Forward Deployed Controls Engineer

Department: Software & Systems Engineering

Location: Dallas, TX

Employment Type: FullTime

Forward Deployed Controls Engineer

Location: Dallas Fort Worth Metro Area / In Person

Employment Type: Full-Time

ABOUT US

We are a stealth defense technology startup operating at the intersection of advanced hardware, modern manufacturing, and next-generation AI-enabled manufacturing software. Our mission is to design, build, and deliver real systems that address urgent strategic and industrial capability needs today.

The company is fully funded and has confirmed customer demand with orders exceeding projected manufacturing capacity through 2028.

Our team combines deep technical expertise across multiple disciplines with the operational rigor required to design, manufacture, deploy, and support systems in demanding real-world environments.

Our culture values execution, builders, doers, and ownership. We move quickly, solve hard problems, and take pride in turning ideas into working systems that deliver meaningful results for our customers and mission partners. If you enjoy building real systems and solving hard problems, we would like to learn more about you.

ABOUT THE TEAM

Software is leverage.
The Software & Systems team builds the internal systems that allow a small organization to operate with the efficiency, visibility, and coordination of a much larger one. Rather than treating software as support infrastructure, the group designs the operational backbone that connects engineering, manufacturing, supply chain, and decision-making into a single, high-velocity system.

The mandate is simple: eliminate friction, compress feedback loops, and turn complex industrial operations into tractable software problems. The team ships pragmatic tools, automation, and data systems that scale across sites and programs—enabling engineers and operators to move faster while the underlying platform quietly compounds capability over time.

ABOUT THE JOB

We are looking for a Forward Deployed Controls Engineer to join our growing team in the Dallas / Ft. Worth Metro Area, TX.

This role sits at the intersection of controls, software and manufacturing engineering. You will work directly on the factory floor to bring new automation, equipment, and operational systems online. When something doesn't work the first time — which is often — you will be the person who figures out why and makes it work.

You will operate in environments with tight timelines, incomplete information, and high expectations. The job is equal parts troubleshooting, systems integration, and operational problem solving.

WHAT YOU’LL DO

• Deploy and commission automation, controls systems, and manufacturing equipment across production environments

• Troubleshoot PLC, HMI, and industrial network issues under real operational timelines

• Work directly with operators, technicians, and engineers to diagnose and resolve integration issues between software, hardware, and mechanical systems

• Support new production line launches, equipment commissioning, and system validation, modify controls logic, configuration, or integration layers to stabilize and improve system performance

• Translate field learnings into repeatable deployment playbooks, tooling, and operating procedures

• Partner with software and systems engineers to ensure factory systems integrate cleanly with data and operational platforms

REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS

• Bachelor's degree or equivalent professional experience in Electrical Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Mechatronics, or a related technical field

• Experience working with industrial automation, controls systems, or manufacturing equipment

• Hands-on experience programming and troubleshooting PLC-controlled systems in production environments

• Familiarity with industrial networking, field I/O systems, sensors, actuators, and machine control architectures

• Strong troubleshooting ability across electrical, controls, and system integration layers

• Ability to operate effectively in fast-moving environments with high operational urgency

• Willingness to spend time on factory floors, test facilities, and deployment environments

• Local to or willingness to relocate to the Dallas / Ft. Worth metro area

Must be a U.S. Person due to required access to U.S. export-controlled information or facilities

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS

• Experience commissioning or launching automated manufacturing equipment

• Experience with PLC & industrial robots such as Allen-Bradley, Fanuc, etc.

• Experience with industrial communication protocols such as Ethernet/IP and OPC-UA

• Experience with SCADA systems such as Ignition

• Experience with scripting languages such as Python

• Experience with version control systems such as GitHub

• Experience troubleshooting real-time systems under operational pressure

• Understanding of security best practices for Industrial Automation

• Comfort working across electrical, mechanical, and software boundaries to solve system-level problems

BENEFITS

• Medical, Dental, and Vision Coverage

• Paid Time Off (PTO)

• 401(k) Plan

• Relocation Assistance: depending on role eligibility.

The recruiter assigned to this role can share more information about the specific compensation and benefit details associated with this role during the hiring process.