Senior Process Controls Engineer

Socket.dev; Alameda (CA); On-site; USD 128,000 - 162,000; Full time

Job summary

Sila is seeking a senior control systems engineer to design and implement production-scale process controls and instrumentation. The role requires deep expertise in control strategies, sensors, and industrial protocols, with emphasis on safety and documentation.

The ideal candidate will collaborate across teams, engage vendors, and contribute to the design lifecycle from concept through commissioning, while ensuring regulatory compliance and robust HMIs for real-time monitoring.

Qualifications

• 5+ years of industry experience.
• B.S. in Electrical, Mechanical, or Chemical Engineering preferred.
• Experience in control system design and instrumentation.
• Proven ability to design, document, and support production-scale controls.

Responsibilities

• Execute process controls and instrumentation designs for production-scale synthesis equipment.
• Implement control system strategies and ensure designs are in P&IDs per standards.
• Create and maintain instrument indexes, I/O lists, alarm lists, CAUSE & EFFECT matrices, and SIL/IPL verification forms; participate in HAZOP.
• Collaborate with outside vendors for process controls and electrical/instrumentation subsystems.
• Participate in safety reviews and own closing controls recommendations.
• Assist in bringing online hardware and code.
• Gather user feedback and implement actionable improvements.

Skills

PID control

cascade control

advanced control techniques

instrumentation principles

flow meters

level transmitters

temperature sensors

Profinet

Modbus

full design lifecycle

Cause & Effect diagrams

Safety Requirements Specification (SRS

Alarm Rationalization

PLCs

Structured Text

IEC 61131-3 languages

HMI design

regulatory compliance

NFPA

UL508A

IEC 6115-1

5+ years experience

Education

B.S. in Electrical Engineering

B.S. in Mechanical Engineering

B.S. in Chemical Engineering

Tools

HMI software

Job description

About Us

We are Sila, a next-generation battery materials company. Our mission is to power the world’s transition to clean energy. To create this future, our team is building a better lithium-ion battery from the inside out today. We engineer and manufacture ground-breaking battery materials that significantly increase the energy density of batteries, while reducing their size and weight. The result? Smaller more powerful batteries that can unlock innovation in consumer devices and accelerate the mass adoption of electric cars to eliminate our dependence on fossil fuels. We're tackling one of the biggest challenges of our time every day, and together we're redefining what's possible. Are you ready to be a part of a team committed to changing the world?

Who You Are

You are a high-level performer who works independently within established guidelines to develop complex materials processing equipment. In your work at Sila, you will execute industrial process controls and instrumentation designs through influence and technical mastery, ensuring systems are safe, reliable, and well-documented. You possess excellent communication skills to harmoniously collaborate across teams and contribute to the growth and development of your teammates.

Responsibilities and Duties

• Execute process controls and instrumentation designs for production-scale synthesis equipment by working collaboratively with other teams to design robust, modular, and well-documented controls.
• Implement control system strategies to execute processes, ensuring designs are incorporated in Piping & Instrumentation Diagrams (P&IDs) according to established standards.
• Create and maintain design documentation—including instrument indexes, I/O lists, alarm lists, cause and effect matrices, and SIL/IPL verification forms—participate in HAZOP reviews, source and select instrumentation, and contribute to project templates.
• Engage successfully with a range of different outside vendors for process controls designs and electrical / instrumentation subsystems.
• Participate in safety reviews following established safety guidelines to ensure safe design of the process, and own closing controls recommendations.
• Assist in bringing online hardware and code.
• Gather feedback from end-users of your work and collaborate to implement actionable modifications, sharing best practices with the team.

Knowledge and Skill Requirements

• Proficiency in control system design principles, including PID control, cascade control, and advanced control techniques.
• Strong knowledge of instrumentation principles and devices (e.g., flow meters, level transmitters, temperature sensors) and industrial communication protocols (e.g., Profinet, Modbus).
• Experience with the full design lifecycle of process control systems, including creating Cause & Effect diagrams, Safety Requirements Specification (SRS), and Alarm Rationalization
• Hands-on experience with PLCs and writing Structured Text and familiarity with other IEC 61131-3 languages.
• Experience designing and programming intuitive and user-friendly human-machine interfaces (HMIs) to enable real-time monitoring and control.
• Experience with ensuring regulatory compliance related to process controls standards, such as, NFPA, UL508A, and IEC 61151.
• 5+ years of industry experience is required. B.S. in Electrical, Mechanical, or Chemical Engineering preferred.

Physical Demands and Working Conditions

• Wear personal protective equipment including, but not limited to, a lab coat, gloves, safety glasses, and steel toe safety shoes
• Move items up to 50 lbs with the assistance of lift equipment and carts
• Move long distances (such as from building to building) and be stationary for extended periods of time
• Reach low shelves or items on the floor
• Climb stairs or over containment walls
• Operate a computer and other office equipment, such as a laptop, copier/printer, etc in a fixed location
• Travel up to 20%

The starting base pay for this role is between $128,000 and $162,000 at the time of posting. The actual base pay depends on many factors, such as education, experience, and skills. Base pay is only one part of Sila’s competitive Total Rewards package that can include benefits, perks, equity, and bonuses. The base pay range is subject to change and may be modified in the future.

Working at Sila

We believe that building a diverse team at Sila helps us amplify our individual talents. We are an equal opportunity employer and committed to creating an inclusive environment where good ideas are free to come from anyone. We are proud to celebrate diversity and all qualified applicants are considered for employment without regard to gender, race, sexual orientation, religion, age, disability, national origin, or any other status protected by law.