Controls & Mechatronics Engineer

Janicki Overview:

At Janicki Industries, we turn complex ideas into real-world solutions through advanced engineering and manufacturing. Our teams design and build innovative structures, tooling, and systems that support industries including aerospace, space, defense, marine, and architecture.

Across every role, from engineers and technicians to operations and support teams, our people help solve challenging problems, push the limits of design and manufacturing, and create solutions that make a lasting impact.

Department Summary:

The Controls & Mechatronics Engineer designs, builds, and tunes the physical control systems that make our industrial robots move, grip, sand, and manipulate heavy objects safely. This role bridges mechanical and electrical engineering with control theory. You will work with motors, actuators, servo drives, safety systems, and industrial robotic arms (KUKA or similar), writing and tuning the low-level control software that translates high-level commands into precise physical actions on AGVs with wheeled or tracked drive systems carrying payloads up to 50,000 lb.

Roles & Responsibilities:

• Design and implement vehicle-level control systems for heavy AGV platforms including drive control, steering, and braking
• Configure, program, and tune industrial robotic arms (KUKA or equivalent) for pick-and-place, sanding, and material handling operations
• Develop control interfaces and tool-change protocols for interchangeable end effectors (grippers, sanders, specialized tooling)
• Select and specify actuators, drives, sensors, and power systems for robot configurations
• Design and implement safety-rated control functions (emergency stop, safe speed monitoring, force/torque limiting) compliant with relevant industrial standards
• Perform hardware testing including actuator characterization, sensor calibration, and safety system verification
• Collaborate with navigation and perception engineers to implement coordinated mobile manipulation behaviors

Basic Qualifications:

• Bachelor’s degree in Mechanical Engineering, Computer Science, or closely related field
• Willingness to work on-site at our Hamilton, WA facility
• Due to our ITAR and EAR regulations, applicants must be a US Citizen or of Legal Permanent Resident Status as defined by 8 U.S.C. 1324b (a) (3).
• This position requires the ability to obtain a U.S. Secret Security Clearance (U.S. Citizenship Required).  Janicki will assist with gaining this access once employed. Special Access Program or other Government Access Requirements are mandatory for this position and requires candidate agreed to enter a Continuous Evaluation program.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Experience with industrial robotic arm programming and integration (KUKA KRL, ABB RAPID, Fanuc TP/Karel, or UR Script)
• Hands-on experience with motor control, servo systems, or industrial motion control
• Knowledge of industrial communication protocols (CAN bus, EtherCAT, Modbus, PROFINET)
• Experience with PLC programming (Siemens, Allen-Bradley, Beckhoff TwinCAT)
• Familiarity with functional safety standards (ISO 13849, IEC 62061, ISO 10218)
• Programming skills in Python, C/C , or MATLAB/Simulink
• Experience with electrical design tools (AutoCAD Electrical, EPLAN)
• Experience designing control systems for heavy machinery, AGVs, or large mobile platforms
• Experience with hydraulic or high-power electric drive systems
• Background in manufacturing environments, particularly aerospace or composites
• Familiarity with sensor technologies (encoders, force/torque sensors, proximity sensors)
• Master’s or Ph.D. in Controls, Mechatronics, or Mechanical Engineering

We are hiring at three experience levels for this position:

• Entry Level: new graduates with 0–2 years of experience
• Mid-Level: 5 years of professional experience in controls engineering, mechatronics, or industrial automation
• Senior Level: 10 years of professional experience, with a track record of designing and deploying control systems for industrial robots or heavy automated equipment

Detailed Wage Information

Wage range for this role is between $85,000 – $175,000 plus a discretionary bonus, 401(k) matching, vacation, and health benefits. Employees can also receive additional pay for off-shifts, off-site work, and access pay. The range provided is Janicki’s estimate of the base compensation for this role. Actual amount offered will be based on job-related and non-discriminatory factors such as experience, location, education, training, skills, and abilities

Benefits

• Medical, Dental, and Vision insurance with employer contribution
• Disability insurance as well as Life/AD&D insurance
• HSA (Health Savings Account) with employer contribution and FSA (Flexible Savings Account)
• 401k with employer matching
• Paid time off and paid holidays (including two floating holidays)
• Education reimbursement program
• Several shift options
• Premium pay for off-shifts 
• Premium pay for security clearance if applicable

Not sure that you’ll be the perfect fit for this role? You should still apply! We’ll review your application for other opportunities. We are always on the lookout for talented people!

By applying for this job, you are expressing interest in this position and could be considered for other career opportunities where similar skills and requirements have been identified as a match. Should this match be identified, you may be contacted for this and future openings.

Janicki Industries is an Equal Opportunity Employer. Janicki Industries does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, national origin, sexual orientation, marital or familial status, physical or mental disability, genetic information, age, retaliation, veteran/military service status, or any other legally protected status.  Janicki is proud to be a military friendly employer.

Applicants or employees wishing to view a copy of Janicki Industries’ Affirmative Action Plan for veterans and individuals with disabilities, or applicants requiring reasonable accommodation to the application/interview process should notify the Human Resources Department at (360) 404-1997.

As a federal government contractor and a recipient of federal funding, Janicki is required to abide by federal drug testing requirements (including preemployment drug testing for cannabis). Additionally, because of Janicki’s work on aerospace products and the high volume of safety sensitive positions, Janicki takes the safety of its employees very seriously and requires that employees pass a preemployment drug test prior to starting employment.

Salary : $85,000 - $175,000