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Focused Energy is an international deep-tech company commercializing laser-driven nuclear fusion to provide clean, safe, and virtually unlimited energy. You will join a small, collaborative controls engineering team of 3–5 engineers reporting to the Controls Engineering Lead.
In this role, you will lead the design and delivery of critical control systems across experimental and production environments in Germany and the USA. You'll work closely with scientists and engineers in a hybrid setup based in Darmstadt, with occasional travel to the Austin, TX site. Working hours follow standard business schedules with minimal on-call requirements.
Key responsibilities include:
- Lead design and development of PLC-based control subsystems for cutting-edge laser fusion technologies, gathering requirements and iterating solutions with cross-functional teams.
- Own integration and control systems for critical experiment support infrastructure (vacuum, pneumatics, cooling plant).
- Develop control software for modern PLCs such as Beckhoff TwinCAT in Structured Text (IEC 61131-3) for machine safety and process control.
- Commission complex experimental equipment with scientists and engineers, including field debugging and systematic fault-finding.
- Specify and implement SCADA systems and HMIs with alarms, logging, data acquisition, and database integration.
- Contribute to team standards and solution architecture; mentor junior engineers through design reviews and guidance.
REQUIREMENTS:
- Degree in Electrical/Electronic Engineering, Control/Automation, Mechatronics/Robotics, Physics, or similar, with focus on PLC-based control, embedded, or real-time systems.
- 5+ years in plant control systems, factory automation, embedded software, or complex scientific experimental work with significant PLC-based elements.
- Proficient in PLC programming in Structured Text (IEC 61131-3) following good software engineering practices (modularization, version control, unit testing).
- Knowledge of SCADA systems (Ignition, EPICS, Tango, WinCC, FactoryTalk, AVEVA) and hands-on HMI delivery experience including alarm/error handling and data visualization.
- Proficient in reading electrical wiring diagrams and P&IDs; able to collaborate with electrical and mechanical engineering teams.
- Familiarity with industrial networking and fieldbus protocols (EtherCAT, OPC UA, Modbus TCP).
- Familiarity with risk assessment processes and safety standards (ISA 84, IEC 61508).
- Clear English communicator, comfortable in hybrid and international cross-site teams; self-organized, proactive, and able to lead technical discussions.
- Practical, hands-on approach with proven hardware/software integration experience and strong debugging/fault-finding track record.
Desirable: Beckhoff PLCs/TwinCAT, DDS protocol, OPC UA, vacuum control system design, EU control cabinet design (IEC 60204-1), safety-critical systems design, higher-level languages (LabVIEW, Python, MATLAB/Simulink, C/C++), LabVIEW certifications, NI hardware experience, FPGAs/RTOS/microcontrollers, scientific equipment/research facility experience, image processing/machine vision, motion control/robotics.
