Principal Controls & Automation Engineer / Start-up

Motion Recruitment Partners LLC; Boston (MA); On-site; USD 120,000 - 180,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical, dental & vision insurance

401(k) with company match

Stock options/equity participation

Professional development opportunities

High visibility and career growth

Job summary

Motion Recruitment Partners LLC in Cambridge is seeking a Senior Controls Engineer to own automation from concept through deployment for pilot and production systems. You will lead PLC, HMI, SCADA, and instrumentation initiatives, collaborating with vendors and OEMs to deliver scalable automation solutions.

The role emphasizes ownership, problem-solving, and driving continuous improvement in a fast-paced environment.

Qualifications

• 10+ years of experience in controls engineering, automation engineering, electrical engineering or related field.
• Experience designing, building, commissioning, and supporting industrial automation systems.
• Strong PLC programming experience (Allen-Bradley, Siemens, Beckhoff, or similar).
• Experience with HMI and SCADA platforms.
• Instrumentation, sensors, motors, drives, and process controls experience.
• Hands-on troubleshooting and root cause analysis skills.
• Experience working with external vendors, OEMs, integrators, and manufacturing partners.
• Ability to independently drive projects from concept through deployment.
• Experience working in fast-paced engineering environments.

Responsibilities

• Lead automation and controls architecture for pilot and production systems.
• Design, implement, and troubleshoot PLC, HMI, SCADA, and instrumentation systems.
• Partner with external vendors, contractors, and OEMs on equipment integration.
• Generate and review functional specs, I/O lists, control narratives, and commissioning docs.
• Support FAT, SAT, startup, and commissioning activities.
• Collaborate with Process, Mechanical, Manufacturing, and Software Engineering teams.

Skills

Controls engineering

Automation engineering

Electrical engineering

PLC programming

SCADA/HMI development

Instrumentation

Root cause analysis

Vendor management

Project leadership

Troubleshooting

Tools

Allen-Bradley PLCs

Siemens PLCs

Beckhoff PLCs

Ignition

FactoryTalk

DeltaV

EtherNet/IP

Modbus TCP

Profinet

Job description

Join an innovative Cambridge-based technology company developing next-generation industrial process systems and automation platforms. This full-time opportunity is ideal for a electrical engineer who thrives at the intersection of controls, instrumentation, electrical systems, and manufacturing. You'll work on cutting-edge automation technology, owning systems from concept through commissioning and helping scale breakthrough hardware from pilot operations to production environments.

This is a rare opportunity to be one of the key technical leaders in a fast-moving startup environment. We're looking for someone who enjoys rolling up their sleeves, solving complex challenges, and taking ownership from design through deployment. You'll have significant influence over automation strategy, work directly with vendors and customers, and help shape the technical direction of the company. If you're looking for a role with visibility, autonomy, and the ability to make a measurable impact, this is it.

Required Skills & Experience

• 10+ years of experience in Controls Engineering, Automation Engineering, Electrical Engineering, or a related field
• Experience designing, building, commissioning, and supporting industrial automation systems
• Strong PLC programming experience (Allen-Bradley, Siemens, Beckhoff, or similar)
• Experience with HMI and SCADA platforms
• Instrumentation, sensors, motors, drives, and process controls experience
• Hands-on troubleshooting and root cause analysis skills
• Experience working with external vendors, OEMs, integrators, and manufacturing partners
• Ability to independently drive projects from concept through deployment
• Experience working in fast-paced engineering environments

Desired Skills & Experience

• Startup or high-growth company experience
• Ignition, FactoryTalk, DeltaV, or similar automation platforms
• Electrical control panel design and review
• Process automation, manufacturing, or chemical processing experience
• Pilot plant or scale-up experience
• Industrial networking experience (EtherNet/IP, Modbus TCP, Profinet, OPC-UA)
• MES, data acquisition, or systems integration experience
• Experience mentoring junior engineers

What You Will Be Doing Tech Breakdown

• 40% PLC / Controls Engineering
• 20% SCADA / HMI Development
• 15% Instrumentation & Electrical Systems
• 15% Commissioning & Startup Activities
• 10% Vendor & System Integration Support

Daily Responsibilities

• 70% Hands On Engineering
• 10% Management / Technical Leadership
• 20% Team Collaboration

Responsibilities

• Lead automation and controls architecture for pilot and production systems
• Design, implement, and troubleshoot PLC, HMI, SCADA, and instrumentation systems
• Partner with external vendors, contractors, and OEMs on equipment integration
• Generate and review functional specifications, I/O lists, control narratives, and commissioning documentation
• Support factory acceptance testing (FAT), site acceptance testing (SAT), startup, and commissioning activities
• Collaborate with Process, Mechanical, Manufacturing, and Software Engineering teams
• Drive continuous improvement and system reliability initiatives
• Mentor junior engineers and contribute to engineering best practices

The Offer

• Competitive Base Salary
• Bonus Eligible
• Equity / Stock Options

You Will Receive The Following Benefits

• Medical, Dental, and Vision Insurance
• Paid Vacation Time
• Paid Holidays
• 401(k)
• Stock Options / Equity Participation
• Professional Development Opportunities
• High Visibility and Career Growth within a Scaling Organization

Applicants must be currently authorized to work in the United States on a full-time basis now and in the future.