R&D Technician - Controls

VULCAN ELEMENTS

VULCAN ELEMENTS

Research Triangle Park, Durham, NC, USA

Posted on May 19, 2026

Vulcan Elements is manufacturing American rare-earth permanent magnets for a secure, resilient future. With a focus on national security and economic resiliency, we serve critical industries such as defense, aerospace, and automotive powering a high-technology future. Vulcan Elements is building a team of ambitious professionals committed to Mission Focus, Technical Excellence and Transparency.

As an R&D Controls Technician you will be responsible for a variety of tasks focused on both hardware and software sides of industrial process control systems. This may include troubleshooting, modification, design/build and integration of both facility and processing equipment control systems. You will maintain a safe and organized working environment while working closely with project owners and technical/engineering teams to accomplish company objectives.

Responsibilities

  • Interface closely with engineers and technicians to integrate, repair, modify and install equipment and facility control systems
  • Troubleshoot, edit, and write PLC programs of varying complexity
  • Integrate new and existing PLC systems into a plant wide SCADA network
  • Troubleshoot, edit and build machine HMIs and status dashboards

Responsibilities and tasks outlined are not exhaustive and may change as determined by the needs of the business

Qualifications

  • Minimum 3 years of experience working with PLCs in an industrial environment
  • Minimum 2 years of experience working with ladder logic
  • Familiarity with Inductive Automation’s Ignition SCADA software
  • Basic soldering and wiring
  • Minimum 1 year of experience building PLC hardware panels
  • Basic to advanced PLC and mechanical troubleshooting
  • Read and understand electrical schematics

    Must be a U.S. Person due to required access to U.S. export-controlled information or facilities.

Preferred Qualifications

  • Experience with basic power tools
  • Experience designing and building HMIs
  • Basic CAD and/or digital schematic experience
  • Basic networking infrastructure install experience