Staff Controls Engineer

Redwood Materials; Nevada (IA); On-site; USD 100,000 - 130,000; Full time

Job summary

Redwood Materials is seeking a Staff Controls Engineer to design and implement controls software for battery recycling operations in Nevada. The ideal candidate will have over 10 years of experience in industrial automation, strong programming skills in PLCs and HMIs, and a solid background in chemical process engineering. This full-time role focuses on optimizing control systems and involves collaboration with various engineering disciplines. The position is fully onsite in Reno, NV with a comprehensive approach towards safety and system compliance.

Qualifications

• 10+ years of experience in industrial controls or automation engineering.
• Hands-on experience programming PLCs and HMIs.
• Familiarity with SCADA/DCS systems and real-time process control strategies.

Responsibilities

• Design and implement controls software for equipment.
• Lead commissioning efforts on-site.
• Collaborate with engineers to develop control strategies.

Skills

PLC programming

HMI programming

SCADA systems

Industrial automation

Instrumentation

Chemical process engineering

Troubleshooting

Problem solving

Education

Bachelor’s degree in Engineering

Tools

Allen-Bradley

Siemens

Schneider

Job description

About Redwood Materials

Redwood is localizing a global battery supply chain that seamlessly integrates recovery, reuse, and recycling – keeping critical minerals in circulation and driving the energy transition. Founded in 2019, we’re delivering low-cost and large-scale energy storage and producing battery materials in the U.S. for the first time, all from batteries we already have.

Staff Controls Engineer

We are seeking an experienced Staff Controls Engineer who is passionate about pushing beyond the cutting edge of the industry to design, build, and debug best‑in‑class controls systems for Redwood’s battery recycling operations. This engineer will play a critical role in designing, commissioning, scaling, and supporting all of Redwood’s recycling facilities working at the intersection of chemical process engineering, industrial automation, and software development.

This role is based in Reno, NV and is a fully onsite role.

Responsibilities

• Design and implement controls software for cathode production equipment, including PLCs, HMIs, SCADA systems, and distributed control systems (DCS).
• Program, test, and debug automation sequences and interlocks to ensure safe and efficient operation of chemical process units.
• Collaborate with process, mechanical, and electrical engineers to develop instrumentation and control strategies for new equipment and systems.
• Lead commissioning and bring‑up efforts on site in Reno, NV, including IO checks, logic validation, and process tuning.
• Develop robust diagnostics, alarms, and fault recovery strategies to ensure high system uptime and maintainability.
• Optimize control loops and automation performance to support continuous improvement and operational excellence.
• Document control logic, operating procedures, and system architecture for future maintenance and knowledge transfer.
• Support integration with data systems for monitoring, reporting, and advanced analytics.
• Ensure all systems comply with process safety and regulatory standards.
• Spearhead developing and defining software and electrical standards to push the company forward.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Electrical Engineering, Chemical Engineering, Mechatronics Engineering, or Mechanical engineering or equivalent experience.
• 10+ years of experience in industrial controls or automation engineering, ideally in a large‑scale process manufacturing environment.
• Hands‑on experience programming PLCs and HMIs (e.g., Allen‑Bradley, Siemens, Schneider, or similar).
• Familiarity with SCADA/DCS systems and real‑time process control strategies.
• Strong understanding of industrial sensors, instrumentation, and advanced control algorithms.
• Experience supporting system commissioning and startup in a live production environment.
• Excellent problem‑solving, troubleshooting, and cross‑functional collaboration skills.
• Passion for balancing creative passion with engineering rigor.

Physical Requirements

• Wear proper PPE when necessary.
• Ability to safely perform job duties in both office and production plant environments.
• Must be able to communicate clearly.

Working Conditions

• Office setting, manufacturing floor, outdoor job site, or remote work.
• Participate in on‑call rotation to support automation and controls systems.
• Infrequent travel required; less than 10%.

The position is full‑time. Compensation will be commensurate with experience.