Controls & Automation Engineer

General Matter, Inc. is an American nuclear energy company based in California that is focused on developing domestic nuclear energy solutions. The company aims to harness nuclear technology to increase national energy prosperity, reduce dependence on foreign energy sources, and support the expansion of American capabilities in the energy sector. Their work centers on making nuclear energy more accessible and practical by advancing technologies that can be developed and deployed within the United States. General Matter's mission is rooted in the belief that nuclear power represents a critical pathway toward a cleaner, more energy-independent future. By turning domestic nuclear potential into operational reality, the company positions itself at the intersection of national security, economic growth, and climate-conscious energy production. Their approach emphasizes building nuclear energy infrastructure that is homegrown rather than reliant on foreign supply chains or expertise. The company brings together leaders from nuclear engineering, technology, government, and finance, reflecting a multidisciplinary approach to solving the complex challenges of modern nuclear energy development. As a startup operating in the green and climate technology sector, General Matter represents a new wave of private investment in nuclear energy as a viable and scalable low-carbon power source for the United States.

About the Company

General Matter enriches uranium.

We are designing, building, and operating the world’s lowest-cost enrichment services, here in the US.  

In the process, we are restoring America’s ability to produce nuclear fuel to power AI, advanced manufacturing and critical industries our country relies on to remain competitive. 

Fuel drives the cost of advanced reactor electricity production, and enrichment drives the cost of the fuel that advanced reactors consume.  Reliable, low-cost enrichment is the catalyst for the nuclear Renaissance now under way.

Our mission is to make nuclear not only the cleanest and safest source of baseload power, but also the most affordable.  We believe abundant nuclear energy will lead to a post-scarcity society. 

We were incubated inside Founders Fund, like Anduril and Palantir before us, and are backed by over a dozen of the world's top venture capital firms.  

Our lean, world-class team of engineers and operators is applying a first-principles approach to solving the problem of nuclear fuel production.  

We are a mission-driven company with a culture of urgency, accountability, and transparency. 

Help us build a high-energy society by making the cleanest, safest form of baseload energy the most affordable. 

About This Role

We are seeking a Controls and Systems Software Engineer to design and implement the control and automation software stack for test stands and production systems. This role sits at the intersection of industrial automation and systems software engineering, and is responsible for building reliable, maintainable, and safety-critical control systems spanning PLCs, SCADA/HMI, and high-performance C++ or Rust services. The successful candidate will play a central role in defining the architecture, implementation standards, and operational reliability of mission-critical automation systems.

Responsibilities

• Design, implement, and maintain PLC-based control systems for chemical processing equipment, test stands, and production systems.
• Develop and integrate SCADA/HMI systems for monitoring, control, alarming, and operational visibility.
• Build supporting services and control infrastructure in C++ or Rust for high-reliability and performance-critical components.
• Define and enforce modern software engineering practices, software architecture, coding standards, testing strategies, and operational best practices in PLC-based control systems.
• Work closely with hardware, electrical, and process engineering teams to integrate sensors, actuators, and field devices.
• Lead debugging, root cause analysis, and reliability improvements across the full automation stack.

Basic Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree or higher in Computer Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Computer Science, or a related field.
• 5+ years of experience developing industrial control systems or automation software.
• Strong, production-level experience in C++ or Rust.
• Hands-on experience with PLCs and industrial control platforms (e.g., Beckhoff/TwinCAT, Siemens, Rockwell, or equivalent).
• Experience with SCADA/HMI systems and industrial networking.
• Strong understanding of real-time systems, control loops, and hardware/software integration.

Preferred Skills and Experience

• Background in safety-critical, high-reliability, or regulated industrial environments (e.g., chemical, energy, aerospace, robotics, semiconductor).
• Experience designing fault-tolerant, observable, and testable control systems.
• Experience with automated testing, simulation, or hardware-in-the-loop (HIL) test frameworks.
• Demonstrated technical leadership in setting engineering standards and mentoring other engineers.

Additional Requirements

• Ability to work extended hours and weekends as necessary.

Equal Opportunity Employer

General Matter is an Equal Opportunity Employer; employment with General Matter is governed on the basis of merit, competence and qualifications and will not be influenced in any manner by race, color, religion, gender, national origin/ethnicity, veteran status, disability status, age, sexual orientation, gender identity, marital status, mental or physical disability or any other legally protected status.

Compensation and Benefits

The base salary range for this role is $100,000–$200,000 annually. 

Compensation bands are determined by role, level, location, and alignment with market data. Individual level and base pay is determined on a case-by-case basis and may vary based on job-related skills, education, experience, technical capabilities and internal equity. Please note that the stated salary range is an estimate and may be adjusted based on market conditions, business needs, or other factors. In addition to base salary, for full-time hires, you may also be eligible for long-term incentives, in the form of stock options, and access to medical, vision & dental coverage as well as access to a 401(k) retirement plan.