Senior Automation & Controls Engineer

Company Description

A stealth company is modernizing the backbone of maritime logistics globally. The company is building next-generation autonomous vessels and retrofitting existing commercial fleets with a unified, software-defined control architecture designed to operate reliably in critical inland and coastal routes. The U.S. maritime industry moves energy products, raw materials, and industrial cargo that underpin national supply chains, yet much of its onboard control infrastructure remains fragmented, analog, and decades behind modern industrial standards. At the same time, operators face persistent labor shortages, rising operating costs, and increasing regulatory complexity. The company is addressing these constraints by integrating propulsion, power systems, sensing, and onboard computing into a cohesive automation stack capable of real-time monitoring, remote command, and progressive autonomy.

Founded by engineers from SpaceX, the team brings deep experience deploying complex hardware systems in demanding environments. The company applies high-performance engineering rigor to a sector that directly impacts U.S. supply chains and industrial throughput. The company is deploying systems onto operational boats today and defining what scalable, autonomous maritime infrastructure looks like over the next decade.

Job Summary

The Senior Automation & Controls Engineer will design, program, integrate, and deploy industrial control systems onto operational vessels, working at the intersection of electrical hardware, control logic, and system architecture. This position requires strong PLC programming experience, deep knowledge of industrial communication protocols, and the ability to execute hands-on in mission-critical environments. You will work across electrical hardware, control logic, and system architecture to enable scalable fleet deployment.

Responsibilities

• Design and implement an industrial automation architecture for vessel deployment
• Develop, test, and maintain PLC code for shipboard equipment and control systems
• Interface with diesel engines, propulsion systems, and third-party PLC networks
• Implement and validate industrial communication protocols (CAN, Modbus, PROFINET, EtherCAT etc.)
• Develop tools to extract, process, and command critical vessel system data
• Create fault-tolerant control strategies for mission-critical systems
• Perform hardware integration, system bring-up, and electrical troubleshooting
• Support on-vessel commissioning and deployment activities
• Collaborate cross-functionally with software, electrical, and mechanical engineering teams

Qualifications (meet subset)

• Bachelor’s degree in Electrical Engineering, Mechatronics, Controls Engineering, or related field
• 5+ years of experience developing and commissioning PLC-based automation systems
• Experience integrating heterogeneous OEM systems in industrial environments
• Proficiency with industrial communication protocols (Modbus, CAN, Ethernet/IP, OPC-UA)
• Ability to read and develop electrical schematics and control panel designs
• Experience in debugging hardware and control systems in field environments
• Experience working in high-performance hardware development environments, such as SpaceX
• Experience deploying systems in industrial environments
• Preference for Shipboard or maritime automation experience

Expected Outcomes

• Within the first month, you will establish live connectivity to critical hardware operating onboard ships and deploy PLC logic supporting the automation stack.
• Within three months, you will own the vessel deployment architecture and support onboard commissioning.
• Within six months, you will define a scalable controls architecture supporting multi-vessel rollout.

Physical and Work Environment Requirements

• Ability to work on-site in El Segundo, CA
• Ability to support vessel deployment, including travel as required
• Comfortable working around industrial equipment and shipboard machinery

Compensation & Benefits

Salary: $175,000 - $215,000 base salary (competitive and commensurate with experience)

Stock Options: Meaningful stock options available with substantial upside as an early-stage company

Health Insurance: Full health insurance coverage (medical, dental, and vision)