Staff Instrumentation & Controls Engineer, Capital Projects

Sila; Alameda (CA); On-site; USD 151,000 - 191,000; Full time

Job summary

Sila, a next-generation battery materials company in Alameda, CA, is seeking a Staff Instrumentation & I&C Engineer to drive the design, procurement, installation, and commissioning of field instrumentation for our manufacturing facilities.

You will lead I&C design reviews and ensure systems are monitored, safely operated, and scalable.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Electrical, Instrumentation, Chemical, Mechanical (Mechatronics) or related Engineering with 5+ years of capital projects experience.
• Technical knowledge of measurement principles, signal protocols, loop design, and valve sizing software.
• Direct experience specifying, procuring, and installing instrumentation for combustible/ toxic environments.
• Proven experience moving industrial greenfield capital projects from concept design through construction and site checkout.
• Proven track record of driving cross-functional technical decisions in fast-paced, ambiguous settings.
• Willingness to travel to vendor facilities and Moses Lake, WA during construction/testing (up to 25%).

Responsibilities

• Select, size, and specify field instruments for high-temperature processes and hazardous gas delivery systems.
• Lead I&C design reviews through Front-End-Loading and detailed engineering phases with external partners and internal teams.
• Author and maintain instrument indexes, I/O lists, data sheets, P&IDs, loop diagrams, and control drawings.
• Specify SIL-rated instrumentation for Safety Instrumented Systems (SIS).
• Provide hands-on technical leadership during build phases—receiving, installation oversight, loop checks, calibration, FAT/SAT, startup.
• Collaborate with automation and process engineers to integrate field instrumentation into PLC architectures, SCADA networks, and safety interlocks.

Skills

Capital project execution

Instrument systems knowledge

Cross-functional collaboration

Education

Bachelor's degree in Engineering

Tools

Valve sizing software

Job description

Alameda, CA

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

As a Staff Instrumentation & Controls (I&C) Engineer within the Capital Projects team, you will drive the design, specification, procurement, installation, and commissioning of field instrumentation for our next-generation manufacturing facilities. You will work closely with internal teams and external partners to ensure our complex process systems are precisely monitored, safely operated, and built to scale.

Key Responsibilities

• Select, size, and specify field instruments (flow, pressure, temperature, level, analytical, and control and shutoff valves) for high-temperature processes, solid material handling, and hazardous gas delivery systems.
• Lead I&C design reviews through the Front-End-Loading and detailed engineering phases in close collaboration with external partners, equipment vendors, and internal process and control teams.
• Author and maintain instrument indexes, I/O lists, data sheets, P&IDs, loop diagrams, connection details, control panel drawings, alarm & trip lists, and cause-and-effect matrices.
• Specify SIL-rated instrumentation for Safety Instrumented Systems (SIS).
• Provide hands-on technical leadership during build phases—overseeing instrument receiving, installation oversight, loop checks, calibration, FAT/SAT, and initial plant startup.
• Work directly with automation and process engineers to integrate field instrumentation into the PLC architectures, SCADA networks, and safety interlocks.

Qualifications

• B.S. in Electrical, Instrumentation, Chemical, Mechanical (w/ Mechatronics concentration), or related Engineering degree with 5+ years of experience executing capital projects in related process industries.
• Technical knowledge of measurement principles, signal protocols, loop design, and valve sizing software.
• Direct experience specifying, procuring, and installing instrumentation for combustible dust, toxic/flammable gas, and/or high-temperature environments.
• Proven experience moving industrial greenfield capital projects from concept design through construction and site checkout.
• Proven track record of driving cross-functional technical decisions, aligning diverse stakeholders, and thriving in fast-paced, ambiguous settings.
• Willingness to travel to the vendor facilities and the manufacturing facility in Moses Lake, WA during construction, testing, and commissioning phases (up to 25%).

Preferred

• Hands-on expertise specifying, installing, and troubleshooting instrumentation for bulk solids, powders, and granular materials (e.g., loss-in-weight feeders, load cells, acoustic/radar/radiometric solids level measurement, and pneumatic conveying monitoring) in industrial facilities.
• Comprehensive understanding of relevant industrial instrumentation standards, such as IEC, UL, and NFPA.
• Familiarity with Layer of Protection Analysis (LOPA), Safety Integrity Level (SIL) verification, and designing/specifying hardware for Safety Instrumented Systems (SIS).
• Proven track record in establishing instrumentation installation standards, design guidelines, and technical engineering best practices.
• Demonstrated ability to guide, mentor, and provide strong technical direction to engineers across multidisciplinary teams.

Physical Demands And Working Conditions

• Pass a respirator fit test and be able to wear respiratory protection on a daily basis
• Wear personal protective equipment including, but not limited to, a hard hat, a lab coat, gloves, safety glasses, and steel toe safety shoes
• 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
• Enter spaces narrower than 3 feet
• Climb stairs or over containment walls
• Operate a computer and other office equipment, such as a laptop, copier/printer, etc in a fixed location

The starting base pay for this role is between $151,000 and $191,000 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. The base pay range is subject to change and may be modified in the future.
#LI-MY1 #LI-Onsite

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.