Controls Technician (2nd Shift) at Base Power — Austin, TX

## About Base

## About the Role

We're building battery systems at scale, and keeping our production lines running is what makes that possible. We're looking for a hands-on controls engineering technician to be the first line of response when something stops — or before it does. You'll work directly alongside the controls engineering team, owning day-to-day line health while they focus on deeper system development.

This isn't a desk job. You'll be on the floor, online with PLCs, moving through robot programs, and hunting down faults before they become downtime.

What You’ll Do

• Go online with Siemens S7-series PLCs to monitor, diagnose, and identify fault conditions — not just read the alarm, but trace it back to the cause
• Jog and run Fanuc robot programs, step through sequences, identify positional or logic issues, and perform minor program touchups under engineering direction
• Use Ignition SCADA/HMI to monitor line status, review tag history, and identify trends that indicate developing issues
• Respond to line stoppages and perform first-response diagnostics — gather the right data so the controls engineering team can resolve the root cause efficiently
• Document fault history, observations, and recurring issues in a clear, usable format
• Support PMs and controls engineers on commissioning, upgrades, and change verification
• Learn system architecture across the line — conveyors, AGVs, robots, safety systems — and build toward owning more of it over time

What You'll Bring

• 2+ years of hands-on experience in an industrial automation environment
• Working familiarity with Siemens TIA Portal or STEP 7 — able to go online, navigate program blocks, and interpret ladder or FBD logic
• Experience jogging and troubleshooting Fanuc robots — R-30iB controller or newer preferred
• Basic understanding of SCADA/HMI platforms; Ignition experience is a plus
• Ability to read electrical schematics and I/O wiring diagrams
• Strong situational awareness on the floor — you notice things other people walk past
• Clear written communication; you'll be documenting faults and observations that the engineering team depends on
• Exposure to PROFINET or other industrial fieldbus protocols
• Familiarity with PROFIsafe or functional safety concepts
• Experience with AGV systems or automated material handling
• Ability to work 2nd shift hours (3:30pm CST - 12:00am CST)

About the Team

Base Power's mission is keeping homes powered through grid failures — and that promise only holds if our manufacturing lines run without fail. The controls team exists to make that possible: we're building Base's controls standard from scratch, owning the electrical and software architecture that drives production. We write modern, scalable automation software — but the measure of success is whether it works, not whether it's impressive. No over engineering, no technology for its own sake — just systems that are reliable, maintainable, and built to last as we grow.

## Our Values

• First Principles Thinking: Question assumptions. Principles > rules.
• Operate at Base Pace: Focus on what matters, act quickly, and learn by doing.
• Give & Get Feedback: Be direct, be humble, and maintain a growth mindset.
• Everyone’s an Owner: Follow through on commitments and own results.
• Strong Opinions, Loosely Held: Drive clarity and make calls with imperfect information.
• Committed to the Mission: Rebuilding the grid is a big challenge. We work hard because we care deeply about the impact we’re creating. We work in-person. It’s not a 9-to-5. We are all-in.
• Fun & Optimism Coexist with Grit: Collaboration and celebration coincide with the intensity of building real things.