Senior Controls Hardware Engineer - Industrial Automation

Fusion Energy Base; San Leandro (CA); On-site; USD 90,000 - 140,000; Full time

Job summary

Fusion Energy Base is seeking a Controls Hardware Engineer to design and implement control systems for safety-critical and utility applications. You will translate requirements into hardware specs, develop PLC programs, and lead system integration efforts across fabrication and operations teams.

The role emphasizes NFPA/IEC safety compliance, electrical schematics, and panel design, with opportunities to advance in a high-reliability environment.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Electrical Engineering, Controls Engineering, or related field.
• 5+ years of experience in industrial automation or control system design.
• Proficiency with PLC-based systems.
• Experience with VFDs, servo drives, and motion control systems.
• Familiarity with 24VDC and 480VAC.
• Strong understanding of NFPA 70/70E/79 and IEC61511 safety standards.
• Proven ability to develop system requirements and translate into design documentation.
• Industrial Panel/Cabinet design experience.
• Bonus: Safety PLCs and interlock logic design experience.
• Background in large scientific facilities or high-reliability environments.
• CAD experience; EPLAN a significant plus.

Responsibilities

• Collaborate with cross-functional engineering teams and system stakeholders to develop, document, and validate control system requirements.
• Translate functional and safety requirements into detailed control logic, hardware specifications, and test criteria.
• Participate in design and hazard reviews to ensure system requirements align with performance, safety, and reliability goals.
• Develop control architectures for safety-critical and utility systems.
• Design electrical schematics, control panels, and wiring diagrams for 24VDC control and 480VAC drive power systems.
• Specify and integrate PLC, HMI, and communication hardware.
• Configure and commission VFDs, servo drives, and motion control systems.
• Implement and verify safety interlock and process control logic in accordance with SIS and NFPA standards.
• Develop and test PLC programs using structured and modular programming practices.
• Conduct system-level integration testing, troubleshooting, and commissioning support.
• Work with instrumentation and field devices to ensure proper control and feedback integration.
• Ensure system designs comply with NFPA 70, 70E, 79 and SIS/IEC 61511 standards.
• Develop technical documentation including I/O lists, control narratives, functional requirements, and validation test procedures.
• Support safety validation, risk assessments, and functional testing throughout the system lifecycle.
• Serve as a technical point of contact for controls-related aspects of multidisciplinary projects.
• Work closely with fabrication, installation, and operations teams to ensure design intent and performance goals.
• Contribute to continuous improvement of design methods and controls best practices.

Skills

PLC-based systems

Electrical control design

Motion control systems

Electrical schematics

NFPA 70/70E/79 knowledge

IEC61511 safety

Industrial Panel/Cabinet design

Safety PLCs/interlock logic

CAD/EPLAN experience

Education

Bachelor’s degree in Electrical Engineering or related field

Tools

EPLAN

AutoCAD

Job description

Fusion Energy Base is seeking a Controls Hardware Engineer to design and implement control systems for safety-critical and utility applications. You will translate requirements into hardware specs, develop PLC programs, and lead system integration efforts across fabrication and operations teams.

The role emphasizes NFPA/IEC safety compliance, electrical schematics, and panel design, with opportunities to advance in a high-reliability environment.