On-Site Controls & Mechatronics Engineer Industrial Robots

At Janicki Industries, we turn complex ideas into real-world solutions through advanced engineering and manufacturing. Our teams design and build innovative structures, tooling, and systems that support industries including aerospace, space, defense, marine, and architecture. Across every role, from engineers and technicians to operations and support teams, our people help solve challenging problems, push the limits of design and manufacturing, and create solutions that make a lasting impact.

The Controls & Mechatronics Engineer designs, builds, and tunes the physical control systems that make our industrial robots move, grip, sand, and manipulate heavy objects safely. This role bridges mechanical and electrical engineering with control theory. You will work with motors, actuators, servo drives, safety systems, and industrial robotic arms (KUKA or similar), writing and tuning the low‑level control software that translates high-level commands into precise physical actions on AGVs with wheeled or tracked drive systems carrying payloads up to 50,000 lb.

• Design and implement vehicle-level control systems for heavy AGV platforms including drive control, steering, and braking
• Configure, program, and tune industrial robotic arms (KUKA or equivalent) for pick‑and‑place, sanding, and material handling operations
• Develop control interfaces and tool‑change protocols for interchangeable end effectors (grippers, sanders, specialized tooling)
• Select and specify actuators, drives, sensors, and power systems for robot configurations
• Design and implement safety‑rated control functions (emergency stop, safe speed monitoring, force/torque limiting) compliant with relevant industrial standards
• Perform hardware testing including actuator characterization, sensor calibration, and safety system verification
• Collaborate with navigation and perception engineers to implement coordinated mobile manipulation behaviors
• Hybrid role requiring on‑site presence at least two days per week, with additional in‑office time as business needs arise

• Bachelor’s degree in Mechanical Engineering, Computer Science, or closely related field
• Willingness to work on‑site at our Hamilton, WA facility
• U.S. Citizen or Legal Permanent Resident Status as defined by 8 U.S.C. 1324b (a) (3)
• Ability to obtain a U.S. Secret Security Clearance (U.S. Citizenship Required). Janicki will assist with gaining this access once employed. Special Access Program or other Government Access Requirements are mandatory for this position and require candidate agreement to enter a Continuous Evaluation program

• Experience with industrial robotic arm programming and integration (KUKA KRL, ABB RAPID, Fanuc TP/Karel, or UR Script)
• Hands‑on experience with motor control, servo systems, or industrial motion control
• Knowledge of industrial communication protocols (CAN bus, Ether
  
  CAT, Modbus, PROFINET)
• Experience with PLC programming (Siemens, Allen‑Bradley, Beckhoff TwinCAT)
• Familiarity with functional safety standards (ISO 13849, IEC 62061, ISO 10218)
• Programming skills in Python, C/C++, or MATLAB/Simulink
• Experience with electrical design tools (AutoCAD Electrical, EPLAN)
• Experience designing control systems for heavy machinery, AGVs, or large mobile platforms
• Experience with hydraulic or high‑power electric drive systems
• Background in manufacturing environments, particularly aerospace or composites
• Familiarity with sensor technologies (encoders, force/torque sensors, proximity sensors)
• Master’s or Ph.D. in Controls, Mechatronics, or Mechanical Engineering

• Entry Level: new graduates with 0–2 years of experience
• Mid‑Level: 5+ years of professional experience in controls engineering, mechatronics, or industrial automation
• Senior Level: 10+ years of professional experience, with a track record of designing and deploying control systems for industrial robots or heavy automated equipment

Wage range for this role is between $85,000 – $175,000 plus a discretionary bonus, 401(k) matching, vacation, and health benefits. Employees can also receive additional pay for off‑shifts,…