Engineer Controls Engineer Jobs in Columbia, MD (NOW HIRING)

Who YOU are and what YOU can become
You will serve as the site technical authority for industrial control systems within one of the most complex and diverse manufacturing automation environments in the commercial aerospace aerostructures industry. As a member of the Manufacturing Automation and Development team-and the organization's first dedicated controls engineering role-you will help establish and grow a critical capability supporting production, capital projects, and advanced manufacturing initiatives. You will own controls architecture, lead and evaluate external automation integrators and machine builders, drive capital equipment specification and acceptance, and sustain the performance of automated systems across multiple aircraft programs. In parallel, you will lead internal controls development efforts with the same level of technical rigor.
Who WE are and where WE are going
At ST Engineering MRAS, our employees have amazing opportunities to work on advanced technologies and systems that support thousands of customers and millions of people worldwide every day. From the first flight across the Pacific Ocean to developing highly complex structures for the most popular aircraft in the world, we have come a long way always with a can-do approach to problem solving while delighting customers with our high say-do ratio. We are looking for people with innovative ideas and the drive to help us grow into the future.
A pioneer in the production and assembly of complex aerostructures including aircraft and rocket components, engine nacelle systems, thrust reversers and advanced composite products, we apply the latest digital technologies and automation in composite design and manufacturing that are second to none. At ST Engineering MRAS, we are also rapidly augmenting our maintenance, repair and overhaul (MRO) capabilities leveraging the company's expanded aircraft nacelle portfolio as well as its materials and processing expertise.
What YOU will do

• Establish site-level controls standards covering architecture, safety philosophy, platform prioritization, naming conventions, diagnostics, and version control

• Serve as the internal technical authority over external automation integrators and machine builders, directing controls scope, challenging vendor architecture, and protecting procurement outcomes

• Author controls-specific Statements of Work and define FAT and SAT acceptance criteria for new automation capital acquisitions

• Own the controls scope from User Requirements Specification through FAT through SAT through production handover

• Develop and own PLC logic, motion programs, and control system architecture across facility systems spanning Siemens TIA Portal, Rockwell, FANUC, ABB, KUKA, and other platforms

• Configure, program, and support industrial robotic systems including multi-axis robotic cells, coordinated robot-to-PLC interfaces, and vision-guided robotic applications

• Design, implement, and validate safety PLC systems and machine risk reduction strategies in accordance with ISO 13849 and IEC 62061

• Develop and support HMI systems across multiple platforms and configure industrial network architectures including Profinet, EtherNet/IP, EtherCAT, and OPC-UA

• Lead the design and development of internally built controls and automation systems including next-generation manufacturing technology programs currently in active development

• Provide senior-level technical escalation support for production-critical systems operating under program rate, quality, and uptime requirements

• Develop the controls knowledge and capability of the broader automation team through applied collaboration

What YOU must bring to Succeed

• Bachelor's degree in Electrical Engineering, Controls Engineering, Mechatronics, or related field with a minimum five years of industrial controls engineering experience at a machine builder, systems integrator, or advanced automated manufacturing facility producing complex machinery. Or equivalent combination of education and hands-on industrial controls experience is required.
• Experience authoring controls-specific Statements of Work or technical acceptance criteria for capital equipment procurement
• Direct experience leading or participating in Factory Acceptance Tests and Site Acceptance Tests with external vendors or machine builders
• Demonstrated experience programming, commissioning, or supporting industrial robotic systems including robot-to-PLC integration, coordinated motion, and vision-guided applications
• Hands-on mechanical and electrical experience on the machines you have programmed and commissioned; the ability to trace a fault across controls, electrical, and mechanical domains simultaneously is a baseline requirement

This position involves access to export-controlled technology which requires U.S. Person status or government authorization. A 'U.S. Person,' as defined by 22 C.F.R. §120.62, includes U.S. citizens, U.S. nationals, individuals lawfully admitted for permanent residence (green card holders), and individuals granted asylum or refugee status in the United States. To be considered for this position, you must either be a U.S. Person or fall within a legally recognized export control exception or authorization. If hired, you will be required to provide valid proof of such status.
Desired Characteristics

• Experience in aerospace, automotive, semiconductor, or other high-reliability regulated manufacturing environments

• Hands-on experience with robotic assembly cells, large-format gantry automation, multi-axis coordinated motion systems, or automated fiber placement equipment

• Vision systems integration at the controls and network level including vision-guided robotics or inline inspection systems

• HMI and SCADA development experience in WinCC, FactoryTalk, Ignition, or equivalent platforms

• Experience establishing controls engineering standards at a site or program level

• Familiarity with data acquisition architecture, OPC-UA implementation, or machine-to-system communication in a production environment
• Demonstrated ownership of complex automated systems from design and build through commissioning and into sustained production

At ST Engineering MRAS, we offer great rewards, competitive pay, career advancement and growth opportunities.
Estimate salary range for this role: $101,000 to $140,000 per year. ST Engineering MRAS considers several factors with extending job offers, including but not limited to candidates' key skills, relevant work experience, education/training/certification, job level, and work location. Base salary is only one component of our competitive Total Rewards package.
ST Engineering - MRAS Benefits:
As a full-time employee of ST Engineering MRAS, you are eligible for our benefits package including:

• Medical, Dental, and Vision coverage starting from start date
• Health Flexible Spending Accounts
• Free Onsite Gym with weekly fitness classes
• Immediate 401k vesting
• Educational Assistance
• Life Insurance
• Paid Time off (Permissive for exempt staff)

Employment Notice: Background and Drug Screening Requirements
As part of our commitment to maintaining a safe and secure workplace, successful completion of a background check and drug screening is a mandatory condition for employment. All offers of employment are contingent upon satisfactory results from these screenings.
It takes diverse talent to solve real-world problems. ST Engineering is deeply committed to building a workplace community where inclusion is valued, and everyone feels welcomed. We're proud to consider all qualified applicants for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, pregnancy, family status, marital status, sexual orientation, national origin, disability, age, or veteran status, or any other legally protected grounds. So, bring us your personal experience, your perspectives, and your background. It's through our differences that innovative changes are made.
ST Engineering is committed to providing reasonable accommodations to qualified individuals with disabilities in the employment application process. To request an accommodation, please contact our Talent Strategies team at 571-771-0101, or by email at stena.careers@stengg.us.