{"schemaVersion":"jobsearcher.job.v1","id":"8a1c331f850060ea057906a7","url":"https://jobsearcher.com/jobs/8a1c331f850060ea057906a7","canonicalUrl":"https://jobsearcher.com/jobs/8a1c331f850060ea057906a7","title":"Embedded Controls Engineer","description":"About UsTheZero is an exciting startup company with an ambitious vision to enable affordable transitions to net-zero-emissions economies. It is built on breakthrough technologies developed at Stanford University to convert organic waste feedstock from agricultural and food ecosystems into biochar. The key innovation is the reduction of biochar processing cost by a factor of 10 compared to traditional approaches, making the economics both compelling and scalable to about 15 billion tons of CO2 per year, equivalent to approximately one-third of global emissions. This transformative technology also creates the lowest cost solid biofuel that can economically replace coal in energy generation as well as in steel and chemical production, including oil, hydrogen and plastics. We are a fast-moving, expert team dedicated to scaling this impactful solution globally.TheZero was co-founded by Stanford faculty leaders Arun Majumdar and Yi Cui, and innovator Divya Chalise. Their vision fuels our mission to radically reduce carbon emissions by enabling affordable net-zero-emissions technology.We are currently building our core team, whose leadership and expertise will guide TheZero into its next phase of scaling and expansion. We value your contributions as central to this journey and offer an environment that encourages innovation, ownership, and collaboration. At TheZero, you will work closely across disciplines, including R&D scientists, to drive cross-functional teamwork and deliver breakthrough climate solutions at scale.The RoleAs Controls/Embedded Systems Engineer at TheZero, you will take our industrial automation, embedded architectures, and control systems from initial setup through sustained pilot plant production. You will design, program, and troubleshoot the control platforms—including PLCs, HMIs, VFDs, embedded devices, and industrial networks that power our breakthrough biochar production equipment. Working alongside production, maintenance, and R&D teams, you will perform commissioning, shakedown, and optimization on automated process lines. Because nothing here is inherited, the control architecture, code, and standards you create will become the operating template for every facility we build after this one. Your technical leadership will be crucial to achieving our ambitious CO2 sequestration targets and fueling TheZero’s next phase of growth and expansion.What You’ll DoSystem Design & Embedded/PLC Programming:Design, develop, program, and support electrical and control systems for pilot manufacturing equipment and production lines.Program, configure, and troubleshoot PLCs (e.g., Allen-Bradley, Siemens, Omron, Mitsubishi), HMIs, SCADA systems, VFDs, and embedded control hardware.Create and maintain electrical schematics, wiring diagrams, panel layouts, control documentation, and software revision backup files.Plant Commissioning & Hardware Integration:Lead the startup, commissioning, and debugging of automated equipment, including conveyors, motors, thermal units, sensors, and pneumatic systems.Conduct Factory Acceptance Testing (FAT) and Site Acceptance Testing (SAT) for automation and embedded systems prior to production release.Configure industrial communication networks (Ethernet/IP, Modbus) and integrate machine safety devices to ensure safe, compliant operation.Ongoing Operations & Continuous Improvement:Troubleshoot production equipment issues related to electrical controls, automation systems, embedded logic, and machine communication networks to minimize downtime.Collaborate with operations, maintenance, and R&D to implement process improvements focused on throughput, energy efficiency, yield, and safety.Establish preventive maintenance and backup procedures for control systems and provide technical training to maintenance technicians and plant operators.Who You AreEducation & Experience: Master’s degree or higher in Electrical Engineering, Controls Engineering, Embedded Systems, Mechatronics, Automation Engineering, or a related field (or an Associate degree with equivalent hands-on experience).Industrial Automation & Controls: Ideally, 2+ years of experience designing, programming, and troubleshooting PLCs (Allen-Bradley, Siemens, Omron, etc.), HMIs, VFDs, and motor controls in a manufacturing or process environment.Technical Breadth: Familiarity with embedded system integration, industrial communication networks (Ethernet/IP, Modbus), sensors, safety devices, and pneumatic/electromechanical systems.Documentation & Schematics: Proficient in reading and interpreting electrical schematics, technical drawings, panel wiring practices, and using engineering documentation software.Startup Agility & Problem Solving: Strong analytical troubleshooting skills with a self-motivated, hands-on approach to working on the production floor during commissioning and emergency support.Bonus Background: Prior experience in high-growth startup environments, bulk-solids/thermal processing systems, material handling automation, or lean manufacturing.CompensationSalary: $110,000–$130,000/year, plus equity (based on experience with milestone-based vesting aligned to key company growth targets)Benefits: Health, dental, and vision insurance, mission-driven culture, and early-stage ownershipContactInterested applicants, please send your CV with your contact information and a summary of your expertise to Divya Chalise (divya@the-zero.com), CTO & Co-founder of TheZero.Location: Bay Area (Sunnyvale/Fremont)Type: Full-timeCompensation: $100,000–$130,000/year, plus equity (based on experience with milestone-based vesting aligned to key company growth targets)","company":"Thezero","rawCompany":"thezero","city":"Sunnyvale","state":"CA","isRemote":false,"isActive":false,"createdAt":"2026-09-06T08:22:53.344Z","occupations":[{"code":"17-2199.05","title":"Mechatronics Engineers","slug":"mechatronics-engineers"},{"code":"17-2071.00","title":"Electrical Engineers","slug":"electrical-engineers"},{"code":"17-2072.00","title":"Electronics Engineers, Except Computer","slug":"electronics-engineers-except-computer"}],"industries":[{"code":"541330","title":"Engineering Services","slug":"engineering-services"},{"code":"335314","title":"Relay