Field Controls Engineer

About Overview
We're building AI-powered quality control systems for manufacturing. Unlike generic machine vision, our systems are designed to integrate directly into production lines alongside existing PLCs and equipment. We work with companies like Tesla, SpaceX, and Amphenol—and we're deployed in real production environments right now, not pilots.
Our customers don't need another software tool. They need systems that actually work on their production line, integrate with their controls, and keep running under real manufacturing constraints.

About the Role
You'll be the technical person making our systems work on the factory floor. This is hands-on field work: you'll install hardware, integrate with PLC systems, troubleshoot in real-time, and ensure vision systems are running reliably on production lines. You'll own the technical execution from start to finish—from configuration through production validation.

You'll work directly with customers, their maintenance teams, and their production engineers to get systems live and keep them running. Key reality: This is 60–80% travel to manufacturing facilities. You'll spend weeks on-site at customer plants, working with equipment that doesn't stop, dealing with downtime pressure, and solving problems under real constraints.

This role is field-heavy, highly technical, and high-ownership. If you want to work in manufacturing, get your hands dirty with hardware and PLCs, and directly impact production operations, this is it.

What You'll Do
Install and Integrate Vision Systems with PLC Platforms
Physically install Overview cameras and lighting on production lines

Configure systems to work with existing PLCs (Allen Bradley, Siemens, GE, Beckhoff)

Map I/O, set up communication protocols, and validate connectivity

Work directly with customer engineers and maintenance teams to coordinate integration around production schedules

Troubleshoot Hardware, Electrical, and Integration Issues On-Site
Diagnose problems in real production environments: connector issues, electrical continuity, signal timing, encoder feedback, I/O mapping

Work with oscilloscopes, multimeters, network analyzers—and with your hands

Collaborate with plant electricians and equipment technicians when needed

Solve problems under the constraint of live production (no long redeploys, no taking systems offline without customer approval)

Ensure Systems Meet Production Requirements
Validate system performance on actual production lines (speed, accuracy, reliability)

Tune systems for real-world constraints: lighting conditions, equipment vibration, material variations

Document configuration and create setup guides for customer teams

Train operators and engineers on system operation and basic troubleshooting

Support Customers Through Deployments
Be the technical point of contact during installation and ramp-up

Provide ongoing support during the first weeks of production operation

Respond to technical issues and help customers troubleshoot independently over time

Feed back real-world constraints and issues to the product team

What You'll Bring
Must Have
2+ years working directly with PLC systems (Allen Bradley, Siemens, GE Automation, or similar)
Experience configuring I/O, programming logic, and troubleshooting connectivity

Comfortable reading PLC documentation and understanding ladder logic or structured text

Hands-on experience integrating systems with production equipment
You've installed, configured, or integrated hardware on production lines

You understand how to work with existing controls without breaking them

Ability to troubleshoot electrical and hardware issues on-site
You're comfortable with a multimeter, oscilloscope, or continuity tester

You understand basic electrical concepts (voltage, current, signal integrity)

You've diagnosed and fixed real-world hardware problems

Experience in live production environments
You've worked on manufacturing floors—assembly, packaging, machining, automotive, food processing, etc.

You understand downtime pressure and the reality of production constraints

Willingness to travel 60–80% to customer manufacturing facilities
You're comfortable being on-site for weeks at a time

You can work with customer shift schedules and production priorities

You want to be where the equipment is, not remote

Strong to Have
Experience with vision systems or cameras in manufacturing (including setup, focus, lighting)

Familiarity with industrial communication protocols (Ethernet, Profibus, Modbus, serial)

Experience training operators and engineers on new systems

Comfort working independently and making technical decisions in the field

Track record of owning technical projects from start to finish

Nice to Have
Background in plant engineering, maintenance, or manufacturing support

Experience with specific platforms: Allen Bradley CompactLogix/ControlLogix, Siemens S7-1200/S7-1500

Exposure to industrial networking or controls system security

Why This Role Is Different
You're not maintaining legacy systems. You'll be deploying proven technology into new environments and solving real integration challenges. You see immediate impact.

Your work directly affects production lines and customer operations—your troubleshooting and integration directly impacts uptime and output. You work with real manufacturers. You'll support some of the most demanding manufacturing operations in North America.

You own the technical execution. You're not handing off to a support team; you're the person responsible for ensuring systems work end-to-end. You grow across multiple domains.

You'll expand your skills in vision systems, AI applications, and increasingly complex manufacturing integrations—while staying hands-on. You work in a lean team. No bureaucracy, no tickets sitting in queues.

Fast decisions, direct impact, high ownership.

Location & Travel
Primary location: Remote within the U.S. when not traveling to customer sites.
Preferred location: Indiana, Ohio, Kentucky, or Illinois
Travel: 60–80% of time on-site at customer facilities across the US. Expect 1–2 week deployments, with some trips being shorter (3–5 days).

What We Offer
Real impact: Your work keeps production lines running

Technical growth: You'll expand across controls, vision, and AI systems

Autonomy: High ownership, minimal bureaucracy

Competitive compensation + equity (startup scaling trajectory)

Hardware and tools: You'll have what you need to do the job

Supportive team: Experienced team and escalation when you need it

Our Commitment to Your Success
We know field engineering is demanding. We'll provide:
Training on our systems before your first deployment

Clear runbooks and technical documentation

Direct support from our engineering team when you hit complex issues

A team that understands manufacturing realities and respects the work you do