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Sr. Controls Engineer

Research Triangle Park, NC

Vulcan Elements is manufacturing American rare-earth permanent magnets for a secure, resilient future. With a focus on national security and economic resiliency, we serve critical industries such as defense, aerospace, and automotive powering a high-technology future. Vulcan Elements is building a team of ambitious professionals committed to Mission Focus, Technical Excellence, and Transparency. 

As the Sr. Controls Engineer (FAT/CSV) you will lead automation acceptance and commissioning for a massive 1 million square foot manufacturing facility expansion. You will own the automation acceptance thread across a large OEM equipment campaign - authoring standardized FAT/SAT protocols, running the program-wide punch register; writing, modifying, and troubleshooting PLC code from punch-item fixes through commissioning and a share of live controls support. This is a high-impact, high-ownership role requiring deep technical expertise in industrial automation. Domestic and international travel to OEM facilities up to ~50% during test campaigns. 

This role begins in Durham, NC and is expected to move to Benson, NC upon completion of new facility.

Responsibilities 

  • Lead hands-on programming, debugging, and commissioning of Siemens and Allen Bradley/Rockwell PLCs and HMIs for new and existing automation equipment. 
  • Develop, modify, and maintain PLC code structures, HMI screens, safety circuits, device mapping, and networking configurations to ensure robust and standardized automation performance across all equipment. 
  • Execute the scaling-equipment design-review campaign, converting findings into hardened, detailed technical deliverables for OEM vendors. 
  • Review vendor electrical schematics, controls architectures, and PLC/HMI logic. Own the FAT/SAT campaign: author standardized acceptance protocols, covering PLC logic conformance, HMI/alarm acceptance, interlock validation, and network/security verification. Run the program-wide punch list and coordinate witness assignments. 
  • as-tested code, configuration baselines, punch closure evidence, and commissioning records. 
  • Integrate with Quality’s validation system - protocols live in Quality’s framework and carry Quality’s approval; you author the automation content and align with Manufacturing Engineering’s master schedule and process acceptance criteria. 
  • Drive the integration and commissioning of robotics, vision systems, AGVs, conveyors, and motion control systems—including servos and VFDs—to enable seamless material flow and high reliability production operations. 
  • Configure and maintain communications between PLCs/HMIs and higher level systems (MES/SCADA). Develop and troubleshoot SCADA tags, transactions, alarming, and data acquisition as required. 
  • Serve as a senior-level escalation point for diagnosing complex automation issues involving networks, motion systems, instrumentation, and industrial communication protocols. 

Deliverables You Will Develop, Review, or Support 

  • PLC code architecture, HMI screens, vision inspection programs, tag databases, MES/SCADA transaction lists, network IP lists, password inventories, and system backups. As-tested PLC code baselines, configuration backups, and acceptance evidence packages. 
  • Controls risk assessments, interlock/guarding logic, and safety rated PFMEA inputs. 
  • Controls layouts, network topology layouts, station cycle times, sequence diagrams, and automation simulations. 
  • Electrical schematics, pneumatic drawings, controls panel layouts, and industrial network architecture. 
  • FAT/SAT protocols, the program punch list, I/O checkout records, and handover packages. 

Responsibilities and tasks outlined are not exhaustive and may change as determined by the needs of the business 

Qualifications 

  • Bachelor’s or Master's degree in electrical engineering, Automation Engineering, Mechatronics, or related field with 7+ years of direct industrial automation and controls engineering experience. 
  • Strong hands-on experience programming and commissioning Siemens and Allen Bradley/Rockwell PLCs and HMIs. 
  • Demonstrated multi-vendor acceptance campaign management, disciplined change control with the ability to triage punch items to fix in situ or kick back to a vendor. Technical writing that vendors and auditors can both execute against. 
  • Deep understanding of servos, VFDs, highspeed conveyors, robotic cells, and automated material handling systems. 
  • Proficiency with Ethernet/IP, Profinet, EtherCAT, OPCUA, Modbus, serial, and similar industrial communication standards. 

Must be a U.S. Person due to required access to U.S. export-controlled information or facilities

Preferred Skills

  • Background as a commissioning-focused controls engineer at a system integrator or machine OEM - someone who has both written machine code and accepted other people’s. 
  • Robotics & Vision Systems: Working experience with multi axis robotic systems (Fanuc, Kuka, ABB) and machine vision platforms (Cognex, Keyence) 
  • Experience in heavy industrial, greenfield, chemical, or metallurgical manufacturing environments. 
  • Experience developing SCADA applications in Ignition, FactoryTalk, Wonderware, or similar platforms. 
  • AGV integration experience 
  • Familiarity with Python, C++, or other high-level languages for automation or data analytics. 
  • Experience in regulated industries or such as Defense, Aerospace, or Automotive or GAMP 5 / computer system validation exposure 

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