Overview
Do you want to join a team that's changing the world? Do you have a strong background as a Controls Engineer? Then we're looking for you! Check out the job description and apply now! Put your skills to meaningful use, gain unique experience, and work with world-class team members with diverse backgrounds and expertise who share the same vision. Join the PECNA team today!
Responsibilities
Controls Engineer I
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Meet the Recruiter: Eric Laffey
Summary:
Join us at Panasonic Energy as we expand to De Soto, Kansas, where we’re building the world’s largest lithium-ion battery factory. This is an exciting opportunity to grow your career while contributing to the future of electric vehicles. As part of our team, you’ll help push the limits of battery technology, enhancing performance and efficiency in sustainable transportation. Our state-of-the-art facility, just outside the Kansas City Metro, will be a hub for innovation in green energy solutions. If you're passionate about sustainability and eager to contribute to the electric vehicle revolution, we invite you to be part of our dynamic team. Join us and make a meaningful impact on the future of energy and transportation.
Job Summary:
The Controls Engineer I supports the programming, installation, and troubleshooting of automation systems - such as Keyence vision systems and PLCs including Mitsubishi and Omron - within Panasonic’s battery manufacturing operations. Working under close supervision and guidance, this role assists in analyzing equipment specifications and production requirements to contribute to the design and implementation of efficient manufacturing solutions. The engineer collaborates with immediate team members and cross-functional partners to develop, test, and validate system designs, ensuring alignment with defined technical and economic constraints. Responsibilities also include supporting the preparation of detailed schematics, assisting with prototype builds, and contributing to technical evaluations and data analysis that impact the engineer’s own work and the effectiveness of the immediate team.
Essential Duties:
Functional Operations:
- Apply basic controls engineering principles and standard procedures to support automation activities within Panasonic’s battery manufacturing operations
- Assist with the programming, installation, and troubleshooting of Keyence vision systems used in manufacturing processes
- Support the programming, installation, and troubleshooting of PLC systems, including Mitsubishi and Omron platforms, under guidance from senior engineers
- Analyze product and equipment specifications to support design solutions compatible with existing manufacturing facilities and methods
Performance Optimization & Continuous Improvement:
- Execute clearly defined controls engineering tasks as part of larger projects, working under close supervision
- Apply established engineering processes, tools, and templates to support equipment modifications, system improvements, and troubleshooting efforts
- Assist in evaluating the feasibility of equipment changes or facility modifications by gathering data related to cost, space, schedule, and technical constraints
- Support experimental test programs by helping with planning activities, data collection, and documentation
Training & Team Support:
- Learn controls engineering best practices through hands-on work, mentorship, and on-the-job training from experienced engineers
- Receive guidance and feedback to build proficiency in automation standards, tools, and manufacturing requirements
- Support team objectives by reliably completing assigned tasks and incorporating lessons learned into future work
Cross-Functional Collaboration & Communication:
- Communicate technical information primarily within the immediate engineering team, following established procedures and documentation standards
- Support coordination with research, manufacturing, and engineering personnel to clarify requirements or resolve routine technical issues
- Assist in preparing product or system layouts, drawings, and schematics in collaboration with senior team members
Quality, Safety, & Compliance:
- Follow all applicable safety, quality, and engineering standards when supporting automation system design, testing, and troubleshooting activities
- Assist in analyzing test data and reports to verify that designs meet defined functional and performance specifications
- Support evaluation of engineering test results for potential application to system improvements, while adhering to company policies and compliance requirements
Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) Requirements:
- To ensure the health and safety in the workplace and for the protection of our employees, wearing PPE is a possibility and may include equipment such as a full Tyvek suit, safety shoes, gloves, safety glasses, face mask, bump cap, and a full hazmat suit that includes a respirator.
The foregoing description is not intended and should not be construed to be an exhaustive list of all responsibilities, skills and efforts or work conditions associated with the job. It is intended to be an accurate reflection of the general nature and level of the job.
Qualifications
Requirements - Required and/or Preferred
Education, Certifications, and Licenses:
Required:
- Bachelor’s degree in Manufacturing Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Industrial Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Mechatronics Engineering, or a closely related engineering/technical field
Preferred:
- Completion of coursework, academic projects, or capstone design work related to PLCs, industrial automation, robotics, or manufacturing controls
- Internship or co-op experience in a manufacturing, industrial, or automation-focused environment
- Introductory training or certifications related to industrial controls, PLC platforms, automation systems, or electrical safety (e.g., vendor-based training, OSHA fundamentals)
Essential Qualifications:
- Strong foundational understanding of core engineering principles, with the ability to apply them to manufacturing automation challenges under guidance
- Hands-on exposure to supporting the programming, installation, and troubleshooting of manufacturing image vision systems, such as Keyence or Cognex
- Hands-on exposure to supporting the programming, installation, and troubleshooting of ladder-logic–based PLC systems, including Mitsubishi, Omron, Allen-Bradley, Siemens, or similar platforms
- Background working in, or academic exposure to, a high-volume manufacturing environment with automated equipment
- Foundational understanding of electrical hardware, electrical drawings, sequence control, and software design concepts
- Ability to cooperate and work effectively with related departments and cross-functional teams, including coordination with overseas stakeholders, following established communication processes
- Ability to apply first-principles thinking, with supervision and guidance, to support troubleshooting and issue resolution
- Strong computer skills, including proficiency with Microsoft Word, Excel, and PowerPoint for documentation, data review, and reporting
- Must have working-level knowledge of the English language, including reading, writing, and speaking English
- Alignment to Panasonic’s seven (7) core principles (contribution to society, fairness and honesty, cooperation and team spirit, untiring effort for improvement, courtesy and humility, adaptability, gratitude)
Preferred Qualifications:
- 2+ years of engineering experience gained through internships, co-ops, or entry-level roles in manufacturing or industrial environments
- Exposure to high-volume battery manufacturing or related industries such as electronics, automotive, or energy storage
- Familiarity with industrial electrical wiring and cabling practices, including basic understanding of conductor sizing, terminations, and load or temperature considerations
- Basic knowledge of industrial machinery design standards and related codes, including:
- NFPA 70 (National Electrical Code)
- NFPA 79 (Electrical Standard for Industrial Machinery) and related UL standards
- Awareness of electrical requirements for hazardous locations, such as Class I, Division 2 environments.
