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Senior Equipment Controls Engineer | Night Shift

San Carlos, California, United States

About the company

At Swift Solar, our mission is to unlock the full potential of solar energy. We believe that solar energy has vast untapped potential to power our lives, fuel economies, and strengthen supply chains, while protecting planetary health in the face of global climate change. The reality is that today's solar technology is good, but not good enough. 

Swift Solar is making solar better with its breakthrough tandem technology that harnesses the power of perovskite materials to create solar solutions that are not only more efficient than traditional technology but also more versatile, enabling applications ranging from space solar to utility-scale power generation. 

Swift Solar is a mission-focused startup supported by the US government and backed by world-class investors. It’s a long journey to bring a new clean energy technology to market, and we’re in it for the long haul, together. Join our extraordinary team building the cutting-edge solar technology that will shape the future of the global solar industry. 

A night in the life

As the night shift's controls technical authority, your mission is to ensure all deposition equipment, controls systems, and facility infrastructure operate reliably overnight — diagnosing and resolving electrical and PLC-related failures safely and communicating to the day shift team when necessary.

On a typical night, you might start your 10 PM shift by reviewing handoff notes from the day team, then dive into troubleshooting a Beckhoff PLC-based control system that flagged an alarm during the evening run. You'll review I/O states and control logic, diagnose electrical faults using schematics, and partner with the equipment engineer to replace sensors, valves, MFCs, RF components, or pumps as needed. When a tool goes down, you'll work alongside the equipment engineer to get it back up — supporting mechanical repairs while leading the electrical and controls recovery. You'll also support the equipment engineer on facilities issues that arise overnight, from cooling water interruptions to gas supply problems.

When the tools are running smoothly, your nights shift to forward-looking work. You'll design and improve HMI systems for our deposition tools, develop automation routines and algorithms, and build documented troubleshooting trees so the team can resolve common failures faster. You'll implement predictive maintenance checks during off-peak hours, improve PLC alarm clarity and fault diagnostics, and strengthen spare parts readiness for the night crew. Your goal over the first 12–18 months: independently recover 90% or more of tool-down events on your shift, measurably reduce mean time to repair, and consistently leave the equipment in a state that allows process technicians to continue their work uninterrupted into the morning shift. 

You might be a good fit if you... 

  • Have 5+ years of hands-on equipment engineering experience in a manufacturing environment
  • Are a strong electrical troubleshooter who can read schematics and diagnose controls and wiring problems under pressure
  • Have experience programming, debugging, and troubleshooting PLC systems (Beckhoff, Allen-Bradley, Siemens, or similar)
  • Have general EHS and safety knowledge, with the ability to identify safety concerns and troubleshoot solutions on the spot
  • Are comfortable working a night shift schedule (10 PM – 6:30 AM) and can hand off findings to the day shift team clearly and effectively
  • Are deeply motivated to make an impact on climate change

A very strong candidate might bring one or more of the following...

  • Experience with PLC-controlled vacuum or deposition equipment and processes
  • TwinCAT / Beckhoff proficiency or other coding and scripting experience
  • Facilities troubleshooting experience — chillers, pumps, gas systems
  • A background in semiconductor, thin film, or advanced manufacturing
  • Prior experience working night shifts in a production or lab environment

The logistics

  • Compensation: Competitive package including salary, equity, and benefits
    • Expected Pay Range: $135,000 - $180,000 per year + 15% Shift Differential
    • The actual offer, reflecting total compensation and benefits, will be determined by factors such as relevant experience, skills, and other qualifications 
  • Ideal start date: April - May 2026
  • Job type: Full-time, 10pm-6:30am
  • Location: San Carlos, CA (Swift Solar HQ)

What you’ll love about Swift

  • Work with purpose: Join our mission to unlock the full potential of solar energy and make a global impact. 
  • Lead with innovation: Be part of an extraordinary team building cutting-edge solar technology - growth mindset; culture
  • Thrive with benefits: Have 100% of your monthly premiums for HMO / PPO group healthcare plan options and 75% of your dental and vision insurance premiums covered by us. Employees also benefit from 401(k) matching, clean commuter benefits, and meaningful equity. 
  • Invest in your career: You’ll grow your skills, your network, and your perspective at Swift. We’ll support you in attending conferences and taking online courses, as long as you share your new insights with the team.

We recognize that candidates from underrepresented backgrounds often hesitate to apply if they don’t meet all the criteria. If you’re excited about this role and believe you can contribute to our team, we encourage you to apply—even if you don’t meet every qualification listed. We're eager to meet people from all backgrounds, and your unique skills and experiences could be exactly what we need.

If you believe in our mission, but this isn’t the right job for you, please check out other career opportunities on our website and email us at careers@swiftsolar.com with any questions. And if you have a friend who would be a perfect fit, send them this link. Thanks!

Swift is an equal opportunity employer. We value an inclusive work environment and welcome team members of all backgrounds and perspectives.

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