Senior Robotics Controls Engineer

NCSL International; Orlando, Northern (FL, KY); Hybrid; USD 110,000 - 170,000; Full time

Job summary

Viable Engineering Solutions in Orlando, FL seeks a Senior Robotics Controls Engineer to lead controls for robotic automation from concept to commissioning. You will define the controls architecture, guide a small team, and own safety I/O, DCS, and integration with PLCs, HMIs, and vision systems.

Ideal candidates have 9+ years in industrial robotics, strong FANUC experience, ROBOGUIDE expertise, and a track record delivering robotic cells from concept through acceptance.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Electrical Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Mechatronics, Robotics, or a related field.
• 9+ years of industrial robotics or automation experience with leading robot integration.
• Expert-level FANUC programming and ROBOGUIDE experience for cell studies.
• Deep knowledge of robot kinematics, frames, payloads and accuracy sources.
• Experience leading multi-robot or external-axis cells and conveyor tracking.
• Vision integration with Cognex or Keyence and 2D/3D guidance.
• Control architecture experience between robots, PLCs, HMIs, and industrial networks (EtherNet/IP/PROFINET).
• PLC programming on Rockwell or Siemens platforms; ability to read electrical schematics.
• Led controls on at least two delivered robotic cells from concept through acceptance.
• Experience mentoring a small team and defining work packages and estimates.
• Experience with FANUC DCS and safety I/O; ISO 10218 / ANSI/RIA R15.06 familiarity.
• Knowledge of KAREL or robot-to-PC communication is a plus.
• Strong technical communication and ability to document decisions and tradeoffs.

Responsibilities

• Serve as the controls technical lead for robotic automation projects from feasibility through deployment, translating needs into a cell concept and controls plan.
• Define controls problems, break scope into tasks with clear sequences, I/O, and acceptance criteria; delegate and track progress.
• Act as primary controls consultant, guiding approaches and removing roadblocks for the project team.
• Develop controls effort estimates for projects and proposals; flag changes early.
• Define robot program architecture, error recovery, homing strategies, and reusable routines with company standards.
• Lead cell layout and robot selection studies in FANUC ROBOGUIDE; validate reach, payload, cycle time, and layout tradeoffs.
• Define control architecture and signal handshakes between robots, PLCs, HMIs, vision, conveyors, and cell software.
• Lead multi-robot and external-axis cells, including interference zones and coordinated motion.
• Oversee vision and sensor integration; ensure alignment of vision, frames, and robot motion for system accuracy.
• Define accuracy and cycle-time budgets, own calibration methods, and validation tests for cell requirements.
• Own the controls side of cell safety (FANUC DCS, safety I/O, interlocks) in support of risk assessment.
• Drive cell reliability and uptime with effective fault handling, alarms, and diagnostics.
• Lead on-site commissioning and troubleshoot; perform root-cause analysis for production issues and communicate impacts.
• Mentor team members through program reviews and problem-solving on difficult integration tasks.

Skills

FANUC programming

ROBOGUIDE

robot kinematics

frames and payloads

vision integration

Cognex

Keyence

EtherNet/IP

PROFINET

Rockwell PLC

Siemens PLC

safety integration

team leadership

project estimation

system integration

Education

Bachelor's degree in Electrical Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Mechatronics, Robotics, or related

Tools

FANUC DCS

FANUC KAREL

ROBOGUIDE for cell layout

vision systems (Cognex/Keyence)

Industrial networks (EtherNet/IP/PROFINET)

Job description

We are seeking a Senior Robotics Controls Engineer to serve as the controls technical lead for robotic automation projects from early concept through commissioning. In this role you will define the controls problems to be solved, break them into well-scoped work for other team members, and act as the go-to controls resource for the project team, while remaining hands-on in the hardest technical work: cell layout and reach, cycle time, safety, and system integration.

