Overview
Do you want to join a team that's changing the world? Do you have a strong background as a Controls Engineer I? 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
Meet Panasonic
Meet the Recruiter: Eric Laffey
Explore Panasonic Careers
Panasonic Video Our Mission: Create Technologies That Move Us
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 is responsible for programming, installing, and troubleshooting automation systems, including Keyence vision systems and PLCs such as Mitsubishi and Omron, within Panasonic’s battery manufacturing operations. This role involves analyzing equipment specifications and production requirements to support the design and implementation of efficient manufacturing solutions. The engineer collaborates with cross-functional teams to develop, test, and validate system designs while ensuring alignment with technical and economic constraints. Additional responsibilities include preparing detailed schematics, coordinating prototype builds, and supporting long-term engineering planning through technical evaluations and data analysis.
Essential Duties
- Programming, installing, and troubleshooting Keyence vision systems within Panasonic’s battery manufacturing processes.
- Programming, installing, and troubleshooting PLC systems such as Mitsubishi and Omron within Panasonic’s battery manufacturing processes.
- Analyzing product or equipment specifications and performance requirements to determine designs which can be produced by existing manufacturing or processing facilities and methods.
- Determining feasibility of designing new plant equipment or modifying existing facilities considering costs, available space, time limitations, company planning, and other technical and economic factors.
- Providing technical information concerning manufacturing or processing techniques, materials, properties, and process advantages and limitations which affect long range plant and product engineering planning.
- Conferring with research personnel to clarify or resolve problems and develops design.
- Preparing or directing preparation of product or system layout and detailed drawings and schematics.
- Directing and coordinating manufacturing or building of prototype products or systems.
- Planning and developing experimental test programs.
- Analyzing test data and reports to determine if design meets functional and performance specifications.
- Evaluating engineering test results for possible application to developments of systems or other uses.
- Other duties may be assigned.
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 includes equipment such as a full Tyvek suit, safety shoes, gloves, safety glasses, face mask, and a full hazmat suit that includes a respirator. Respirator fit test will be required based on functional area.
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
- Basic: Bachelor’s Degree in Electrical Engineering, Mechanical Engineering or similar discipline
- Preferred: Master’s Degree in Electrical Engineering, Mechanical Engineering or similar discipline
Essential Qualifications
- Evidence of exceptional ability. Panasonic follows a culture of full-cycle engineering where members will have full responsibility and accountability for their projects from start to finish. We are looking for the best of the best
- Experience programming, installing, and troubleshooting manufacturing image vision systems such as Keyence and Cognex
- Experience programming, installing, and troubleshooting ladder-logic based PLC systems such as Mitsubishi, Omron, Allen-Bradley, Siemens, or similar
- Background working in a high-volume manufacturing environment
- Understanding of electrical hardware, drawings, sequence control and software design
- Ability to cooperate and work with related departments including overseas
- Flexibility to solve issues with first principles thinking
- Strong computer skills with Microsoft Word, Excel and PowerPoint
Preferred Qualifications
- Familiarity with wiring/cabling size/terminations and load/temperature requirements
- Familiarity with industrial machinery design & related NFPA codes:
- 70
- 79 (and related UL standards for industrial machinery)
- Knowledge regarding electrical requirements in hazardous locations (Class I, Div 2)
- Experience with 480 V panel installations
- Control wiring design
- Experience with energy usage/optimization
- Knowledge and handling about American environmental laws and UL (Underwriters Laboratories)
Physical Demands
Physical Activities: Percentage of time (equaling 100%) during the normal workday the employee is required to:
- Sit: 20%
- Walk: 50%
- Stand: 20%
- Lift: 10%
Required Lifting and Carrying: Not required (0%), 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.: Frequent
- Team-lift only (over 35 lbs.): Frequent
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:
- Highly inclusive and class-leading healthcare options to include family planning, mental health, and pet insurance
- Employee assistance programs that support total well-being with complimentary session offered each and every month
- Company-matched and fully vested 401K retirement program that starts immediately from date of enrollment
- Annual bonus program, High5 employee recognition and awards platform, quarterly and annual employee recognition
- Simplified access to self-guided and representative-supported short and long-term financial wellness and retirement planning
- Educational Assistance & Reimbursement Program
- Diversity, equity, and inclusion programs and associated employee resource groups that promote representation and belonging
- Leadership, career, and mentorship development programs opportunities at all levels across the organization
- Collaborative and motivating culture routed in continuous personal and professional growth and much more.
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.
This is an exciting time to join us as we expand our operations to De Soto, Kansas and build the world's largest lithium-ion battery factory. We will provide 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.
Panasonic Energy of North America is an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action employer, and all qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to: race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, age, genetic information, disability status, protected veteran status, or any other characteristic 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 of North America.
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