Senior Controls & Robotics Engineer

About this position

About Aalo Atomics

Aalo Atomics is pioneering a new era in clean energy with factory-fabricated microreactors designed to deliver affordable, scalable, and reliable nuclear power. Our mission is to make nuclear energy globally accessible, starting with the Aalo-1, a 10 MWe reactor leveraging cutting‑edge safety, modularity, and efficiency. Based in Austin, TX, we’re rapidly growing as we work to deploy the world’s first fleet of advanced microreactors.

Join us and help revolutionize energy for a sustainable future.

About the role:

As a Senior Controls & Robotics Engineer at Aalo Atomics, you will design and build the automated and semi‑automated manufacturing lines that produce our modular nuclear reactors. You will architect control systems from the ground up, program PLCs and HMIs, integrate robotic cells and motion systems, and commission production equipment on the factory floor. This is a senior technical role responsible for defining Aalo's factory automation strategy and delivering production‑ready manufacturing systems from concept through high‑rate operation.

Responsibilities:

• Design and architect PLC/HMI‑based control systems for automated and semi‑automated manufacturing lines (welding, machining, assembly, material handling, inspection)
• Develop and program PLC logic (Rockwell/Allen‑Bradley, Siemens, Beckhoff, or similar), HMI screens, and SCADA systems
• Specify and select instrumentation, sensors, actuators, drives, motion control systems, safety devices, and industrial networking hardware
• Integrate robotic systems (articulated arms, cobots, gantries) into manufacturing cells with appropriate safety protocols.
• Commission and validate production equipment on the factory floor — from FAT/SAT through full production handoff
• Develop system functional specifications, control narratives, I/O lists, network architecture drawings, and panel design packages
• Implement industrial communication networks (Ether Net/IP, Ether
  
  CAT, PROFINET, OPC‑UA, MQTT, Modbus)
• Design safety systems in compliance with relevant machine safety standards (NFPA 79, ISO 13849, IEC 62443)
• Collaborate with MES/IT teams on data acquisition, recipe management, and production traceability systems
• Drive schedule and throughput on automation equipment — identify risks early, solve problems fast, and keep commissioning milestones on track
• Develop and document standards in the factory for robot programming, PLC/Robot communications, safety systems, wiring and pneumatics.
• Troubleshoot complex electromechanical systems and drive root cause analysis for production issues
• Mentor junior controls engineers and technicians; establish controls standards and templates for factory‑wide deployment and maintenance

Basic Qualifications:

• Bachelor's degree in Electrical Engineering, Controls Engineering, Mechatronics, or related discipline
• 7+ years of hands‑on experience in industrial controls engineering, automation, or robotics integration
• Expert‑level PLC programming (Structured Text, Ladder Logic, Function Block) and/or IPCs on at least one major platform (Rockwell, Siemens, or Beckhoff)
• Experience with HMI/SCADA development (Factory Talk, Ignition, TIA Portal, or similar)
• Hands‑on experience commissioning automated production equipment through FAT/SAT and production ramp
• Solid understanding of servo/motion control and industrial robotics integration
• Working knowledge of industrial safety standards and safety PLC programming
• Experience doing safety risk assessments for automated processes and building in safeguards that minimize risks to safety
• Track record of independently delivering automation systems from concept through production handoff

Preferred Experience:

• Experience in nuclear, aerospace, defense, or other highly regulated manufacturing environments
• Experience integrating controls with MES/ERP platforms
• Experience with IPCs for use in automation and control
• Background in automated welding systems (orbital TIG, electron beam, laser)
• Experience in a greenfield or major capital‑project factory buildout
• Knowledge of IEC 61131‑3 programming best practices and ISA‑88 batch standards
• TÜV Functional Safety Engineer (FSEng) or CFSE certification
• Expe…