Senior Controls Engineer / Automation Engineer
About AcculonAcculon Energy designs and manufactures advanced battery modules and packs—specializing in sodium and lithium-ion—for commercial and industrial applications. Based in Columbus, OH, with manufacturing operations in Mason, Ohio. Acculon brings decades of energy storage expertise to deliver safe, scalable, and efficient solutions that go beyond UL safety standards: safety and quality are core pillars in everything we do. Acculon is helping lead the transition to next-generation energy storage, powering smarter, safer, and more sustainable systems, from start to scale.Position OverviewAcculon Energy is seeking an experienced and highly capable Senior Controls Engineer / Automation Engineer to support the launch and scaling of the company’s first advanced battery module manufacturing and battery pack assembly operation in Mason, Ohio.This role will serve as one of the key technical leaders responsible for the development, integration, support, optimization, and long-term scalability of automated manufacturing equipment and production systems. The Senior Controls Engineer / Automation Engineer will play a critical role in ensuring manufacturing systems operate safely, efficiently, reliably, and at the performance levels required to support advanced battery manufacturing operations.Unlike a traditional controls engineering role within a mature manufacturing environment, this position will operate within a startup manufacturing organization where automation systems, manufacturing processes, operational standards, and infrastructure are actively being developed and refined.The successful candidate will work closely with manufacturing, engineering, maintenance, quality, and operations teams to support equipment commissioning, process optimization, troubleshooting, continuous improvement, and future manufacturing expansion initiatives.This role requires a strong combination of controls engineering expertise, hands-on troubleshooting capability, automation integration experience, and practical manufacturing problem-solving ability.Core Areas of ResponsibilityAutomation & Controls EngineeringDesign, develop, program, and support automated manufacturing systems and equipmentDevelop and maintain PLC, HMI, motion control, and related automation programsSupport integration of sensors, vision systems, robotics, test equipment, and automated manufacturing processesAssist with equipment startup, commissioning, debugging, and process validation activitiesManufacturing Equipment SupportTroubleshoot controls, electrical, automation, and system integration issues within manufacturing operationsSupport manufacturing uptime and operational reliability initiativesWork closely with maintenance and production teams to resolve equipment-related issues quickly and effectivelySupport process optimization and cycle time improvement activitiesManufacturing Process DevelopmentCollaborate with manufacturing and engineering teams to improve process capability, repeatability, and efficiencySupport implementation of new manufacturing equipment and production technologiesAssist in development of scalable manufacturing automation strategiesParticipate in process validation and manufacturing qualification activitiesStartup Manufacturing & Continuous ImprovementHelp establish automation standards, documentation practices, and system architecture guidelinesSupport long-term manufacturing scalability and operational growth initiativesParticipate in continuous improvement and lean manufacturing effortsContribute to development of a highly automated and operationally disciplined manufacturing environmentIdeal Candidate ProfileThe ideal candidate is technically strong, highly hands-on, and comfortable operating in a fast-paced advanced manufacturing startup environment where priorities evolve quickly and operational responsiveness is critical.Successful candidates will demonstrate:strong controls engineering capability,practical troubleshooting skills,system integration experience,operational problem-solving ability,and strong collaboration with both technical and manufacturing personnel.Candidates should be comfortable spending significant time on the manufacturing floor supporting production operations, equipment startup activities, and troubleshooting manufacturing systems directly.Experience supporting highly automated manufacturing operations within automotive, battery, electronics, semiconductor, robotics, packaging automation, or advanced industrial manufacturing environments is strongly preferred.Qualifications5–10+ years of controls engineering or industrial automation experienceStrong PLC programming experience (Allen-Bradley, Siemens, or similar platforms)Experience with HMI systems, industrial networking, and automated manufacturing equipmentExperience troubleshooting electrical and automation systems in manufacturing environmentsUnderstanding of manufacturing process control and industrial automation principlesStrong communication, documentation, and problem-solving skillsPreferred ExperienceBattery manufacturing, automotive, electronics, robotics, or advanced manufacturing environmentsRobotics integration and vision systemsMotion control and servo systemsAutomated test systems and manufacturing data collectionStartup manufacturing or rapid-growth operational environmentsWhy This Role MattersThe Senior Controls Engineer / Automation Engineer will play a foundational role in helping Acculon Energy establish highly capable, scalable, and reliable advanced manufacturing operations.This role directly impacts:manufacturing uptime,production throughput,equipment reliability,process consistency,operational scalability,and long-term manufacturing competitiveness.As Acculon Energy expands manufacturing operations, this position will help shape the automation infrastructure and manufacturing systems that support future operational growth and technical differentiation.Growth OpportunityAcculon Energy is building a long-term advanced manufacturing organization focused on electrification and energy storage technologies.Successful candidates may have opportunities to grow into:Automation Engineering leadership roles,Manufacturing Engineering management,Controls Architecture or Systems Engineering positions,Operations Technology leadership,or broader manufacturing operations leadership opportunities as the company expands.What Success Looks LikeSuccessful Senior Controls Engineers / Automation Engineers at Acculon Energy will:establish stable and reliable automated manufacturing systems,minimize equipment downtime,improve manufacturing efficiency and throughput,support rapid troubleshooting and operational responsiveness,drive process optimization,and help build a scalable manufacturing automation infrastructure capable of supporting long-term operational growth and technical excellence.Benefits:401(k)401(k) matchingDental insuranceEmployee assistance programHealth insurancePaid time offParental leaveRelocation assistanceVision insuranceWork Location: In personMason, Ohio$110,000 – $135,000