Senior Control Engineer

Pentangle Tech Services | P5 Group; Boston (MA); On-site; USD 120,000 - 180,000; Full time

Job summary

Pentangle Tech Services | P5 Group is seeking a Senior Controls Engineer to maintain and optimize the soft PLC layer (CODESYS) on Linux-based IPCs connected to electrical panels. The role demands an embedded software mindset and experience with Structured Text codebases.

The ideal candidate will bridge hardware and software, refactor for reliability, and lead field deployments with a hands-on approach to industrial hardware.

Qualifications

• Proficient in Embedded Software Engineering with hands-on C/C++ coding.
• Strong Structured Text experience is required.
• Experience with Linux-based IPCs and hardware integration.
• Ability to debug real-time systems and perform root-cause analysis.

Responsibilities

• Own maintenance, debugging, and optimization of soft PLC code on local IPCs.
• Refactor code to improve reliability and testing methodologies.
• Manage remote deployments and rollbacks to industrial hardware.
• Troubleshoot electro-mechanical systems and sensor inputs on machinery.
• Collaborate with mechanical and software teams to bridge software and hardware.

Skills

CODESYS

Structured Text

C/C++

Embedded software

Linux

Industrial IPCs

Education

Electrical/Computer Engineering degree

Tools

CODESYS IDE

Job description

We are seeking a Senior Controls Engineer to support and optimize the controls layer of next-generation automated machinery. This role focuses on maintaining a soft PLC platform (CODESYS) running on Linux-based Industrial PCs (IPCs) directly connected to electrical panels.

This is a highly challenging role requiring an embedded software mindset. You will inherit an existing codebase programmed in Structured Text and will be responsible for untangling complex logic, optimizing global variables, and improving deployment reliability.

The ideal candidate is an engineer who thrives at the intersection of hardware and software and is adaptable enough to navigate a constrained IDE environment.

Responsibilities

• Own the maintenance, debugging, and optimization of soft PLC code (CODESYS / Structured Text) running on local IPCs.
• Refactor existing code to improve reliability, reduce duplication, and introduce better testing methodologies.
• Manage remote deployments and rollbacks to industrial hardware in the field.
• Troubleshoot complex electro-mechanical systems, sensor inputs, and barcode integrations directly on the machinery.
• Collaborate closely with mechanical and software teams to bridge the gap between high-level orchestration software and physical motor control.
• Create and maintain detailed technical documentation, design notes, and operational runbooks.
• Bachelor’s degree in Electrical Engineering, Computer Engineering, or related field.
• Strong experience in Embedded Software Engineering, specifically with C/C++ programming.
• Recent and strong Structured Text experience is an absolute must.
• Willingness and ability to quickly learn and adapt to Structured Text and the CODESYS IDE environment.
• Hands-on experience working directly with industrial hardware, IPCs, and Linux-based systems.
• Strong debugging and root-cause analysis skills for complex, real-time systems.

Additional Skills & Qualifications

• Direct experience with soft PLCs or IEC-3 programming languages.
• Experience with servo-based motion control systems.
• Comfort operating without traditional high-level software tools.
• Work directly with industrial hardware in a Linux-based system environment.
• Navigate constrained IDE environments without standard unit/integration testing frameworks.
• Collaborate closely with mechanical and software teams to bridge software and hardware functionalities.