Sr. Controls Engineer, Facilities Engineering Tesla Motors, Inc. paid holidays, flex time, 401(k) United States, Nevada, Sparks 1 Electric Avenue (Show on map) Aug 03, 2026
What to Expect
Tesla is seeking a highly motivated Sr. Controls Engineer for Gigafactory NV in the Reno/Sparks area. The Gigafactory Facilities Controls team drives to optimize the factory by developing, standardizing, and deploying the control systems behind large-scale utility and facilities infrastructure including chilled water plants, dry air systems, chemical refineries and manufacturing tool cooling water systems - in support of highly innovating manufacturing processes. What You'll Do
Own day-to-day sustaining support of deployed facilities control systems - respond to downtime events, diagnose root cause across PLC, I/O, instrumentation, and network layers, and drive permanent corrective actions
Learn and maintain fluency in the standardized Facilities Controls Library (function blocks, AOIs and device templates) across Siemens and Rockwell platforms
Read and interpret existing sequencer architecture, mode logic, and interlock schemes for utility systems such as chilled water, dry air systems, and chemical refineries; update logic to reflect changing process requirements
Perform PID loop tuning and control optimization on operating equipment to improve system stability, energy efficiency, and equipment life
Execute controlled changes end to end: scope, offline simulation/validation, MOC approval, field implementation, verification, and as-built documentation and redlines
Own and evolve the deployed facilities control network architecture - maintain ring topology and redundancy schemes, manage device profiles and address plans, execute switch and node replacements without process interruption. Support safety system validation and periodic proof testing on existing safety logic
Partner with operations to keep tag data exchange, alarming, and screens aligned as process system changes and perform alarm rationalization and nuisance-alarm reduction on in-service facilities systems to improve operator response
Support start-up and commissioning of retrofits and small capital additions, including point-to-point checkout, functional testing, and tuning through system handoff
Provide expert on-call support for system outages and failover incidents
Mentor junior controls engineers and technicians on troubleshooting methodology, library architecture, and network fundamentals; drive continuous improvement activities with key stakeholders and system engineering groups What You'll Bring
Degree in Electrical, Mechanical Engineering, Control Systems, Computer Science, Automation Engineering or equivalent experience
5-8 years of hands-on Controls Engineer experience supporting, troubleshooting, and modifying PLC-based automation systems in a live production environment
Demonstrated ability to read, trace, and reverse-engineer existing PLC code written by others following state machines, sequencers, and mode transitions. Proficiency in Siemens TIA Portal (SCL and Ladder) and/or Rockwell Studio 5000 (Ladder, AOI development); strong candidates will have depth in one platform and working fluency in the other
Experience working within an established, standardized control code library (function blocks, AOIs, device templates), extending and instantiating standard objects rather than writing one-off logic
Strong understanding of closed-loop control, including hands-on PID loop tuning and optimization on real process equipment
Experience with facilities or process utility systems (chilled water, compressed air, dry air systems, chemical refineries strongly preferred)
Comfortable performing online troubleshooting on running equipment: online edits, trend capture, forcing discipline, and change control on production controllers
Strong industrial networking expertise: ring/redundant topologies (PROFINET MRP, EtherNet/IP
DLR, RSTP
), managed switch configuration and diagnosing comms faults, I/O dropouts, and ring-break events on live networks
Hands-on with
PROFINET
(GSDML device profiles, IRT/RT, topology and neighbor detection), PROFIBUS DP/PA (segment design, couplers/links, termination, addressing), Modbus TCP (register mapping, gateways, third-party skid integration), and EtherNet/IP. Familiarity with
SCADA/HMI
platforms (Ignition preferred), including tag architecture and client/gateway troubleshooting
Working knowledge of machine and process safety concepts (safety PLCs, safety-rated I/O, functional safety standards) preferred Compensation and Benefits
Benefits Along with competitive pay, as a full-time Tesla employee, you are eligible for the following benefits at day 1 of hire: Medical plans > plan options with $0 payroll deduction
Family-building, fertility, adoption and surrogacy benefits
Dental (including orthodontic coverage) and vision plans, both have options with a $0 paycheck contribution
Company Paid (Health Savings Accounts) HSA Contribution when enrolled in the High-Deductible medical plan with HSA
Healthcare and Dependent Care Flexible Spending Accounts (FSA)
401(k) with employer match, Employee Stock Purchase Plans, and other financial benefits
Company paid Basic Life, AD&D
Short-term and long-term disability insurance (90 day waiting period)
Employee Assistance Program
Sick and Vacation time (Flex time for salary positions, Accrued hours for Hourly positions), and Paid Holidays
Back-up childcare and parenting support resources
Voluntary benefits to include: critical illness, hospital indemnity, accident insurance, theft & legal services, and pet insurance
Weight Loss and Tobacco Cessation Programs
Tesla Babies program
Commuter benefits
Employee discounts and perks program