LFP Controls Engineer

Position Overview

We are seeking a hands-on Controls Engineer to support the commissioning, troubleshooting, safety validation, and production readiness of advanced automated manufacturing equipment within a Lithium Iron Phosphate (LFP) battery cell production environment. This role requires a strong blend of controls engineering expertise and on-the-floor manufacturing support, with the ability to work directly on production equipment while also developing and modifying control systems.

The ideal candidate will have extensive experience with PLC programming, machine safety validation, electrical troubleshooting, and equipment optimization in high-volume automated manufacturing environments.

Key Responsibilities

• Commission, validate, and support automated manufacturing equipment for battery cell production.
• Develop, modify, troubleshoot, and optimize PLC, PAC, HMI, and SCADA applications.
• Diagnose and resolve controls, automation, electrical, and machine performance issues on the manufacturing floor.
• Validate machine safety systems, safety programs, and field devices to ensure compliance with applicable standards and regulations.
• Support equipment startup, production readiness activities, and continuous improvement initiatives.
• Work closely with manufacturing, maintenance, process engineering, and equipment vendors to improve machine reliability and performance.
• Read and interpret electrical schematics, P&IDs, mechanical drawings, and controls documentation.
• Conduct root cause investigations and implement corrective actions to address recurring equipment issues.
• Recommend and implement controls, electrical, and automation upgrades to improve productivity, safety, and equipment uptime.

Required Qualifications

PLC/PAC Programming & Integration

• Strong hands-on experience programming and commissioning industrial control systems including:
• Allen-Bradley ControlLogix and CompactLogix
• Siemens TIA Portal
• Omron
• Beckhoff TwinCAT
• Experience with HMI and SCADA platforms.
• Working knowledge of industrial communication networks such as:
• EtherNet/IP
• PROFINET
• EtherCAT

Functional & Machine Safety

• Experience validating machine safety systems, safety PLCs, safety programs, and field safety devices.
• Strong understanding of functional safety principles and U.S. machine safety requirements.
• Knowledge of safety standards and procedures including:
• IEC 61508
• IEC 62061
• ISO 13849
• Lockout/Tagout (LOTO)
• NFPA 70E

Electrical Troubleshooting & Equipment Improvement

• Ability to diagnose electrical and controls-related equipment failures in a manufacturing environment.
• Strong understanding of how control systems interact with mechanical equipment.
• Experience reading electrical schematics and identifying root causes of machine issues.
• Demonstrated ability to recommend and implement equipment and automation improvements.

Additional Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Electrical Engineering, Controls Engineering, Mechatronics Engineering, or a related field; equivalent practical experience will also be considered.
• Minimum 5 years of hands-on controls engineering experience supporting automated manufacturing equipment.
• Experience commissioning servo and motion control systems, including platforms such as Kinetix and Sinamics.
• Experience integrating machine vision systems such as Cognex and Keyence.
• Familiarity with sensors, instrumentation, and industrial automation devices.
• Strong analytical and troubleshooting skills with experience using structured problem-solving methodologies such as:
• Root Cause Analysis (RCA)
• 8D
• CAPA
• PFMEA

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience supporting lithium-ion or Lithium Iron Phosphate (LFP) battery manufacturing processes.
• Knowledge of battery cell production equipment including:
• Mixing
• Coating
• Winding
• Cell assembly
• Previous experience in high-volume battery, automotive, semiconductor, or advanced manufacturing environments.

Work Environment

• Position is based onsite in Sparks, Nevada.
• Candidates must be comfortable working directly on the manufacturing floor in a fast-paced production environment.
• Flexibility to support compressed work schedules, off-shift coverage, or night shifts when required.
• Ability to support a four-month project engagement, with purchase order renewals occurring in shorter intervals.

Key Success Factors

• Hands-on PLC programming and commissioning expertise.
• Strong machine safety knowledge and validation experience.
• Proven electrical troubleshooting capabilities in a manufacturing environment.
• Ability to transition seamlessly between controls software development and hands-on equipment support.
• Strong communication and collaboration skills with engineering, operations, and maintenance teams.