Controls Engineer Sr

VW. Two letters. Endless opportunities. A bright future. 

Innovation. Sophistication. Optimization. This is our Passion. 

Worldwide, the Volkswagen Group has a long tradition of innovations. The Volkswagen Group with its headquarters in Wolfsburg, is one of the world’s leading automobile manufacturers and the largest carmaker in Europe. The Group comprises diverse brands in several European countries: e.g. Volkswagen Passenger Cars, Audi, SEAT, ŠKODA, Bentley, Lamborghini, Porsche, Ducati, Scania or MAN. Here in the US, we are blending German engineering with American ingenuity.

With our battery activities, we are ready to challenge the status quo. Our mission is to power the transformation towards electric mobility and renewable energy by building a local battery industry. And we believe that it is time for a new generation of batteries: Safer, more sustainable, and more resilient. Batteries with positive power. Batteries for generations to come. We are shaping the battery's future. And just as it needs a lot of different expertise to scale big projects, the battery future will be built by people with a wide range of skills and experience. We are chemists, project managers, battery experts, procurement specialists, IT professionals, sustainability experts, and more. Regardless of your background, if you are up for the challenge, join our mission and be part of the change.

Controls Engineer, salary grade 9, reports to Head of Operations, Battery Accessories, and is located in San Jose, California, with a role classification of Fully On-Site.

Role Summary:

To achieve our ambitious goals, we are seeking a dedicated Controls Engineer. This is a senior-level Member of Technical Staff to our Operations Department. This individual will be responsible for designing, implementing, and optimizing systems to automate and enable scale manufacturing of our solid-state lithium-metal batteries. Experience working with electrochemical energy storage devices such as lithium-based batteries, fuel cells, or similar technologies is highly desired.

Role Responsibilities:

·       Lead the design and development of complex, multidisciplinary automation systems, including PLCs, HMIs, robotics, machine vision, and advanced control systems across different production lines. 

·       Provide hands-on technical leadership to cross-functional teams, guiding engineers through the entire automation project lifecycle from concept through commissioning. 

·       Develop and review electrical schematics, wiring diagrams, control enclosure layouts, and interlock schematics using CAD tools (e.g., Autodesk), ensuring regulatory compliance and maintainability. 

·       Program and debug complex control systems, including multiple PLC platforms, ensuring reliability, scalability, and performance optimization in alignment with project KPIs. Conduct thorough risk assessments, ensuring compliance with industry standards such as SEMI, NFPA 79, UL, and local safety regulations. 

·       Validate and test safety circuits, I/O systems, and industrial communication interfaces (Ethernet/IP, Profinet, OPCUA) to ensure compliance with stringent safety and performance crite