Control Systems Engineer, PLC Development

Job Category	Construction & Facilities
Location	Fremont, California
Req. ID	205681
Job Type	Full-time

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What to Expect

Tesla is seeking a highly motivated Controls Engineer to join our Plant Operations team supporting the Fremont Factory and multiple Tesla facilities in the Bay Area. The Fremont Plant Operations team creates and sustains the factory of the future by designing and building innovative enterprise-scale process & utility systems in support of cutting-edge manufacturing processes.

This role will work closely with other Engineering disciplines, design, construction, and their internal customers to provide controls engineering services in support of a diverse array of processes including manufacturing, HVAC, compressed air, process cooling water, water treatment, utilities (electrical, water, gas), and other unique projects supporting the company’s mission. The role will be hands-on and take responsible charge of fast-moving projects throughout the project lifecycle, including project conceptualization, design, engineering support during construction, commissioning, and control systems programming (PLC/SCADA).

The ideal candidate will have strong fundamental knowledge built from the ground-up. They will be capable of personally designing, procuring, constructing, programming and sustaining a wide variety of process automation systems. They will take pride in their work and ever-growing mastery of the field. Their decisions will be based on superior logical reasoning, breaking down difficult problems with excellent analytical skills, organizational ability, and attention to detail. Their ideal environment is one built on trust, where individuals are given a high-level of responsibility and innovative, high-quality work is encouraged and rewarded. They will look forward to learning an incredible amount on the job. They are an excellent cross-team communicator, with a knack for understanding, process, mechanical, and electrical systems as well as complex controls.

What You’ll Do

• Develop PLC code and perform PLC configuration and validation
• Program SCADA system integration including but not limited to data acquisition, alarming, HMI interfaces, API calls & SQL databases
• Participate in initial equipment conceptual development and carefully balance design specifications, process control requirements, cost, quality and schedule.
• Provide expert on-call support for system outages and failover incidents
• Take responsible charge in developing formal construction documents, including:
  • Specifications (Instrumentation, Conductors, Sequence of Operations, I/O Lists, etc.)
  • Drawings (Plan View, Details, P&IDs, Network Diagrams, Schedules, etc.)
  • Code compliance and City permitting
• Specify and procure major elements needed for construction, such as instrumentation and Control Panels.
  • Select and size electrical and electromechanical components such as valves, solenoids, circuit breakers, starters, and VFDs.
• Develop technical memoranda, engineer’s opinion of probable costs, presentations, and other project documentation as required.
• Provide engineering support during construction, including development of RFPs, review of proposals, submittals, RFIs, construction inspections and project close-out.
• Provide commissioning and integration services on control systems, including instrumentation, PLC and SCADA programming.
• Participate in the continuous improvement of Tesla’s global design & programming standards

What You’ll Bring

• BS/MS in an Engineering field (Majors in: Electrical Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Control Systems, Computer Science and Engineering, Mechatronic Engineering, Automation Engineering, etc.) or equivalent work experience
• 2+ years of experience as a hands-on Controls Engineer conceptualizing, designing, commissioning, and programming process automation systems
• Electrical or Control Systems Professional Engineering License (PE) preferred
• Advanced proficiency in programming industrial process and manufacturing equipment:

• PLCs (Siemens, Allen Bradley, Beckhoff)
• SCADA/HMI Platforms (Ignition, Siemens Comfort Panel, AB Panelview)

• Ability to program state machines, data acquisition, and PID control. Proven ability to design fault-tolerant systems with error handling and recovery.
• Proficiency programming and tuning variable frequency drives
• Configuration of controls networks including:

• Ethernet communication (OPC-UA, Profinet, Modbus TCP/IP, DeviceNet, Ethernet/IP, Safety rated field bus networks)
• Serial communication (Profibus, Modbus RTU, RS-232, RS-422, RS-485, BACnet)

• Proficiency selecting appropriate circuit protectors, wire and cable, sensors, safety hardware, PLC hardware, remote I/O, VFD and instrumentation.
• Experience transitioning products and processes from concept to production desired

• Experience developing controls design documents covering a variety of processes including manufacturing, HVAC, compressed air, process cooling water, fluid dispense, life safety, water treatment, utilities (electrical, water, gas)
• Proficiency creating detailed control, process, electrical, pneumatic and fluid schematics in 3D CAD packages such as Revit, AutoCAD, Bluebeam, & Visio.
• Proficiency designing relay logic ladder diagrams.

• Experience designing for hazardous areas and SIL-rated systems.

• Proficiency designing control panels, including selection of appropriate motor control, overcurrent protective devices, wire and cable, instrumentation, enclosures, and PLC hardware.
• Exposure to a wide variety of processes and application of instrumentation (level, flow, temperature, pressure, current, power meters, etc.).
• Expert understanding and working knowledge of relevant codes and industry standards, with especially deep knowledge of NFPA 70 (NEC). Familiar with many industry standards including but not limited to UL 508A, ISA S5.1, ISA 101, ANSI/RIA 15.06, NFPA 70E, OSHA, CA Title 24.
• Excellent verbal and written skills along with the ability to effectively communicate at the executive level.
• Capability to work efficiently with engineers and technicians from other disciplines, as well as vendors and contractors.

Additional Skills:

• Proficiency in relational database systems (MSSQL, MySQL)
• Proficiency in programming languages (Python, Java, VB)
• Experience programming Cartesian, SCARA and Articulated robots (Fanuc, Kuka, Motoman, Epson) is a plus
• Experience with Vision systems (Cognex, Keyence, Fanuc) is a plus

Compensation and Benefits

Benefits

Along with competitive pay, as a full-time Tesla employee, you are eligible for the following benefits at day 1 of hire:

• Aetna PPO and HSA plans > 2 medical plan options with $0 payroll deduction
• Family-building, fertility, adoption and surrogacy benefits
• Dental (including orthodontic coverage) and vision plans, both have options with a $0 paycheck contribution
• Company Paid (Health Savings Account) HSA Contribution when enrolled in the High Deductible Aetna medical plan with HSA
• Healthcare and Dependent Care Flexible Spending Accounts (FSA)
• LGBTQ+ care concierge services
• 401(k) with employer match, Employee Stock Purchase Plans, and other financial benefits
• Company paid Basic Life, AD&D, short-term and long-term disability insurance
• Employee Assistance Program
• Sick and Vacation time (Flex time for salary positions), and Paid Holidays
• Back-up childcare and parenting support resources
• Voluntary benefits to include: critical illness, hospital indemnity, accident insurance, theft & legal services, and pet insurance
• Weight Loss and Tobacco Cessation Programs
• Tesla Babies program
• Commuter benefits
• Employee discounts and perks program

Expected Compensation

$88,000 – $276,000/annual salary + cash and stock awards + benefits

Pay offered may vary depending on multiple individualized factors, including market location, job-related knowledge, skills, and experience. The total compensation package for this position may also include other elements dependent on the position offered. Details of participation in these benefit plans will be provided if an employee receives an offer of employment.

 

Tesla is an Equal Opportunity / Affirmative Action employer committed to diversity in the workplace. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, age, national origin, disability, protected veteran status, gender identity or any other factor protected by applicable federal, state or local laws.

Tesla is also committed to working with and providing reasonable accommodations to individuals with disabilities. Please let your recruiter know if you need an accommodation at any point during the interview process.

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