RD Controls Engineer

Benefits:

401(k) matching

Dental insurance

Health insurance

Paid time off

Vision insurance

About the Role We are seeking a driven and curious R&D Controls Engineer to join our team developing next-generation metal additive manufacturing systems, including Liquid Metal Jetting (LMJ) and Laser-Assisted Directed Energy Deposition (DED) 3D printers.

You'll work at the intersection of laser physics, thermal control, CNC/PLC programming, and real-time systems. The role involves designing control architectures that coordinate sensors and actuators at interpolation cycle rates, developing advanced waveform generation for electromagnetic coil drivers, and collaborating with an external automation integrator (similar to a CSI-type relationship) to push the Siemens Sinumerik platform for additive manufacturing R&D.

We value mindset over checkbox credentials. If you have a solid controls or automation foundation and the self-motivation to learn new systems quickly, this role will give you the opportunity to work on problems that very few teams in the world are tackling.

Key Responsibilities

Design, implement, and tune closed-loop control systems for real-time thermal management during metal additive manufacturing.

Develop PLC logic and CNC synchronized actions for coordinating printing.

Implement PID and advanced control strategies (feedforward, adaptive gain scheduling).

Architect and configure CNC/PLC analog and digital I/O for integrating sensors (pyrometers, thermocouples) and actuators (laser power supplies, shutters, micro-motor pyrometer steering)

Develop and validate control algorithms that adapt to varying print speeds, toolpath geometries, and thermal conditions

Develop advanced waveform generation for electromagnetic coil drivers — including sub-thresholding pulse patterns, variable pulse widths, and complex frequency profiles using the Prio card or equivalent hardware

Collaborate with the print optimization and path planning team to ensure control strategies align with toolpath direction, speed profiles, and feature-type transitions

Serve as the internal bridge to automation integrators and Siemens support for CNC/PLC platform issues

Instrument and characterize system dynamics — measure plant transfer functions, identify thermal time constants, and size controller bandwidth accordingly

Support machine commissioning, integration testing, and design-of-experiments for process development

Maintain rigorous documentation of control architectures, tuning parameters, commissioning procedures, and test results

Required Qualifications

Bachelor's or Master's degree in Controls Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Mechatronics, or Mechanical Engineering with controls focus (or equivalent demonstrated experience)

2+ years of experience designing and implementing closed-loop control systems in industrial or R&D environments

Strong foundation in classical control theory: PID tuning, stability analysis, frequency response, and system identification

Hands-on PLC programming experience (Siemens, Beckhoff, Allen-Bradley, or similar industrial automation platforms)

Experience with real-time sensor integration (pyrometers, thermocouples, photodiodes, or similar high-speed analog instrumentation)

Experience configuring and commissioning industrial motion control systems (multi-axis CNC, servo drives, or motion controllers)

Ability to read, develop, and troubleshoot electrical schematics and control panel wiring

Proficiency with at least one industrial communication protocol (EtherCAT, PROFINET, Ethernet/IP)

Preferred Qualifications

Experience with Siemens Sinumerik CNC systems — synchronized actions ($A_INA, $A_OUTA, WHENEVER/DO), structured text, machine data configuration

Experience with Beckhoff TwinCAT or similar real-time platforms

Familiarity with laser systems — power modulation, analog control interfaces, safety interlocks

Experience with non-contact temperature measurement (pyrometry) including spectral filtering and emissivity considerations

Background in thermal process control (welding, heat treatment, laser processing, or additive manufacturing)

Knowledge of advanced control methods: feedforward compensation, Smith predictors for transport delay, gain scheduling, or model-predictive control

Electronics design experience — particularly H-bridge circuits, high-current motor drivers, or power electronics

FPGA or microcontroller programming for custom waveform generation or high-speed signal processing

Familiarity with G-code/CNC part program structure and post-processor development

Experience with machine safety systems (STO, SS1, SLS) and relevant standards (IEC 62443, ISO 13849)

Mindset & Attributes (What Matters Most)

Curious and self-motivated— the kind of engineer who hangs around, asks questions, and tries to figure things out without being told. This is the #1 trait we're looking for

Strong analytical and problem-solving mindset — able to diagnose issues across mechanical, electrical, thermal, and software domains simultaneously

Self-directed and resourceful in an R&D environment where requirements evolve and solutions aren't predefined

Comfortable iterating rapidly: prototype control logic, test on hardware, analyze data, refine

Clear communicator who can explain control system behavior to mechanical engineers, process engineers, and leadership

Collaborative and low-ego — willing to support builds, run experiments, and do hands-on work alongside design work

Comfortable working with external vendors and automation integrators as technical counterpart

Detail-oriented with a systems-level perspective — understands how a control loop interacts with toolpath planning, thermal physics, and part quality

What We Offer

Competitive salary and comprehensive benefits package

Opportunity to work on cutting-edge metal additive manufacturing technology at the frontier of closed-loop process control

Direct impact on product development — your control systems directly determine print quality and material properties

A collaborative, low-ego team environment focused on innovation and execution

Exposure to multidisciplinary challenges spanning controls, laser physics, materials science, and CNC systems

A culture that values curiosity, initiative, and continuous improvement

Even if you don't meet every qualification listed above, we strongly encourage you to apply. We'relooking for engineers with the right mindset — people who are curious, self-driven, and excited to learn. If you have a solid technical foundation and the motivation to push boundaries, our team will provide the guidance and resources to get you up to speed quickly. The right attitude and aptitude matter far more than checking every box.