Senior Industrial Controls Engineer, Structured Safety

About Us

Symbotic is changing the way consumer goods move through the supply chain with its A.I.-powered robotic technology platform. Intelligent software orchestrates advanced robots in a high-density, end-to-end system, reinventing warehouse automation for increased efficiency, speed, and flexibility.

About the Role

The Industrial Controls Systems (ICS) team is part of the Engineering organization responsible for designing, developing, and supporting the industrial control systems that power Symbotic's warehouse automation platform. The team partners closely with Functional Safety, Software Engineering, and Commissioning teams to deliver safe, reliable, and scalable automation solutions for customer sites.

As a Senior Industrial Controls Engineer (STS), you will own Symbotic's Structure Safety (STS) Safety PLC platform by designing, programming, testing, and commissioning the safety logic that governs bot access, door interlocks, gate control, and emergency stop sequencing across our automated warehouse structures. This role ensures the safety, reliability, and scalability of our automation systems while supporting customer deployments and new product development.

Responsibilities

• Design, program, and maintain Rockwell GuardLogix Safety PLC code governing structure- and cell-level safety logic, including emergency stop networks, door and gate interlocks, and light curtain integration.
• Apply functional safety standards and partner with the Functional Safety team to support HARA/SRS alignment and safety protocol validation.
• Develop Ignition-based safety HMI screens to visualize STS status, alarms, and access controls.
• Support field commissioning, validation, and root cause analysis of safety systems at customer and proof-of-concept sites.
• Develop reusable, well-documented STS code libraries and coding standards to support scalable safety architecture.
• Lead STS projects from design through deployment, conduct design reviews, and serve as the primary liaison between Functional Safety, SAS/Bot Guardian, and Commissioning teams.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree in an Engineering related field.
• Minimum 8 years of experience as a Controls Engineer with hands-on Rockwell GuardLogix Safety PLC programming experience.
• Deep knowledge of functional safety standards including ISO 13849, IEC 62061, and SIL/PL, with experience designing safety logic for emergency stops, interlocks, and access request workflows.
• Real-world field commissioning and validation experience, including safety protocol sign-off and root cause analysis.
• Experience leading controls capital projects.
• Material handling or distribution center automation experience preferred.

Skills

• Experience with Ignition 8 or FactoryTalk HMI development and Rockwell Integrated Architecture (ControlLogix, GuardLogix, CompactLogix, Kinetix, PowerFlex) is a plus.
• TUV Functional Safety Engineer certification and prior team leadership experience are a plus.

Work Environment

• Up to 50% travel may be required. Employees must have a valid driver's license and the ability to drive and/or fly to client and other customer locations.
• The employee is responsible for owning a credit card and managing expenses personally to be reimbursed on a bi-weekly basis.

Pay

The base range for this position in the posted location is $149,000.00 - $204,600.00. Base pay offered may vary depending on job-related knowledge, skills, and experience. The compensation package includes medical, dental, vision, disability, 401K, and PTO benefits.