Controls Engineer
About Periodic Labs
We are an AI + physical sciences lab building state of the art models to make novel scientific discoveries. We are well funded and growing rapidly. Team members are owners who identify and solve problems without boundaries or bureaucracy. We eagerly learn new tools and new science to push forward our mission.
About the Role
Join a world-class team of scientists and engineers pushing the boundaries of materials research in a groundbreaking lab where AI and automation unlock discoveries at unprecedented speed and scale.
We’re building an autonomous lab to speed up materials discovery, and we are looking for a Controls Engineer who loves turning complex equipment into reliable, safe, and observable systems. You’ll design the controls architecture for outsourced tools and in-house automation, then work with integrators to bring it to life. You’ll be hands-on from specification through installation and production handoff, partnering with scientists, facilities, and vendors to make the whole lab run as one coherent system.
Responsibilities
Define the controls architecture: states, alarms, naming, and data flows that make systems understandable and maintainable.
Specify platforms and components (PLC/robot controller, operator interface, motion, I/O, networks) to meet safety and performance needs.
Build and execute bring-up plans: I/O checkout, sequence dry runs, and end-to-end workflow trials; drive issues to closure.
Design and roll out real-time supervisory dashboards (Ignition or similar)
Implement observability: trending, diagnostics, alarm rationalization, and set sensible thresholds and responses.
Qualifications
BS in EE/ME/Controls or equivalent.
3+ years in industrial automation for labs/pilot/manufacturing.
Hands-on experience with PLCs, HMIs, motion, and industrial networks.
Experience with safety PLCs, functional safety validation, and LOTO practices.
Scripting for test/diagnostics (Python preferred) and practical electrical debugging.
Experience with SCADA platforms (e.g., Ignition), data historians, and OPC UA or similar data standards.
Bonus Qualifications
Experience with robotic cells or vision integration; basic electrical panel practices.
Containers or CI/CD for deploying controls logic; Git-based workflows.
Functional safety coursework or certification.
Demonstrated accomplishments recognized in your field