Responsibilities

• Serve as the controls technical lead for robotic automation projects from feasibility through deployment, translating loosely defined needs into a cell concept, sequence of operations, and controls plan with identified risks and mitigations.
• Define controls problems and break project scope into well-scoped tasks with clear sequences, I/O, and acceptance criteria; assign them to other team members based on their skills and development needs; and track progress, review work, and integrate the results into a working cell.
• Serve as the primary controls consultant for the project team, including technical discussions with customers, unblocking others and guiding their approach rather than defaulting to doing the work yourself.
• Help develop controls effort estimates for projects and proposals based on technical scope and risk, and flag early when technical findings change those estimates.
• Define the robot program architecture for the cell, including program structure, error recovery and homing strategies, and reusable routines, and set project-level conventions consistent with company standards.
• Lead cell layout and robot selection studies in FANUC ROBOGUIDE or equivalent, validating reach, payload, cycle time, and collision clearance, and resolve tradeoffs between layout, cycle time, and process quality.
• Define the control architecture and signal handshakes between robots, PLCs, HMIs, vision, conveyors, and cell software, in coordination with the software team.
• Lead multi-robot and external-axis cells, including interference zones, coordinated motion, and conveyor tracking.
• Lead vision and sensor integration for the cell, and ensure vision, frames, and robot motion work together to meet system-level accuracy.
• Define accuracy and cycle-time budgets for robotic cells, own frame and calibration methods, and design the validation tests that prove the cell meets its requirements.
• Own the controls side of cell safety, including Fanuc DCS or equivalent safe zones and speed limits, safety I/O, and interlocks, in support of the cell risk assessment.
• Drive cell reliability and uptime, including fault handling and recovery, alarm design, and diagnostics that make production issues fast to resolve.
• Lead on-site commissioning and troubleshooting independently, make technical decisions in the field, drive root-cause analysis when automated systems underperform, and communicate technical impacts to the project team.
• Mentor other team members through program reviews, design reviews, and pairing on difficult integration problems.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Electrical Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Mechatronics, Robotics, or a related field.
• 9+ years of industrial robotics or automation experience, with a substantial portion leading robot integration.
• Expert-level FANUC programming, including teach pendant programming, advanced motion options, and controller configuration, with experience on at least one additional robot platform.
• Deep experience with FANUC ROBOGUIDE or equivalent for cell layout, reach, and cycle-time studies.
• Strong understanding of robot kinematics, frames, and payloads, and the error sources that affect cell accuracy.
• Hands-on experience with multi-robot or external-axis cells, coordinated motion, or conveyor tracking.
• Experience leading vision integration with Cognex, Keyence, or comparable tools, including 2D and 3D vision-guided robotics.
• Track record defining the control architecture between robots, PLCs, HMIs, and industrial networks such as EtherNet/IP or PROFINET.
• PLC programming experience on Rockwell or Siemens platforms.
• Ability to read and mark up electrical schematics and I/O drawings.
• Led the controls on at least two delivered robotic cells from concept through customer acceptance.
• Experience leading the technical work of a small team, including problem definition, task breakdown, delegation, and review of other engineers' work.
• Experience developing controls effort estimates from technical scope and risk.
• Experience configuring robot safety functions such as Fanuc DCS and safety I/O, and working familiarity with ISO 10218 or ANSI/RIA R15.06.
• Experience with FANUC KAREL or robot-to-PC communication is a plus.
• Clear technical communication, including documenting design decisions and explaining tradeoffs to the project team and customers.

This position is a strong fit for an experienced engineer who wants to lead the controls side of complete robotic systems, solve the hardest integration problems hands-on, and help other engineers grow.

The Company:

Viable Engineering Solutions is a world-class concept-to-completion center for the industrial market. We take Research and Development to the next level providing rapid prototyping, robotics, automation, and non-destructive testing solutions in our state-of-the-art concept-to-completion facility. We are located in Orlando in the heart of the Central Florida Research Park.

Affirmative Action / Equal Opportunity Employer Statement:

Viable Engineering Solutions is an Equal Opportunity Employer and takes affirmative action to employ and advance qualified individuals without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, protected veteran status, or disability.

In compliance with federal law, we encourage qualified individuals with disabilities and protected veterans to apply. Reasonable accommodations are available upon request. As a federal contractor, Viable is committed to complying with Section 503 of the Rehabilitation Act and the Vietnam Era Veterans' Readjustment Assistance Act (VEVRAA).