McCarran, United States
Staff Controls Engineer
Redwood Materials · McCarran · United States
Posted: 10/30/2025 · Last checked: 10/12/2026
Job description
Quoted in full from Redwood Materials's job posting. Gavroche does not edit it.
About Redwood Materials
Redwood Materials was founded in 2017 by JB Straubel, co-founder and former CTO of Tesla, on a simple but radical idea: the critical minerals powering the energy transition already exist. They just need to come back. Today Redwood is the largest lithium-ion battery recycler in North America — recovering, refining, and redeploying critical minerals from end-of-life batteries back into the supply chain. On the energy side, Redwood has deployed the largest second-life battery project in the world, delivering power to AI data centers in months rather than years using proprietary energy architecture engineered entirely in-house. The company is profitable, the market it operates in is projected to grow 20 to 50 times over the next decade, and Redwood is the only company with the supply chain, the technology, and the operational scale to lead it.
Staff Controls Engineer
We are seeking an experienced Staff Controls Engineer who is passionate about pushing beyond the cutting edge of the industry to design, build, and debug best-in-class controls systems for Redwood’s battery recycling operations. This engineer will play a critical role in designing, commissioning, scaling, and supporting all of Redwood’s recycling facilities working at the intersection of chemical process engineering, industrial automation, and software development.
Responsibilities will include:
- Designing and implementing real‑time control software in C++ for embedded and industrial systems
- Developing automation tools, diagnostics, and orchestration scripts in Python
- Writing, optimizing, and troubleshooting Structured Text (IEC 61131‑3) for PLCs and industrial controllers
- Building deterministic control loops, state machines, and safety‑critical routines
- Integrating software with sensors, actuators, drives, and industrial communication networks
- Debugging complex issues involving timing, concurrency, hardware interfaces, and industrial protocols
- Leading system architecture decisions for control platforms and distributed automation systems
- Conducting root‑cause analysis for field issues and implementing long‑term fixes
- Collaborating with controls, electrical, and product teams to translate requirements into robust software designs
- Mentoring engineers in real‑time programming, PLC development, and industrial best practices
Qualifications:
- Strong proficiency in modern C++ for real‑time or embedded systems
- Solid experience with Python for automation, tooling, or data processing
- Hands‑on experience writing Structured Text for PLCs or industrial controllers
- Deep understanding of deterministic execution, concurrency, and hardware‑software interaction
- Experience with industrial protocols such as Modbus, EtherNet/IP, OPC UA, or PROFINET
- Proven ability to lead complex engineering efforts while contributing significant hands‑on code
- Strong debugging skills across software, hardware, and network layers
- Excellent communication and collaboration skills
Preferred Qualifications:
- Experience with motion control, robotics, or process automation
- Familiarity with embedded Linux, RTOS environments, or microcontroller development
- Knowledge of industrial cybersecurity standards or best practices
- Experience with simulation tools, digital twins, or hardware‑in‑the‑loop testing
- Background integrating C++ runtimes with PLC or SCADA systems
The position is full-time. Compensation will be commensurate with experience.
We collect personal information (PI) from you in connection with your application for employment with Redwood Materials, including the following categories of PI: identifiers, personal records, professional or employment information, and inferences drawn from your PI. We collect your PI for our purposes, including performing services and operations related to your potential employment. If you have additional privacy-related questions, please contact us at privacy@redwoodmaterials.com.
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What automation / controls engineer adverts in the United States state
Middle half: 115,000 – 166,000 USD a year; median 143,000 USD.
From 109 adverts by 55 employers that state a salary, annualised.
How automation / controls engineer roles in the United States are worked
5% fully remote · 2% hybrid · 93% do not say
Of 41 adverts. An advert that does not state a work mode is counted as not saying, not as on-site.
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