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Weekend Principal Controls Engineer Jobs in Austin, TX

What we need Symbotic is currently seeking a principal robotics engineer to join our Mobile Robotics Software team. We are looking for a creative and collaborative person who thrives in an agile ...

What we need Symbotic is currently seeking a principal robotics engineer to join our Mobile Robotics Software team. We are looking for a creative and collaborative person who thrives in an agile ...

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Weekend Principal Controls Engineer information

See Austin, TX salary details

$73.3K

$145.9K

$210.6K

How much do weekend principal controls engineer jobs pay per year?

As of Aug 7, 2026, the average yearly pay for weekend principal controls engineer in Austin, TX is $145,926.00, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $117,500.00 and $171,500.00 per year, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What are the unique challenges and benefits of working as a Weekend Principal Controls Engineer compared to a standard weekday schedule?

Working as a Weekend Principal Controls Engineer often involves overseeing critical maintenance, troubleshooting, and upgrades when production is paused or at reduced capacity. This allows for more hands-on involvement with equipment and fewer interruptions from regular operations. However, it can also mean working independently or with a smaller team, requiring strong problem-solving skills and self-sufficiency. The role typically offers a quieter work environment and may come with premium pay or additional flexibility, but it’s important to be comfortable with less direct management support and off-hour responsibilities.

What is the difference between Weekend Principal Controls Engineer vs Weekend Controls Engineer?

AspectWeekend Principal Controls EngineerWeekend Controls Engineer
CredentialsBachelor's degree in engineering, professional control systems certificationsAssociate's or Bachelor's degree, relevant control system experience
Work EnvironmentLead role in control system design, troubleshooting, and project oversightAssist in control system maintenance, testing, and support tasks
Industry UsageUsed in manufacturing, energy, and industrial facilities for complex control projectsCommon in similar industries for operational support and routine tasks

The Weekend Principal Controls Engineer typically holds a higher level of responsibility, overseeing control system projects and leading teams, whereas the Weekend Controls Engineer focuses on supporting and maintaining existing systems. Both roles require relevant technical skills, but the principal position involves more leadership and advanced expertise.

What does a Weekend Principal Controls Engineer do?

A Weekend Principal Controls Engineer is a senior-level engineer responsible for overseeing and managing control systems, such as automation and instrumentation, during weekend shifts. Their duties include ensuring the reliability and performance of control systems, troubleshooting issues, leading maintenance or upgrade projects, and mentoring other engineers or technicians. They play a key role in maintaining operational efficiency and safety, especially during non-standard work hours when issues may arise. Typically, they work in industries like manufacturing, energy, or process plants that require continuous operations.

What are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive as a Weekend Principal Controls Engineer?

To thrive as a Weekend Principal Controls Engineer, you need deep expertise in automation, control systems engineering, and a relevant engineering degree, often supported by extensive industry experience. Proficiency with PLC programming, SCADA systems, industrial network protocols, and certifications like Professional Engineer (PE) or ISA CAP are typically required. Strong problem-solving abilities, leadership, and effective communication are crucial soft skills for coordinating projects and troubleshooting under time constraints. These skills and qualifications are vital for ensuring reliable system performance and efficient operations during critical weekend shifts.
What are popular job titles related to Weekend Principal Controls Engineer jobs in Austin, TX? For Weekend Principal Controls Engineer jobs in Austin, TX, the most frequently searched job titles are:
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What cities near Austin, TX are hiring for Weekend Principal Controls Engineer jobs? Cities near Austin, TX with the most Weekend Principal Controls Engineer job openings:

GNC Engineer - Embedded Controls, AI Satellites (Starmind)

SpaceX

Bastrop, TX • On-site

$83K - $107K/yr

Other

Posted 3 days ago

New


SpaceX rating

8.8

Company rating: 8.8 out of 10

Based on 147 frontline employees who took The Breakroom Quiz

15th of 72 rated aerospace companies


Job description

GNC ENGINEER - EMBEDDED CONTROLS, AI SATELLITES (STARMIND)

SpaceX is leveraging its experience deploying and operating the world's largest satellite constellation to develop Starmind, a new constellation of satellites capturing solar energy in space to power low-cost, high-performance AI compute for Earth.

The Starmind team is developing key technologies to power this satellite - massive solar power generation systems, active cooling, propulsion, and the highly reliable software stack that enables our vehicles to accomplish their mission safely and autonomously.

As an Embedded Controls Engineer on the Starmind Guidance, Navigation, and Control team (GNC) team, you will apply a strong expertise in dynamics and closed loop controls to achieve robust and precise pointing on satellites, payloads, propulsion systems, and mechanisms. This is not just an analysis role - you will be responsible for vehicle design trades, simulation, flight software implementation, and ultimately deploying and operating your features in space.

RESPONSIBILITIES:

  • Design, analysis, implementation of electromechanical control systems such as solar array actuators, antenna gimbals, and high bandwidth active optics.
  • Design, analysis, implementation of satellite attitude control and momentum management systems.
  • Design, analysis, implementation of fluid and power system controls for the Starlink hall thrusters.
  • Optimal state estimation as applied to mechanical alignment and attitude determination.
  • Hardware performance specification and sizing, support for hardware iteration and firmware bringup, design qualification, automated production screening, and performance monitoring in the fleet.
  • Development and maintenance of high fidelity simulations using C++, python, matlab, integration of those simulations into collaborative analysis tools.
  • Implementation, validation, unit testing, and deployment of production software (C++) pertinent to the systems described above.
  • Provide engineering and data review support for hardware development, network level performance monitoring.

BASIC QUALIFICATIONS:

  • Bachelor's degree in aerospace, physics or an engineering discipline.
  • Software development experience in C++.
  • Experience with design and analysis of closed loop control systems.

PREFERRED SKILLS AND EXPERIENCE:

  • Master's degree or PhD in physics or an engineering discipline.
  • Very strong expertise and demonstrated project or professional experience in linear closed loop controls analysis and design, including state space and frequency domain methods.
  • Experience with flexible body dynamics and reduced finite element models thereof in the context of closed loop control systems analysis.
  • Expertise in state estimation, kalman filters, information filters, etc.
  • Strong expertise in embedded C++, ideally in the context of electromechanical control systems firmware.
  • Strong understanding of classical rigid body dynamics, orbital mechanics, modeling and simulation thereof.
  • Direct experience with spacecraft operations and flight software development, testing, and deployment.
  • Capable of identifying and solving complex problems in a self-directed manner.
  • Passion for advancing the commercial space industry.
  • Ability to work in a fast paced, autonomously driven, and demanding start-up atmosphere.
  • Excellent communication skills both written and verbal.

ADDITIONAL REQUIREMENTS:

  • Must be willing to work extended hours and weekends as needed.

What SpaceX employees say

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Benefits

Hours and flexibility

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About SpaceX

Sourced by ZipRecruiter

Industry

Aerospace product and parts manufacturing, data services, guided missile and space vehicle manufacturing and satellite telecommunications

Company size

1,001 - 5,000 Employees

Headquarters location

Hawthorne, CA, US