Control Systems Engineer II - Applied Science

Responsibilities:

Develop control, automation, and data acquisition software in LabVIEW and Python for test and measurement systems, following established architectures and coding standards.
Integrate instrumentation, DAQ hardware, benchtop equipment, and custom electronics into test systems, with general direction from senior engineers.
Configure and commission timing, trigger, and interlock hardware for pulsed experiments, and verify sequencing and signal integrity against requirements.
Interface with instruments and devices over RS-232/422/485, TCP/IP, EtherCAT and other Ethernet-based fieldbuses, and instrument control protocols.
Write and execute test procedures, record results, and prepare verification reports for review by senior engineers.
Troubleshoot system, software, and hardware issues on the test floor using systematic diagnostic methods, and document root cause and resulting changes.
Maintain unit tests, automated regression tests, and version-controlled code within the team’s development workflow.
Support test campaigns, including readiness checks, functional checkout, and on-the-floor support during experiments.
Gather feedback from operators and experimenters, triage bug reports, and implement improvements.
Maintain controls documentation such as I/O lists, signal lists, interface definitions, and as-built records, and coordinate with the electrical and operations teams that build from them.

Qualifications:

Education: Bachelor’s degree in Electrical Engineering, Controls Engineering, Computer Engineering, or a related STEM field; a Master’s degree is a plus.
Experience: Typically 2+ years of relevant experience in control systems, test and measurement, or automation engineering, or a Master’s degree with relevant hands-on project experience.
Solid understanding of:
LabVIEW development, including modular, version-controlled code
Python for test automation, instrument control, and data handling
Core control concepts such as PID control, closed-loop behavior, and state machines
Ability to read electrical schematics and wiring diagrams and to troubleshoot signals with oscilloscopes, multimeters, and similar lab instrumentation.
Familiarity with industrial and laboratory communication protocols (RS-232, TCP/IP, Ethernet-based fieldbuses).
Familiarity with verification and validation practices, including test plans, test procedures, and requirements tracking.
Experience with version control (Git).
Ability to work with little day-to-day instruction within defined procedures, exercising judgment on problems of moderate scope and communicating clearly with the team.
Ability to obtain and maintain a U.S. government security clearance if required by future program work; a clearance is not required at the time of hire.
Must be a U.S. citizen or national, U.S. permanent resident (current Green Card holder), or lawfully admitted into the U.S. as a refugee or granted asylum.

Desired:

Education: Master’s degree in Electrical Engineering, Controls Engineering, Computer Engineering, or a related STEM field
Experience in laser, pulsed power, accelerator, aerospace, or national laboratory test environments.
Exposure to advanced LabVIEW architectures such as an Actor framework.
Experience with DAQ systems, high-speed digitizers, or timing and synchronization systems.
Familiarity with industrial control platforms (Beckhoff TwinCAT/EtherCAT, PLCs).
Exposure to safety-related control concepts, interlocks, or fail-safe design.
Familiarity with instrumentation standards and interfaces (SCPI, GPIB, USB instruments).
Familiarity with database management and handling of test data.
Exposure to sprint-based planning tools and workflows (e.g., Jira).