Automation Controls Engineer Jobs in Seattle, WA

Automation Controls Engineer

Are you passionate about electrical and automation engineering? Do you thrive in fast-paced, high-mix, low-volume production environments? Hypertherm Associates is seeking an Automation Controls Engineer to join our dynamic team and help shape the future of our manufacturing operations.

As an Automation Controls Engineer, you will play a pivotal role in enabling and supporting our team by leading the design, implementation, and validation of electrical systems and engineered solutions. Your expertise will be essential in ensuring safe, high-quality processes that empower our manufacturing capabilities.

You will collaborate closely with design engineers and cross-functional teams to ensure products are manufacturable and compliant with regulatory standards. This role offers the opportunity to mentor and guide peers, fostering a culture of continuous improvement and innovation.

This is a unique opportunity to make a meaningful impact in a company committed to innovation, safety, and excellence. You'll be part of a supportive team that values your contributions and encourages professional growth.

The Automation Controls Engineer will be responsible for:

• Design & Integration: Design and document electrical circuits, schematics, and BOMs-from simple to moderately complex. Work closely with design engineers to make sure products are easy to build and meet all necessary regulations. Help bring smart, efficient solutions into our production and testing setups.

• Testing & Validation: Take the lead on building test fixtures and creating validation protocols for both subassemblies and final products. Run test plans to confirm reliability and compliance, dig into the data to spot issues, and support pre-shipment NRTL evaluations.

• Manufacturing & Quality Support: Share DFMA insights during prototyping and new product introductions to improve buildability and cut costs. Train production teams on best practices for electrical assembly, troubleshoot tricky systems, and mentor QEW (Qualified Electrical Workers) trainees to grow internal expertise. Support production manufacturing by providing troubleshooting expertise and ability to safely get back to normal condition by enabling Qualified Electrical Workers guidelines.

• Safety & Compliance: Make sure everything we design and build meets key safety and regulatory standards like NFPA 70E, ANSI B11, IPC-A-610, UL 508A, CE, ISO 9001, and more. Help improve safety through smart design, process controls, and hands-on training. Keep documentation up to date and manage ECOs.

• Project Leadership & Problem Solving: Lead projects from idea to execution-handling timelines, budgets, and resources. Tackle quality issues head-on with root cause analysis and corrective actions that make a lasting impact.

Who you are and the experience you bring:

• Bachelor's degree in Electrical Engineering or related field with 5+ year's experience in industrial automation, OEM machinery, or plant controls.

• Proficient with 2D CAD tools (AutoCAD, DraftSight); 3D CAD (SolidWorks).

• Demonstrated experience with control panel assembly, troubleshooting, and live electrical work in hazardous voltage environments.

• Familiarity with MES systems, data acquisition, and quality monitoring tools.

Preferred experience that differentiates you:

• Strong understanding of regulatory frameworks (UL 508A, NFPA 70E/79, CE, ISO 9001).

  • Familiar with the application electro-mechanical technologies: industrial control panels, power cable terminations, communication and control cable assemblies, printed circuit board assemblies, servo drives, VFDs

• Six Sigma Green/Black Belt certification.

• Experience with Lean Manufacturing, SMED, and structured problem-solving (e.g., 8D, DMAIC).

• Hands-on experience building panels, guards, and tooling without technician support.

Location: OMAX, Kent, Washington (Relocation Assistance provided)

Travel: Minimal

Besides our incredible culture, some of the benefits you can expect with a career at Hypertherm Associates:

• Global, 100% employee-owned company

• Profit-Sharing

• Employee Stock Ownership

• Five days/year Community Service Time

• Strong commitment to Environmental Stewardship

• Stable, growing organization with a no-layoff philosophy

Sponsorship of new applicants for employment authorization, or any other immigration-related support, is not available for this position at this time.

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At Hypertherm Associates, we are committed to building an inclusive diverse, flexible, and collaborative environment. If our mission resonates with you, but you don't meet all posted requirements, we encourage you to still apply. We will evaluate your application materials and may suggest alternative roles that better leverage your strengths and talents. For positions with multiple levels, we will evaluate your prior experience to determine the level within our organization you are best aligned based upon the job applying.