- Exposure to 480 V control panels and industrial power distribution systems.
- Familiarity with control wiring design concepts and documentation practices.
- Exposure to energy usage monitoring, efficiency, or optimization concepts in a manufacturing setting
- General awareness of applicable U.S. environmental regulations and Underwriters Laboratories (UL) requirements relevant to industrial equipment
Physical Demands:
Physical Activities: Percentage of time (equaling 100%) during the normal workday the employee is required to:
- Sit: 20%
- Walk: 50%
- Stand: 30%
Required Lifting and Carrying: Rare (<1%), Occasional (1-33%), Frequent (34-66%), Continuous (67-100%)
For this position, the required frequency is:
- Up to 10 lbs.: Frequent
- Up to 20 lbs.: Frequent
- Up to 35 lbs.: Occasional
- Team-lift only (over 35 lbs.): Occasional
Benefits & Perks - What's In It For You:
Panasonic Energy prioritizes total well-being and offers comprehensive benefits options to support physical, emotional, financial, social, and environmental health:
- Health Benefits – Offering medical, dental, vision, prescription plans, plus Health Savings Account and Flexible Spending Account options.
- Voluntary Benefits – Life, accident, critical illness, disability, legal, identity theft, and pet insurance.
- Panasonic Retirement Savings & Investment Plan (PRSIP) – 401(k) plan with company matching contributions and immediate vesting.
- Paid Time-Off Benefits – Vacation, holidays, personal days, sick leave, volunteer, and parental & caregiver leave.
- Educational Assistance – Tuition reimbursement for job-related courses after six months of service.
- Health Management and Wellbeing Programs –Lifestyle Spending Account, EAP, virtual health management, chronic condition, neurodiversity, tobacco cessation, substance abuse support, and life stage and fertility resources. Available to eligible employees starting the first day of the month following your start date. Eligibility for each benefit may vary based on employment status, location, and length of service.
- Employee Recognition Program - High5 employee recognition and awards platform, quarterly and annual employee recognition
- Annual Bonus Program - Opportunity for an annual performance-based bonus.
- On-site Food Options: Several on-site cafes, plentiful snack and beverage kitchens, revolving on-site vendor visits and employee events.
Where You'll Be:
For our onsite roles, Panasonic Energy is committed to fostering an ideal working environment that goes beyond the conventional. We understand the significance of moments that matter in your onsite experience, and we prioritize creating a workspace that not only promotes productivity but also ensures a fulfilling and positive work atmosphere. Join us at Panasonic Energy, where your onsite presence is valued, and we strive to make each moment count in your professional journey.
Who We Are:
Meet Panasonic Energy! At Panasonic Energy, you'll do work that matters as we are dedicated to transforming the world through the acceleration of sustainable energy. By producing safe, high-quality lithium-ion batteries, you become part of a team that plays a crucial role in creating technologies that move us. Our journey began in 2017, and now, as the world's largest lithium-ion battery factory, we are expanding operations to De Soto, Kansas, providing you with the opportunity to experience career growth in more ways than one. As an innovative thinker, you'll thrive here, as we continually push the boundaries of lithium-ion battery technology and production capabilities to enhance efficiency and performance in EVs. Being part of Panasonic Energy means positively contributing to society, aligning with our commitment to building a better world through sustainable energy solutions. We care about what you care about, fostering an environment where your contributions make a meaningful impact on the future of energy and transportation. Join us and be part of a team that values your work, encourages innovation, and actively contributes to a positive societal impact. In addition to an environment that is as innovative as our products, we offer competitive salaries and benefits.
We Take Opportunity Seriously:
At Panasonic Energy, we are committed to a workplace that genuinely fosters inclusion and belonging. Fairness and Honesty have been part of our core values for more than 100 years and we are proud of our diverse culture as an equal opportunity employer. We understand that your career search may look different than others and embrace the professional, personal, educational, and volunteer opportunities through which people gain experience. If you are actively looking or starting to explore new opportunities, submit your application!
Supplemental Information:
Pre-employment drug testing is required. Qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, disability, protected veteran status or other characteristics protected by law. All qualified individuals are required to perform the essential functions of the job with or without reasonable accommodation. Due to the high volume of responses, we will only be able to respond to candidates of interest. All candidates must have valid authorization to work in the U.S. without restriction.
Thank you for your interest in Panasonic Energy Corporation of North America.
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