production to ship robust solutions for cloud-scale providers.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Electrical Engineering or related field.
• 3–5 years delivering complex automation solutions.
• Designed, documented, and fabricated automation electrical cabinets.
• Hands-on with motion control and sensor integration.
• Proficient in PCBA design and test tools; Python, C/C++, PLC ladder programming.

Responsibilities

• Own the electrical design of automation machines and PCBsAs, from greenfield concepts to legacy redesigns.
• Build novel automation machines integrating machine vision, motion control, and creative design.
• Validate electrical enclosures for safety per UL508A, NFPA 79, and ISO 13849.
• Develop and deploy computer vision systems for real-time applications and calibration.
• Collaborate with engineering, operations, and production teams to deploy workable floor-ready solutions.

Skills

Electrical design

Machine vision

Motion control

Sensor integration

Python

C/C++

PLC programming

Education

Bachelor's degree in Electrical Engineering/Mechatronics/Robotics or related field

Tools

PCB design tools

Testing tools

Job description

Who We Are

We are changing the norm by being customer-focused, technology-led. viaPhoton is reimagining fiber optic manufacturing for the AI era. We design and deliver custom-engineered, end-to-end fiber connectivity solutions for the data centers, 5G networks, and AI infrastructure shaping the next decade, and our customers need them in weeks, not months. In five years we've grown to a team of 200+ and 4x'd our revenue in the last year alone, and we're just getting started. We're looking for people who want to do their best work with a team that's moving fast.

Who We Are

We are changing the norm by being customer-focused, technology-led. viaPhoton is reimagining fiber optic manufacturing for the AI era. We design and deliver custom-engineered, end-to-end fiber connectivity solutions for the data centers, 5G networks, and AI infrastructure shaping the next decade, and our customers need them in weeks, not months. In five years we've grown to a team of 200+ and 4x'd our revenue in the last year alone, and we're just getting started. We're looking for people who want to do their best work with a team that's moving fast.

About the Role

You'll own the electrical design of one-of-a-kind automation machines that power fiber optic manufacturing, from PCBAs to full electrical enclosures. This is hands-on work that brings together machine vision, precision motion control, and electrical safety. You'll see projects through from concept to deployment and watch your designs improve how we produce for the world's biggest cloud providers.

• Own the electrical design of automation machines and PCBAs, from greenfield concepts to legacy redesigns
• Build novel automation machines that bring together machine vision, precision motion control, and creative design
• Validate electrical enclosures for human and environmental safety against standards like UL508A, NFPA 79, and ISO 13849
• Develop and deploy computer vision systems for real-time applications, including camera calibration, lighting, and micron-level resolution
• Collaborate across engineering, operations, and production teams to deliver solutions that work on the floor

What You'll Bring

• A bachelor's degree in Electrical Engineering, Mechatronics, Robotics, Motion Controls, or a related field
• 3 to 5 years delivering complex automation solutions from concept to deployment
• Have designed, documented, and fabricated automation electrical cabinets
• Hands-on experience with motion control (stepper and servo motors, solenoids, collaborative robots) and sensor integration (camera, RFID, proximity)
• Proficiency with PCBA design and test tools, plus programming in Python, C/C++, and PLC ladder programming (a cross-disciplined background is a plus)

What's in it for you?

• Robust health, dental, and vision coverage that starts on day 1
• 401(k) with 4% match, vests immediately after a 90-day waiting period
• Flexible PTO that grows over time
• 10 paid holidays, including 2 floating holidays
• Monthly team events
• Click here to view our full benefits overview.

Location

Naperville, IL

Schedule

Mon–Fri | Onsite

Compensation

$75,000 to $100,000 base, plus annual bonus

We're building something big, and we want good people along for the ride. If that sounds like you, we'd love to hear from you.

At viaPhoton, we are committed to furthering our culture of inclusion. We reinforce this through our core values and beliefs as well as our processes and strategic goals. We remind team members to seek various viewpoints, learn and be hungry with curiosity, and gain trust.

We are an equal opportunity employer and make all employment decisions based on merit and qualifications. We do not discriminate on the basis of race, color, ethnic or national origin, religion or belief, sex, pregnancy, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, age, disability, health condition, genetic information, marital or family status, military or veteran status, socioeconomic background, or any other status protected by applicable law.

We provide reasonable accommodations and adjustments throughout the hiring process. If you need one, please let us know. Any personal data you share with us is handled confidentially and in line with applicable data protection law.