Industrial Automation Software Engineer (PLC/SCADA)

Jobtailor; Newport News (VA); On-site; USD 95,000 - 140,000; Full time

Job summary

Jobtailor is seeking a controls software engineer in Newport News, VA, to design, develop, test, and deploy software for production equipment, controls systems, and manufacturing workflows. This role requires collaboration with hardware teams and multidisciplinary engineering groups.

The candidate will analyze user needs, ensure standards compliance, and contribute to long-range control improvements while supporting plant operations with detailed documentation and training.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's Degree and 5 years of relevant exempt experience; OR Master’s Degree and 3 years of relevant professional experience; OR Ph.D. and 0 years of experience
• ABET engineer degree from accredited engineer program
• U.S. Citizenship required
• Knowledge of PLC programming and logic development
• Experience with SCADA, MES, or industrial protocols
• Experience with file transfer protocols for CNC/DNC communications and management systems
• Experience developing or maintaining industrial software applications
• Familiarity with Linux, Windows Server, virtual machines, or networking fundamentals
• Strong troubleshooting skills across software and controls systems
• Robotics/machine automation knowledge
• Human Machine Interfaces (HMI)
• Relay interfaces
• Understanding of electrical and mechanical components and how they work together as a system
• Development and/or interpretation of electrical, mechanical and controls schematics

Responsibilities

• Design, develop, document, test, and debug applications software and systems
• Conduct multidisciplinary research and collaborate with equipment designers and hardware engineers
• Determine computer user needs and analyze system capabilities to resolve software and systems problems
• Prepare operating instructions and develop compilers, assemblers, utility programs, and operating systems
• Ensure software standards are met
• Develop, maintain, and integrate software solutions supporting production equipment, controls systems, manufacturing workflows, utility infrastructure, building operating systems, and submarine delivery/transportation systems
• Participate in project reviews and evaluate machine controls requirements
• Support specification development and scope new machines
• Review design boilerplates and suggest required features or requirements
• Verify specifications align with production needs and integration standards
• Support installation, configuration, turnover, and acceptance testing for manufacturing software and automation systems
• Maintain software repositories, version control, and configuration baselines
• Create and maintain databases for findings, corrective actions, machine data, and production analytics
• Serve as application administrator for Manufacturing Engineering software tools
• Diagnose issues across software, controls, networking, and manufacturing systems
• Provide technical direction to maintenance personnel and controls technicians
• Develop a long-range strategic plan for controls improvements
• Develop and maintain technical training for junior engineers and controls technicians
• Work with Manufacturing Engineering, Production, IT, Automation, and vendor partners to support plant operations

Skills

PLC Programming

SCADA Experience

Industrial Software Development

Troubleshooting Skills

HMI

Robotics knowledge

Education

Bachelor's Degree

Master's Degree

Ph.D.

ABET Engineer Degree

Tools

Linux

Windows Server

Virtual Machines

Networking Fundamentals

CNC/DNC Management

Job description

Jobtailor is seeking a controls software engineer in Newport News, VA, to design, develop, test, and deploy software for production equipment, controls systems, and manufacturing workflows. This role requires collaboration with hardware teams and multidisciplinary engineering groups.

The candidate will analyze user needs, ensure standards compliance, and contribute to long-range control improvements while supporting plant operations with detailed documentation and training.