“Be the catalyst that drives real change for our planet.”
Samsara Eco has one clear mission: to repair our planet through infinite plastic recycling. Yes, it’s a mighty mission but it’s something every single one of us here at Samsara Eco is determined to achieve. And it’s what motivates us to dedicate our time and energy to every single day.
Our technology is like our team. One of a kind. And we know that, so while we are creating technology to repair our planet, we’re also building a great place to grow careers. A place where everyone can do the best work of their life, making meaningful impact on our planet and ourselves.
WHO WE ARE...
We’re a biotech innovator with a mission that actually matters. We’re taking the 10 billion tonnes of plastics and textiles wasting away in landfill and recycling it – infinitely – to create a truly circular loop for packaging, clothing, airbags, and everything in between.
It means the brands people love can keep making the products they rely on, without the environmental cost. By using what we already have, we can break the world’s dependence on fossil fuels and leave a liveable planet for the generations coming after us.
This isn’t just a job. This is the work that matters most right now.
**This role is based onsite in Jerrabomberra, on the border of NSW/ACT approx. 30 mins from Canberra CBD**
ROLE PURPOSE
The Control Systems Engineer will be responsible for designing, building, and maintaining the measurement, control, and automation systems that underpin our R&D reactors and process equipment. Working closely with scientists, chemical engineers, and the wider engineering team, you will ensure our experimental processes are instrumented accurately, controlled reliably, and that data is captured with the integrity needed to support scale-up decisions.
This is a hands-on role building on existing foundations. Rather than inheriting a fully mature control system, you will review, refine, and extend our current instrumentation and automation to improve reliability, standardisation, and scalability as we move toward pilot and larger-scale operations. You will need to be comfortable working with ambiguity, making pragmatic engineering decisions, and iterating quickly as the technology evolves.
RESPONSIBILITIES
Control Systems & Automation
- Design, configure, and commission PLC/DCS-based control systems for bench-scale and pilot-scale process equipment.
- Develop control strategies (PID loops, sequences, interlocks, alarms) appropriate to the process stage and safety requirements.
- Build SCADA/HMI interfaces that provide clear real-time visibility of process conditions to scientists and engineers.
- Automate repetitive experimental procedures to improve reproducibility and reduce operator burden.
Data Acquisition & Integration
- Design and implement data acquisition systems (DAQ) to capture high-quality, time-stamped process data from all instrumented systems.
- Integrate control and instrumentation systems with broader data infrastructure (e.g. data historians, LIMS, lab notebooks).
- Work with data science or research teams to ensure data formats, sampling rates, and metadata meet analytical requirements.
Instrumentation Design & Commissioning
- Specify, procure, install, and commission instrumentation across R&D reactors and process rigs — including sensors for temperature, pressure, flow, pH, dissolved gases, and other bioprocess parameters.
- Develop P&IDs and instrumentation schedules in collaboration with process and chemical engineers.
- Ensure all instrumentation meets the measurement accuracy and response time requirements of experimental protocols.
- Establish and maintain calibration, validation, and maintenance regimes for all field instruments.
Process Safety & Functional Safety
- Apply functional safety principles (aligned to IEC 61511 / IEC 61508 where appropriate) in the design of safety instrumented functions.
- Conduct hazard and operability studies (HAZOP) and contribute to risk assessments for new process equipment.
- Ensure all C&I systems comply with relevant safety, environmental, and regulatory requirements.
Scale-Up Support
- Partner with the process engineering team to define instrumentation and control requirements for pilot and demonstration-scale facilities.
- Contribute to engineering design packages (conceptual through to detailed) for scale-up projects.
- Evaluate and recommend automation architectures appropriate for pilot and future commercial scale.
- Support technology transfer activities, including producing C&I documentation for third-party engineering firms and contractors.
Documentation & Standards
- Produce and maintain high-quality C&I deliverables: P&IDs, loop diagrams, instrument data sheets, cause & effect matrices, control narratives.
- Establish C&I standards, templates, and best practices for the organisation from the ground up.
- Maintain a central instrument register and asset management records.
SKILLS AND COMPENTENCIES
Essential
- Degree in Instrumentation & Control Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Chemical Engineering, or related.
- Minimum 5 years of control engineering experience in a process industry environment (e.g. chemicals, biotech, oil & gas, manufacturing, water treatment).
- Demonstrated experience specifying and commissioning a broad range of process instrumentation (temperature, pressure, flow, level, analytical).
- Hands-on experience with control programming (e.g. Siemens, Allen-Bradley) and SCADA/HMI development.
- Ability to produce and read P&IDs, loop diagrams, and wiring schematics.
- Familiarity with process safety principles and HAZOP methodology.
- Strong problem-solving skills and a practical, get-it-done mindset — comfortable with hands-on work in a lab and pilot plant environment.
- Excellent communication skills and ability to work across scientific and engineering disciplines.
- Culture & Values Alignment: Demonstrate a strong alignment with our values and mission, actively contributing to a purpose-driven, inclusive, and high-integrity culture.
Desirable
- Experience in a start-up, scale-up, or early-stage deep-tech environment.
- Exposure to bioprocess or biochemical process environments (fermenters, bioreactors, enzymatic reactors).
- Experience with data acquisition platforms (e.g. National Instruments, LabVIEW, OSIsoft PI, InfluxDB, or similar).
- Knowledge of functional safety standards (IEC 61511 / IEC 61508) and SIL assessment.
- Familiarity with Python or similar scripting for data processing or automation.
- Experience with wireless instrumentation and Industrial IoT (IIoT) architectures.
- Knowledge of relevant regulatory frameworks for chemical or biotech processes (e.g. ATEX, DSEAR, COSHH).
- Experience contributing to engineering design packages for new facilities or major modifications.
WHY WORK WITH US...
- Real Impact - Your work directly helps repair the planet. This isn't a desk job; it's a mission.
- Great People - Work alongside scientists, engineers, and innovators who are genuinely passionate about what they do.
- Own Your Work - Flat structure, real autonomy. We trust you to lead and make decisions.
- Work-Life Balance - Flexible arrangements, competitive pay, and benefits that actually support your life outside work.
- Bold Culture - We back big ideas, challenge the norm, and move fast. If you want to shape something meaningful, this is the place.
WE ARE AN EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER….
Samsara Eco is an equal opportunity employer. We hire on merit, full stop. If you need any adjustments during the recruitment process, just let us know.
Does this sound like your dream job? If it does, join our mission and apply now!
And for more information check out our explainer video here!
