Senior PLC Controls Engineer: Autonomous Drill Rigs

Durin; El Segundo (CA); On-site; USD 150,000 - 180,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Healthcare coverage

Equity participation

Free meals at HQ

Job summary

Durin seeks a Senior Controls Engineer to own the PLC brains of next‑gen drill rigs, crafting robust, safe PLC logic for heavy equipment. You will implement state machines, PID loops, and interlocks in IEC 61131-3 languages and commission systems on live rigs.

You will collaborate across mechanical, electrical, and software teams to ensure reliable integration, safety compliance, and operator‑friendly HMIs, while mentoring peers and traveling for field support.

Qualifications

• 5+ years of experience programming and commissioning industrial PLCs.
• Hands-on Siemens experience (TIA Portal, S7-1500).
• Deep familiarity with IEC 61131-3 languages and safety interlocks.

Responsibilities

• Architect and program PLC logic for drill cycle sequencing and safety interlocks.
• Implement state machines, PID loops, and interlock matrices.
• Commission control systems on physical rigs and perform wiring I/O validation.
• Collaborate with mechanical and software engineers to ensure sensor/actuator integration.
• Design alarm handling, recovery routines, and HMI interfaces for drillers.
• Ensure compliance with STO/SIL safety standards and PROFIsafe.
• Support networking and fieldbus integration (PROFINET, PROFIsafe, CANopen, OPC UA).
• Mentor embedded/software teammates on PLC fundamentals.
• Travel to test sites for commissioning and field support (20-50%).

Skills

Siemens PLC programming

IEC 61131-3 languages

Structured Text (ST)

Ladder Logic (LAD)

Fieldbus networking

PID tuning

Safety interlocks & STO/SIL

Industrial networking

Tools

TIA Portal

Siemens SINAMICS

PROFINET/PROFIsafe

CANopen/OPC UA

Job description

Durin seeks a Senior Controls Engineer to own the PLC brains of next‑gen drill rigs, crafting robust, safe PLC logic for heavy equipment. You will implement state machines, PID loops, and interlocks in IEC 61131-3 languages and commission systems on live rigs.

You will collaborate across mechanical, electrical, and software teams to ensure reliable integration, safety compliance, and operator‑friendly HMIs, while mentoring peers and traveling for field support.