Instrumentation and Controls Design Engineer

About this role

American Battery Technology Company (ABTC) is an industry-leading battery metals and critical material technology development and commercialization company. Our Pilot Plant just outside of Reno, Nevada will be the first integrated implementation of our multi-step processing train for the full mechanical processing, physical separation, chemical extraction, and production of commercial-scale battery metals that will be resold back into the battery manufacturing supply chain to enact a low-cost, low environmental impact, and domestically sourced closed-loop circular economy. ABTC is seeking a Controls & Electrical Design Engineer to support the design, programming, commissioning, and optimization of industrial control systems for our battery recycling and critical minerals processing facilities. In this role, you will work closely with Operations, Process Engineering, Maintenance, vendors, and contractors to develop safe, reliable, and efficient automation solutions that support plant performance and growth. Responsibilities include PLC programming, control panel design, instrumentation, electrical documentation, system commissioning, and ongoing process improvements. The ideal candidate has experience in industrial automation and electrical controls, enjoys solving complex manufacturing challenges, and can effectively translate process requirements into practical control system designs from concept through startup. This position reports to the Electrical, Controls & Automation Engineering Manager.

Requirements Controls Design & Documentation Design industrial control systems for chemical process, mechanical, utility, and material handling systems. Develop and maintain electrical controls documentation, including control panel schematics, wiring diagrams, I/O lists, loop diagrams, network diagrams, instrument lists, and equipment layouts. Support control panel design, including PLC hardware selection, power distribution, terminal layouts, field wiring, networking, and enclosure design. Review P&IDs, process descriptions, equipment packages, and vendor drawings to define instrumentation and control requirements. Maintain drawing quality and ensure documentation accurately reflects installed systems.

PLC, HMI, and SCADA Support Develop, modify, and troubleshoot PLC programs for industrial automation systems. Support HMI and SCADA development, including equipment status displays, alarms, trends, interlocks, and operator controls. Develop sequences of operation, control narratives, and functional descriptions that clearly define how equipment and systems should operate. Support integration of PLCs, remote I/O, VFDs, instrumentation, safety systems, and plant network devices. Assist with commissioning, testing, troubleshooting, and startup of new and modified control systems.

Instrumentation & Field Devices Specify and apply industrial instrumentation, including pressure, level, flow, temperature, analytical, and discrete sensing devices. Support selection and configuration of VFDs, motor starters, valves, actuators, solenoids, safety devices, and field-mounted control hardware. Develop practical installation details for instruments, junction boxes, cable routing, terminations, and field wiring. Support calibration, loop checks, functional testing, and field troubleshooting.

Project Execution & Coordination Work with internal engineering, operations, maintenance, R&D, and construction teams to execute controls-related project scope. Coordinate with vendors, integrators, panel shops, electricians, and contractors to ensure designs are installed correctly. Review vendor and contractor submittals for technical accuracy and alignment with ABTC standards. Identify design gaps, installation issues, and commissioning risks early, then drive practical solutions. Support project schedules, material procurement, construction planning, and startup readiness.

Safety, Reliability & Continuous Improvement Support hazard reviews, risk assessments, FMEAs, and control system safety reviews. Ensure control strategies consider equipment protection, personnel safety, maintainability, and operational reliability. Troubleshoot production issues and recommend improvements to controls, instrumentation, and electrical systems. Help develop internal standards for control panels, PLC programming, instrumentation, electrical documentation, and commissioning practices. Support maintenance and operations teams with technical training, documentation, and troubleshooting guidance.

Minimum Required Qualifications Bachelor’s degree in Electrical Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Chemical Engineering, Controls Engineering, or equivalent industrial automation experience. 3+ years of experience in industrial controls, automation, electrical design, instrumentation, or PLC programming. Experience designing or supporting industrial control systems in a manufacturing, chemical processing, mining, metals, energy, water/wastewater, or similar industrial environment. Ability to read and develop electrical schematics, wiring diagrams, I/O lists, loop drawings, and control system documentation. Working knowledge of PLCs, HMIs, VFDs, instrumentation, motor controls, control panels, and industrial networks. Ability to interpret PFDs and P&IDs and translate process requirements into controls and electrical design requirements. Strong troubleshooting skills and willingness to support field installation, commissioning, and startup activities. Ability to collaborate effectively with engineering, operations, maintenance, vendors, and contractors.

Preferred Qualifications Experience with PLC platforms such as Allen-Bradley, Siemens, or Codesys-based controllers. Experience with Inductive Automation Ignition or other SCADA/HMI platforms. Experience with AutoCAD Electrical, AutoCAD Plant 3D, Revit, or similar design tools. Experience with industrial communication protocols such as Ethernet/IP, Modbus TCP, Profinet, IO-Link, or OPC…