Automation Engineer (Sacamento)

Role    Automation Engineer   Location    Sacramento, CA   Department    Manufacturing   Reports To    Head of Automation   Position Type    Full-time   About Peak Energy   Peak Energy Technologies is the first American venture to advance globally proven Sodium-Ion battery systems as the storage standard for the new era of renewable energy on a resilient grid. Sodium-Ion is cheap, readily available and safe, making it the leading contender in a rapidly evolving market.   We're a team of about 105 today growing rapidly as we move from pilot through commercial scale-up. We operate with modern tooling, including a company-wide AI platform and a builder-first culture that rewards taking ownership end-to-end.   Our leadership team is powered by decades of expertise in scaling gigawatt-level innovation at world-class companies such as Tesla, Northvolt, Apple, Powin, Enovix, Zipline, Solid Power, and Fluence. We are backed by strategic investment and product partners such as Xora, Eclipse Ventures, and TDK Ventures.   We are a team of engineers, operators, entrepreneurs, and partners driven by a shared ambition to set the new performance standard for renewable energy and grid resilience.   About the Role: Automation Engineer   The Automation Engineer is the first automation engineer on Peak Energy's Sacramento manufacturing team and the most senior individual contributor on the automation function. This is a hands-on technical role with broad ownership: you will support the selection and commissioning of vendor-supplied manufacturing equipment, take technical ownership of that equipment once it is on the floor, and work alongside a peer Controls Engineer on in-house designed equipment as that program develops.   Our Sacramento manufacturing facility is in the planning and build-out phase. This person will be hired to help open it. That means participating in design reviews and Factory Acceptance Tests for vendor-supplied equipment before it ships, then being responsible for keeping that equipment running and driving targeted improvements to yield and cycle time once it is installed. For in-house designed equipment, the role starts as a supporting position and progresses toward full ownership as systems mature.   There is no existing automation team to inherit. This person will be the technical foundation of it.   Third-Party Equipment   Participate in design reviews for the acquisition of 3rd-party designed and programmed manufacturing equipment, providing technical input on automation architecture, PLC platform compatibility, and control system specifications   Participate in Factory Acceptance Tests (FATs) at vendor facilities, including occasional international travel, to validate that systems meet Peak Energy's requirements before shipment   Support Site Acceptance Tests (SATs) during installation and commissioning of incoming equipment at the Sacramento facility   Take technical ownership of commissioned 3rd-party equipment: responsible for system uptime, troubleshooting control system issues, and implementing targeted improvements to yield and cycle time   Equipment in scope includes welding systems, adhesive dispensing equipment, and torque tooling systems   In-House Designed Equipment   Collaborate with a peer Controls Engineer on program loading and commissioning of in-house designed manufacturing equipment   Develop working knowledge of in-house equipment control architecture and progressively take on ownership responsibility as systems are commissioned and stabilized   Once ownership is established, apply the same uptime and improvement standards as for 3rd-party equipment   Ongoing Automation and Controls Work   Design, configure, and maintain PLC programs using Beckhoff TwinCAT v3 to optimize production and ensure quality across facility equipment   Design and maintain SCADA systems and HMI interfaces using TwinCAT HMI as the primary platform, giving operators and engineers clear visibility into equipment status and performance   Establish and maintain connectivity between PLCs and MES systems to enable real-time production data, traceability, and process monitoring   Implement data acquisition systems to collect and analyze production data; use that data to identify and drive process improvements   Develop and maintain safety systems including emergency shutdown procedures and safety interlocks in compliance with applicable regulatory requirements   Create and maintain comprehensive automation documentation: control system designs, change management records, operator manuals, and maintenance procedures   Collaborate with equipment engineers, process engineers, and manufacturing leadership to ensure automation systems support production goals   Support root cause analysis on control system issues; document findings and corrective actions systematically   What You'll Bring   Hands-on technical experience with Beckhoff PLCs, TwinCAT v3, and TwinCAT HMI; comfortable writing code and assessing the code of others   Fanuc robot programming using TP (teach pendant) and ROBOGUIDE; able to develop, simulate, and deploy robot programs offline before installation   Experience integrating vision systems into PLC and robot control logic, including pass/fail signal handling and communication with automation controllers   Proficiency with industrial network protocols including EtherCAT, EtherNet/IP, and PROFINET; able to configure and troubleshoot device-level communications   Working knowledge of robot cell safety architecture: safety-rated controllers, guarding design, light curtains, and safety I/O integration   Demonstrated experience supporting or leading Factory Acceptance Tests (FATs) and Site Acceptance Tests (SATs) for industrial manufacturing equipment, including working with 3rd-party vendors   Experience taking technical ownership of manufacturing equipment: troubles