Tools Architect

Role: Tools Architect

Location: Greenville SC

Duration: Fulltime

Controls Engineering Software Tools Architect

Role Overview

As the Controls Engineering Software Tools Architect, you will be the technical lead responsible for the ecosystem of tools, libraries, and automation frameworks used by our global controls engineering teams. Your mission is to maximize engineering efficiency and ensure code quality by shifting the organization from manual, repetitive programming to automated, template-driven, and model-based engineering. You will develop the "platform" that allows our engineers to deploy robust, standardized, and cyber-secure control software at scale.

Key Responsibilities

• Platform & Toolchain Development: Architect and maintain the suite of software tools, scripts, and plugins (e.g., custom Add-On Instructions, function blocks, or automated code generators) that standardize development across the organization.
• Code Generation Strategy: Drive the adoption of automated code generation (e.g., Python-based scripts to generate PLC/HMI code from standardized excel spreadsheets or piping and instrumentation diagrams).
• Library & Template Management: Manage the enterprise library of reusable control objects (UDFBs, Faceplates, Drivers) to ensure a high level of code modularity, reliability, and maintenance.
• DevOps Integration for OT: Adapt DevOps principles to the industrial space by implementing automated testing, continuous integration, and version control (Git-based workflows) for PLC and HMI software assets.
• Interoperability Architecture: Develop middleware or API-based connectors that allow disparate control software platforms to communicate with corporate ERP, MES, and PLM systems.
• Technical Consulting: Act as an internal consultant for engineering teams to troubleshoot complex integration issues and advise on architectural decisions during the project lifecycle.
• Standardization: Define and document technical requirements for software development that satisfy safety, cybersecurity, and regulatory compliance requirements.

Required Qualifications

• Education: Bachelor s or Master s Degree in Software Engineering, Computer Science, or Electrical/Controls Engineering.
• Experience: 8+ years of experience, with a proven track record of developing custom software solutions for industrial automation or software engineering environments.
• Core Technical Skills:
  • Automation: Expert-level knowledge of PLC/HMI/SCADA environments (e.g., Rockwell, Siemens, GE/Emerson).
  • Scripting/Development: Proficiency in Python, C#, or PowerShell for automating engineering tasks and building custom integration tools.
  • Architecture: Deep understanding of Object-Oriented Programming (OOP) and how to apply those principles to industrial logic.
  • Version Control: Expert-level experience with Git, including branching strategies, pull requests, and CI/CD pipeline configuration.
• Systems Thinking: Ability to see the "big picture" of the engineering workflow and identify bottlenecks that can be solved through software automation.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience with Model-Based Systems Engineering (MBSE) or digital twin integration.
• Experience in developing internal SDKs, APIs, or developer-facing documentation for engineering teams.
• Familiarity with cloud-native development and how to bridge industrial data to the cloud.
• Background in UI/UX design concepts to improve the usability of internal engineering tools.