Production Controls Engineer

Location: Reno, Nevada, United States

Department: Engineering

Workplace: on_site

Employment Type: full

Description

American Battery Technology Company (ABTC) provides technical development and commercialization of domestic, sustainable sourcing of critical battery materials through lithium-ion battery recycling and battery metal extraction technologies for use in batteries that power electric cars, grid storage applications, and consumer electronics and tools. Our first of kind systems produce commercial-scale battery materials that are sold into the battery manufacturing supply chain.

As our Production Controls Engineer, you will operate and maintain best-in-class control systems for the chemical process systems of our proprietary lithium-ion battery recycling facility and primary resource extraction technologies. This candidate will collaborate with our engineering team and various internal and external experts to ensure the successful operation of our facilities’ control systems. The ideal candidate will be familiar with the research & development, design, installation, commissioning, and operations of first-of-kind facilities. They should be passionate about operating and maintaining efficient automation systems for chemical manufacturing processes, ensuring quality control of outputs, specifying equipment, crafting and deploying monitoring protocols.  The candidate will be a problem-solver and have a keen interest in operating first-in-kind process systems.  This should include a constant focus on evaluating current processing steps and proposing and developing next-generation solutions to continuously improve system performance and operability. This position will report to our Production Engineering Manager. 

Requirements

• Troubleshoot complex control system issues, perform root cause analysis, and implement corrective actions to prevent unplanned downtime and process upsets. 

• Support commissioning, startup, and optimization of new equipment and future expansions for first-of-kind battery recycling and resource extraction processes. 

• Develop, maintain, and troubleshoot PLC and SCADA systems using IEC-61131 compliant programming standards. 

• Develop, maintain, and troubleshoot plant instrumentation and control systems, including electronic, pneumatic, hydraulic, and microprocessor-based equipment. 

• Interpret and work from engineering drawings, P&IDs, wiring diagrams, and manufacturer documentation 

• Prepare and maintain controls documentation, including instrument lists, valve lists, loop sheets, wiring diagrams, and control narratives. 

• Contribute to process design, control strategies, and equipment selection during capital project development and conceptual design phases. 

• Develop and maintain specifications for procurement of low-voltage controls equipment and instrumentation for chemical and mechanical process systems. 

• Develop and manage instrumentation calibration programs to ensure measurement accuracy and regulatory compliance. 

• Participate in hazard analyses, FMEAs, and safety reviews to support safe and reliable operation of process systems. 

• Collaborate closely with engineering, operations, and external partners to continuously improve system performance and operability. 

• Provide after-hours on-call support as part of a shared rotation to support production operations. 

• Work a 4x10 schedule. 

Qualifications

• Licensed Professional Engineer: Control Systems 

• Experience with Autodesk CAD programs (Plant3D, Revit) 

• Experience with database systems (MSSQL, MySQL, PostgreSQL)  

Minimum Required Qualifications 

• Background in Electrical/Mechanical/Chemical Engineering or equivalent industry experience in Instrumentation and Controls 

• 2+ years of engineering/design experience focusing on industrial automation systems 

• Exposure to a variety of instrument manufacturers and technologies 

• Exposure to a variety of automation hardware (Siemens, Allen Bradley, Wago)  

• Experience with a variety of industrial communication protocols (ProfiNet, Modbus, BacNET, Ethernet IP)  

• Experience with Human Machine Interface (Ignition, PanelView, Simatic HMI)  

• Able to interpret and produce Process Flow Diagrams (PFD) and Piping and Instrumentation Diagrams (P&ID) 

• Chemical processing background (Oil, Gas & Chemicals, Metals & Mining, Mineral Processing, etc.) 

• Ability to positively collaborate in a team environment 

Benefits

• Competitive salary 

• Company-sponsored health, dental, vision, and life insurance 
• Parental Leave

• Company-sponsored Employee Assistance Program  

• Stock options 

• 401(K) 

• Flexible paid time off 

Expected Pay Range

$60k - $110k per year.

Compensation for this position may vary based on a number of individualized factors, including market location, job-related knowledge, skills, experience, and relevant education or training. The total compensation package may also include additional components such as bonus, equity, and benefits, which will be detailed upon offer of employment.

Equal Opportunity Employer 

American Battery Technology Company is proud to be an Equal Employment Opportunity and Affirmative Action employer. We do not discriminate based upon race, religion, color, national origin, gender (including pregnancy, childbirth, or related medical conditions), sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, age, status as a protected veteran, status as an individual with a disability, or other applicable legally protected characteristics.  

Americans With Disabilities Act 

American Battery Technology Company does not discriminate based upon disability in its hiring or employment practices and complies with the ADA title I employment regulations. If you need assistance or an accommodation due to a disability or a special need, please contact Human Resources.