Senior Automation Control Engineer

Nulixir Inc.; Austin (TX); On-site; USD 70,000 - 100,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health, Dental and Vision Insurance

Stock options

Annual performance bonus

Job summary

Nulixir is building a cutting-edge automated beverage production and canning facility in Austin. We seek a skilled PLC Programmer to bring automation systems online, develop, test, and deploy control software on multiple PLC platforms, and drive long-term reliability and optimization across the manufacturing stack.

Ideal candidates have 1–3+ years in industrial PLC programming, a technical degree, and familiarity with IEC 61131-3 languages.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in a technical field and hands-on PLC programming experience.
• Experience in food/beverage or consumer packaged goods manufacturing is preferred.
• Ability to translate process diagrams into robust control logic.
• Proven troubleshooting and hardware integration capabilities.

Responsibilities

• Design, develop, and deploy PLC code for beverage production and canning.
• Translate process flow diagrams and I/O requirements into control logic.
• Ensure final programs are tested, documented, and uploaded to controllers.
• Support multiple PLC platforms and hardware integration.
• Optimize communication across industrial networks (Ethernet/IP, Profinet, Modbus).
• Assist on-site commissioning and diagnose automation issues to maintain readiness.
• Collaborate with production and engineering to refine logic as needs evolve.

Skills

IEC 61131-3 (Ladder Logic)

Structured Text

I/O configuration

SCADA/HMI knowledge

Industrial networking (Ethernet/IP/Pro

Modbus

Troubleshooting

Documentation

Education

Bachelor's degree in Electrical Engineering, Automation, Computer Science or related technical field

Tools

Allen-Bradley PLCs

Siemens PLCs

Omron PLCs

Mitsubishi PLCs

Schneider PLCs

Job description

Nulixir, a nano-biotechnology start-up, is a VC-backed business-to-business (B2B) company that develops, manufactures, and licenses intellectual property (IP) for smart nanocarriers, called nanovesicles, which optimize the performance of functional ingredients in food & beverage products. Nulixir, as the Function HouseTM, is revolutionizing the functional ingredient space by introducing a realm of functionality and shaping the future of intelligent food. This patented technology (70+ patents) has applications across multiple verticals in food and beverage (e.g., nootropics, energy stimulants, vitamins, probiotics, protein, etc.).

Founded in 2019, the company brought together a team of CPG leaders, cancer researchers, US attorneys, and nutritionists to overcome long-standing challenges in the Food and Beverage Industry. The firm’s founder has extensive experience in the development of nanocarriers for cancer therapeutics.

In the past-year, Nulixir sales have grown ~8x with strong interest from small, mid-size and many large CPG companies to partner with Nulixir and incorporate the technology in their products. Nulixir boasts an impressive board of senior executives from companies like Pepsi, Danone, McKinsey & Company, Paine Schwartz Partners, etc. The company currently has 30+ employees with a stellar executive team who come from food B2B companies such as ADM, Givaudan, Kerry, and ex-MBB consultants.

Position Overview

Are you a dynamic, highly organized, and proactive professional looking to make a significant impact at a cutting-edge company? Nulixir, a leader in the food and beverage innovation industry, is searching for a top-tier Automation and Controls Engineer reporting to our Director of Manufacturing. This is not just a job; it’s an opportunity to be at the heart of a fast-growing, innovative company that is transforming the way we consume nutrients.

Nulixir is launching a fully automated beverage production and canning facility and is seeking a highly skilled PLC Programmer to help bring our automation systems online—and to ensure they continue running at peak performance. This is a hands-on, mission-critical role where you will not only develop, test, and deploy PLC code across a variety of controllers and systems, but also support the long-term reliability, optimization, and evolution of our automation infrastructure.

You will collaborate with operations, manufacturing, and senior leadership teams to translate process flows into functional code and provide ongoing support as we scale production, introduce new SKUs, and continuously improve system performance. This role requires a blend of deep technical expertise, strong problem-solving skills, and a proactive mindset. It reports to the Head of Manufacturing and plays a key part in both our initial launch and ongoing operational success.

Position Location

This position will be IN-PERSON at our HQ facilities located in the Austin, TX Metropolitan Area.

In this critically important role, you will be responsible for:

Automation System Development

• Design, develop, and deploy PLC code for various stages of beverage production and canning
• Translate process flow diagrams and I/O requirements into efficient control logic
• Ensure final programs are fully tested, documented, and ready for upload to controllers

Multi-Platform Integration

• Support programing and configuring a variety of PLC platforms primarily Allen-Bradley, but potentially Siemens, Omron, Mitsubishi, and Schneider as well
• Integrate sensors, actuators, drives, and other hardware into functional automation sequences
• Optimize communication and performance across industrial networks (Ethernet/IP, Profinet, Modbus)
• Support on-site commissioning of control systems
• Diagnose and resolve automation issues to ensure operational readiness
• Collaborate with production and engineering teams to refine logic and improve performance on an ongoing basis as production requirements change

Relevant Job Experiences, Skills, and Key requirements for this role

Education and Experience

• Bachelor's degree in Electrical Engineering, Automation, Computer Science or related technical field
• 1-3+ years of industrial PLC programming experience
• Experience in food and beverage or consumer packaged goods manufacturing environments strongly preferred

Skills and Competencies

• Knowledgable on IEC 61131-3 languages including Ladder Logic and Structured Text
• Able to independently interpret technical documentation and process descriptions
• Experience with industrial hardware integration and I/O configuration
• Working knowledge of SCADA/HMI tools such as FactoryTalk View, TIA Portal, or Ignition is a strong plus
• Strong troubleshooting, diagnostic, and communication skills
• Capable of using simulation or emulation tools for off-site code testing
• Self-starter with high accountability and ability to work in fast-paced environments

Other

• Excited to work at an early-stage start-up (prior start-up experience is a plus)
• Ambitious and driven to grow with the company
• Strong problem solving toolkit
• Willing to learn and be coached

Pay Range

• $70 - $100K
• Stock Options (after initial employment period)

Why Join Nulixir?

Innovative Environment - Be part of a pioneering company at the forefront of food and beverage innovation.

Impactful Role - Play a crucial role in the company’s growth and success by supporting the CEO.

Growth Opportunities - Access to professional development and career advancement opportunities within a dynamic and growing company.

Collaborative Culture - Work with a passionate and driven team dedicated to making a difference in the industry.

Competitive Compensation - Enjoy a competitive salary and comprehensive benefits package.

We Offer

• A unique and diverse company culture, shaped by people with commitment, sense of responsibility, risk-taking and discipline
• An excellent start-up work environment, flat hierarchy, and short decision paths
• Health, Dental and Vision Insurance
• Annual Performance Bonus; and
• Stock options

We recruit, promote, and reward based off of our five core values:

Sleeves Up - At Nulixir, we provide the autonomy and creativity needed to own your role, iterate where needed and drive impact on a massive scale.

100% Transparency - Nulixir is passionate about open feedback at all levels of the company. This allows us to fail fast, create in real time and build an open company culture.

Be Defiantly Grea t - We are defiant, that’s in our lifeblood, we accomplish what other people think are impossible. Challenging the status quo is our lifeblood.

Unconditional Empathy - Our customers are real people with real business needs, and we are here to listen and tackle accordingly. If we care and respect each other, there is no challenge we can’t overcome.

Be the solution, not just the critic - take ownership and drive collaboration. We work together and we build together.