and Industrial Control Manufacturing","slug":"relay-and-industrial-control-manufacturing"},{"code":"334519","title":"Other Measuring and Controlling Device Manufacturing","slug":"other-measuring-and-controlling-device-manufacturing"}],"jobPosting":{"@context":"https://schema.org","@type":"JobPosting","title":"Embedded Controls Engineer","description":"About UsTheZero is an exciting startup company with an ambitious vision to enable affordable transitions to net-zero-emissions economies. It is built on breakthrough technologies developed at Stanford University to convert organic waste feedstock from agricultural and food ecosystems into biochar. The key innovation is the reduction of biochar processing cost by a factor of 10 compared to traditional approaches, making the economics both compelling and scalable to about 15 billion tons of CO2 per year, equivalent to approximately one-third of global emissions. This transformative technology also creates the lowest cost solid biofuel that can economically replace coal in energy generation as well as in steel and chemical production, including oil, hydrogen and plastics. We are a fast-moving, expert team dedicated to scaling this impactful solution globally.TheZero was co-founded by Stanford faculty leaders Arun Majumdar and Yi Cui, and innovator Divya Chalise. Their vision fuels our mission to radically reduce carbon emissions by enabling affordable net-zero-emissions technology.We are currently building our core team, whose leadership and expertise will guide TheZero into its next phase of scaling and expansion. We value your contributions as central to this journey and offer an environment that encourages innovation, ownership, and collaboration. At TheZero, you will work closely across disciplines, including R&D scientists, to drive cross-functional teamwork and deliver breakthrough climate solutions at scale.The RoleAs Controls/Embedded Systems Engineer at TheZero, you will take our industrial automation, embedded architectures, and control systems from initial setup through sustained pilot plant production. You will design, program, and troubleshoot the control platforms—including PLCs, HMIs, VFDs, embedded devices, and industrial networks that power our breakthrough biochar production equipment. Working alongside production, maintenance, and R&D teams, you will perform commissioning, shakedown, and optimization on automated process lines. Because nothing here is inherited, the control architecture, code, and standards you create will become the operating template for every facility we build after this one. Your technical leadership will be crucial to achieving our ambitious CO2 sequestration targets and fueling TheZero’s next phase of growth and expansion.What You’ll DoSystem Design & Embedded/PLC Programming:Design, develop, program, and support electrical and control systems for pilot manufacturing equipment and production lines.Program, configure, and troubleshoot PLCs (e.g., Allen-Bradley, Siemens, Omron, Mitsubishi), HMIs, SCADA systems, VFDs, and embedded control hardware.Create and maintain electrical schematics, wiring diagrams, panel layouts, control documentation, and software revision backup files.Plant Commissioning & Hardware Integration:Lead the startup, commissioning, and debugging of automated equipment, including conveyors, motors, thermal units, sensors, and pneumatic systems.Conduct Factory Acceptance Testing (FAT) and Site Acceptance Testing (SAT) for automation and embedded systems prior to production release.Configure industrial communication networks (Ethernet/IP, Modbus) and integrate machine safety devices to ensure safe, compliant operation.Ongoing Operations & Continuous Improvement:Troubleshoot production equipment issues related to electrical controls, automation systems, embedded logic, and machine communication networks to minimize downtime.Collaborate with operations, maintenance, and R&D to implement process improvements focused on throughput, energy efficiency, yield, and safety.Establish preventive maintenance and backup procedures for control systems and provide technical training to maintenance technicians and plant operators.Who You AreEducation & Experience: Master’s degree or higher in Electrical Engineering, Controls Engineering, Embedded Systems, Mechatronics, Automation Engineering, or a related field (or an Associate degree with equivalent hands-on experience).Industrial Automation & Controls: Ideally, 2+ years of experience designing, programming, and troubleshooting PLCs (Allen-Bradley, Siemens, Omron, etc.), HMIs, VFDs, and motor controls in a manufacturing or process environment.Technical Breadth: Familiarity with embedded system integration, industrial communication networks (Ethernet/IP, Modbus), sensors, safety devices, and pneumatic/electromechanical systems.Documentation & Schematics: Proficient in reading and interpreting electrical schematics, technical drawings, panel wiring practices, and using engineering documentation software.Startup Agility & Problem Solving: Strong analytical troubleshooting skills with a self-motivated, hands-on approach to working on the production floor during commissioning and emergency support.Bonus Background: Prior experience in high-growth startup environments, bulk-solids/thermal processing systems, material handling automation, or lean manufacturing.CompensationSalary: $110,000–$130,000/year, plus equity (based on experience with milestone-based vesting aligned to key company growth targets)Benefits: Health, dental, and vision insurance, mission-driven culture, and early-stage ownershipContactInterested applicants, please send your CV with your contact information and a summary of your expertise to Divya Chalise (divya@the-zero.com), CTO & Co-founder of TheZero.Location: Bay Area (Sunnyvale/Fremont)Type: Full-timeCompensation: $100,000–$130,000/year, plus equity (based on experience with milestone-based vesting aligned to key company growth targets)","datePosted":"2026-09-06T08:22:53.344Z","dateModified":"2026-09-06T08:22:53.344Z","hiringOrganization":{"@type":"Organization","name":"Thezero","sameAs":"https://jobsearcher.com"},"jobLocation":{"@type":"Place","address":{"@type":"PostalAddress","addressLocality":"Sunnyvale","addressRegion":"CA","addressCountry":"US"}},"identifier":{"@type":"PropertyValue","name":"JobSearcher","value":"8a1c331f850060ea057906a7"},"url":"https://jobsearcher.com/jobs/8a1c331f850060ea057906a7"}}