Senior Conveyor Controls & Automation Engineer

Rivian; Normal (IL); On-site; USD 99,000 - 123,000; Full time

Job summary

Rivian is seeking an Automation Controls Engineer for Equipment Engineering in Normal, IL. You will serve as the production line expert for controls, troubleshooting and implementing PLC/HMI/SCADA solutions, and ensuring ANSI/RIA15.06 and OSHA safety standards across high-volume equipment.

The role emphasizes hands-on programming, safety buy-offs, MES integration, and collaboration with engineers to support future production changes in a dynamic automotive manufacturing environment.

Qualifications

• 5+ years of Controls Engineering experience or equivalent work experience.
• BS/MS Electrical Engineering or equivalent work experience.
• Expertise with common controls hardware components used in high-volume manufacturing.
• Hands-on experience integrating and commissioning high volume manufacturing equipment.
• In-depth knowledge of Safety standards (ANSI/RIA15.06, OSHA).
• Experience participating in safety design reviews and validating equipment safeties during buy-off.
• In-depth knowledge of Electrical Standards (NFPA79, National Electric Code, UL508A).
• Experience developing electrical schematics using EPLAN, AutoCAD Electrical, or similar.
• Advanced proficiency programming industrial equipment using various IEC 61131-3 languages.
• Experience writing standard and safety PLC projects from scratch for high-volume manufacturing equipment using Rockwell, Siemens, or Beckhoff PLCs.
• Experience creating HMI projects from scratch for high-volume manufacturing equipment using FactoryTalk View, WinCC, Ignition, Wonderware, TwinCAT HMI, or similar.
• Experience programming and troubleshooting industrial 6-axis robots such as Fanuc, ABB, Kawasaki, etc. is preferred.
• Experience troubleshooting common fieldbus networks such as Ethernet/IP, EtherCAT, or Profinet.
• Knowledge of communications between machine PLCs and database systems.
• Experience interfacing manufacturing equipment with Manufacturing Execution Systems (MES).

Responsibilities

• Participate in various controls equipment buy-offs at vendor sites and at Rivian’s factory in Normal, IL for FAT, SAT, and safety.
• Participate in development of controls standards and specifications by feeding back lessons-learned and gaps from each project to ensure that future projects will run smoother.
• Continuously improve the production lines by reducing cycle time, reducing downtime, and improving quality.
• Maintain, modify, and properly version control equipment programs, configuration files, and documentation as changes are implemented. This includes but is not limited to hardware, electrical, safety, pneumatic, network, PLC, HMI, Robot, SCADA, and MES.
• Add or remove network devices from the equipment as needed, updating network switch configurations as needed.
• Troubleshoot, improve, and add features to PLCs using Ladder Logic and/or Structured Text with an emphasis on code that is organized, structured, documented, maintainable and reusable.
• Troubleshoot, improve, and add features to HMIs to make them more user-friendly, intuitive and suitable for operating and troubleshooting equipment.
• Implement and make modifications to MES logic for production and performance management in the PLCs and HMIs.
• Ensure proper implementation of and modifications to (ANSI/RIA15.06/OSHA compliant) control reliable safety systems for safeguarding robots, gantries, conveyors, and other high volume manufacturing equipment.
• Train Production and Maintenance teams in proper use of the equipment and troubleshooting from the HMI.

Job description

Rivian is seeking an Automation Controls Engineer for Equipment Engineering in Normal, IL. You will serve as the production line expert for controls, troubleshooting and implementing PLC/HMI/SCADA solutions, and ensuring ANSI/RIA15.06 and OSHA safety standards across high-volume equipment.

The role emphasizes hands-on programming, safety buy-offs, MES integration, and collaboration with engineers to support future production changes in a dynamic automotive manufacturing environment.