Controls Engineer

At Swift Solar, our mission is to unlock the full potential of solar energy. We believe that solar energy has vast untapped potential to power our lives, fuel economies, and strengthen supply chains, while protecting planetary health in the face of global climate change. The reality is that today's solar technology is good, but not good enough. 

Swift Solar is making solar better with its breakthrough tandem technology that harnesses the power of perovskite materials to create solar solutions that are not only more efficient than traditional technology but also more versatile, enabling applications ranging from space solar to utility-scale power generation. 

Swift Solar is a mission-focused startup supported by the US government and backed by world-class investors. It’s a long journey to bring a new clean energy technology to market, and we’re in it for the long haul, together. Join our extraordinary team building the cutting-edge solar technology that will shape the future of the global solar industry.

As a multidisciplinary Controls Engineer at Swift, you’ll help us bring cutting-edge solar technology to reality by making our tools smarter, more precise, and easy to use. Your core responsibility will be designing, implementing, and maintaining the control systems that power Swift’s lab and production equipment.

While controls will be your primary focus, you’ll also tap into your broader skillset—whether in mechanical, software, or electrical engineering—to tackle the team’s most pressing technical challenges. You’ll work closely with process engineers, mechanical designers, and software developers to ensure our tools operate with the safety, reliability, and precision needed to accelerate Swift’s transition from lab-scale R&D to scalable production.

On a typical day, you might troubleshoot a PLC logic issue on a deposition tool, update a control sequence change for a new process step, or partner with a mechanical engineer to define the controls interface between a custom electro-mechanical device and production equipment.

As an early team member, you’ll help shape how Swift designs, builds, and scales its hardware/software systems—and you’ll get a front-row seat to the making of next-generation solar technology. This is a dynamic, hands-on role where you’ll work across disciplines, influence system design decisions, and grow your skills in an environment that values initiative, curiosity, and impact. 

• Have hands-on experience with robotics, automation, and system integration for manufacturing or lab equipment.
• Bring versatility, with strengths in mechanical, software, or electrical engineering.
• Take initiative to solve problems – even outside your formal responsibilities.
• Have built or interfaced GUIs connected to sensors, actuators, and PID controllers.
• Have programmed PLCs using Beckhoff (TwinCAT), Siemens, Omron, or similar platforms.

• Experience specifying and implementing Manufacturing Execution Systems (MES).
• Mechanical or electrical design experience for automated systems.
• Full-stack web development and API integration (e.g. React, Node.js, Django).
• Experience creating dashboards, visualizations, or working with Docker and cloud platforms (GCP, AWS, etc.).
• Deep motivation to make an impact on climate change

• Compensation: Competitive package including salary, equity, and benefits
• Expected Pay Range: $110,000 - $185,000 per year
• The actual offer, reflecting total compensation and benefits, will be determined by factors such as relevant experience, skills, and other qualifications 
• Ideal start date: August – September 2025
• Job type: Full-time
• Location: San Carlos, CA (Swift Solar HQ)

• Work with purpose: Join our mission to unlock the full potential of solar energy and make a global impact. 
• Lead with innovation: Be part of an extraordinary team building cutting-edge solar technology - growth mindset; culture
• Thrive with benefits: Have 100% of your monthly premiums for HMO / PPO group healthcare plan options and 75% of your dental and vision insurance premiums covered by us. Employees also benefit from 401(k) matching, clean commuter benefits, and meaningful equity. 
• Invest in your career: You’ll grow your skills, your network, and your perspective at Swift. We’ll support you in attending conferences and taking online courses, as long as you share your new insights with the team.

We recognize that candidates from underrepresented backgrounds often hesitate to apply if they don’t meet all the criteria. If you’re excited about this role and believe you can contribute to our team, we encourage you to apply—even if you don’t meet every qualification listed. We're eager to meet people from all backgrounds, and your unique skills and experiences could be exactly what we need.

If you believe in our mission, but this isn’t the right job for you, please check out other career opportunities on our website and email us at [email protected] with any questions. And if you have a friend who would be a perfect fit, send them this link. Thanks!

Swift is an equal opportunity employer. We value an inclusive work environment and welcome team members of all backgrounds and perspectives.