Associate Controls Engineer

Wunderlich-Malec Engineering (WM) is a 100% employee-owned ESOP and one of the largest and most well-established engineering companies in the United States. As a Top 5 Systems Integrator Giant and ENR Top 500 Firm with 40+ years of industry history, WM offers a unique opportunity to join a team where you directly benefit from the company’s success.

About the role

This Associate Controls Engineer position is based in Pleasanton, CA, with relocation to Boise, ID. The role involves delivering process control systems, including DCS/PLC/SCADA/HMI programming, hardware designs, network architecture design, instrumentation/electrical designs, and check-out/start-up support. Note: This position is not eligible for employer-sponsored work authorization, including H-1B sponsorship, and does not participate in the STEM OPT training program.

Responsibilities

• Deliver process control systems, including DCS/PLC/SCADA/HMI programming, hardware designs, network architecture design, instrumentation/electrical designs, and check-out/start-up support.
• Learn, follow, and seek to streamline/improve project execution tools, standards, and techniques.
• Follow guidance from lead engineers to provide process control system software/hardware design, development, and startup.
• Prepare supporting project documentation, such as user requirements, architecture, control narratives, cause & effect diagrams, test plans, and user training.
• Routinely test your work to ensure quality, accuracy, safety, and alignment with project requirements.
• Provide status reporting to project managers regarding progress-to-date, hours estimate-to-complete, and obstacles to meeting project schedules.
• Identify potential roadblocks to completing tasks efficiently and on schedule.
• Provide input on project risks, best practices, lessons learned, and related project activities.
• Address customer requests and evaluate them against the defined scope of assigned projects.
• Actively participate in internal and customer meetings.
• Identify opportunities to build relationships with clients on assigned projects.
• Provide input to proposals and estimates.
• Seek to understand customer needs to offer additional scope and/or services.
• Create personal goals that support the goals of assigned projects and the Business Unit.
• Demonstrate ability in engineering economics, entrepreneurialism, risk management, and financial accountability.
• Collaborate and share knowledge with coworkers.
• Communicate (verbally and in writing) with clarity and professionalism.
• Focus on efficiency, continuous improvement, personal accountability, and integrity.

Requirements

• BS Degree in Engineering (preference for Electrical/Controls, Chemical, or Mechanical).
• Strong leadership and client relation skills.
• Exceptional verbal and written communication skills, with the ability to communicate professionally with clients and project leadership.
• Good engineering and documentation practices.
• Experience (or willingness) using collaboration tools (e.g., SharePoint) to work effectively within remote teams.
• Solid understanding of PLC and SCADA programming on any major platform.
• Experience with AutoCAD electrical design and UL508A requirements.
• Ability to read and understand construction drawings for all disciplines.
• Experience with on-site commissioning and startup activities.

Preferred Qualifications

• Network design, troubleshooting, and ability to maintain/modify a virtualized environment.
• Experience with SIMATIC PDM, SIMATIC BATCH, or SIMATIC Route Control.
• Functional safety with S7 F-Systems/Safety Matrix.
• Controller migration experience (e.g., legacy AS 400 to AS 410-5H).
• Industry-specific experience in chemical, pharmaceutical (GMP/21 CFR Part 11), oil & gas, power, water/wastewater, or semiconductor.
• Siemens PCS 7 training or certifications.

Physical Demands

• Ability to travel up to 25%.
• Requires seeing, color perception, hearing, clear speech, dexterity in hands, driving (valid driver’s license required), lifting, climbing, ability to mount and dismount equipment, pushing, and pulling.

Working Environment

• Standard office environment.
• On-site office environment.
• Diverse industrial environments, including chemical and biological manufacturing.
• Frequent PC usage, including collaboration tools for project execution.

Benefits

• Medical, dental, and vision coverage.
• Basic and supplemental life and AD&D insurance.
• Long-term disability and voluntary short-term disability.
• Healthcare & Dependent Care Flexible Spending Accounts.
• Health Savings Account.
• Paid Time Off (PTO) and paid holidays.
• Tuition reimbursement.
• Referral bonus program.
• 401(k)/Profit Sharing.
• 100% ESOP (Employee Stock Ownership Plan).
• Employee Assistance Program.
• Will preparation resources.
• Worldwide travel assistance.

Pay

The expected salary range is $85,000 to $115,000 base per year, depending on qualifications, plus a discretionary bonus and employee stock program.