Austal USA

Austal USA

Designs and builds U.S. Navy vessels

Controls Engineer 2

Full-Time
No salary listed
Mid
Bachelor's
Mobile, AL, USA
In Person

Requires domestic and international travel, potentially 15–25%, including customer-site visits.

No H1B Sponsorship
US Top Secret Clearance Required

About the job

Requirements
  • Successful completion of a bachelor's degree in Electrical Engineering, Computer Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, or a related degree at the time of hire.
  • Two to five years of automation and controls experience.
  • Experience configuring, programming, installing, and testing programmable logic controllers, human-machine interfaces, and supervisory control and data acquisition systems.
  • Detailed knowledge of automation and information technology networks.
  • Experience with the Windows Server environment.
  • Configuration and commissioning experience with sensors, switches, valve actuators, variable speed drives, and other field devices.
  • Design, installation, and troubleshooting experience with communication protocols including Profibus, Modbus RTU/TCP, and Serial ASCII.
  • Ability to work in domestic and international field environments.
  • Strong troubleshooting experience.
  • Understanding of scheduling and ability to adhere to strict deadlines.
  • Experience interacting with production personnel, multiple design teams from several companies, customer representatives, and equipment manufacturers.
  • Computer literacy and familiarity with AutoCAD and Microsoft Office products.
  • Ability to obtain and maintain a Secret Security Clearance if required by the position responsibilities.
  • Ability to provide proof of United States person status.
  • At least 18 years of age at the time of application.
  • No felony convictions of theft, deception, or violent crimes within seven years from the disposition date.
  • No felony convictions of drug crimes within three years from the disposition date.
  • Willingness to submit to a drug screen and background check.
  • Ability to comply with company, federal, state, and local safety and environmental rules and regulations.
Responsibilities
  • Check drawings, configuration, and programming performed by Engineer I personnel.
  • Perform design calculations and drawing development as assigned by the Program Engineer or Department Engineer III.
  • Design, configure, and program automation and control equipment, including programmable logic controllers and human-machine interfaces.
  • Support commissioning and testing of automation and control equipment.
  • May lead and direct the work of Engineer I personnel, designers, and draftspersons.
  • May determine the technical adequacy of drawings, calculations, hardware configuration, and system programming.
  • May provide input to evaluations of Engineer I personnel, designers, and draftspersons.
  • Perform installation, commissioning, and repair efforts at offsite locations and travel to customer sites to support work on vessels when required.
Desired Qualifications
  • Specific knowledge of Siemens PCS7 or another integrated automation platform.
  • Knowledge of Siemens SIMATIC variable speed drives.
  • Knowledge of Windows Server domain management, including DNS, Active Directory, and Group Policy.
  • Working knowledge of ship and propulsion systems.
  • Working knowledge of maritime regulatory authorities, including ABS, DNV, GL, NAVSEA, MIL, USCG, and IMO.
  • Experience constructing high-speed aluminum vessels.
  • Knowledge of the design and construction of United States Navy vessels.

About the company

Austal USA builds and maintains ships for the U.S. Navy and Coast Guard, covering aluminum and steel hulls and a lifecycle of maintenance and modernization. Ships are designed and constructed with modular manufacturing and in-house capabilities, supported by a large, continuously operating facility and a Repair & Services division. The company also develops advanced technologies—autonomy, unmanned surface vessels, AI, and submarine modules—with partnerships like Electric Boat, plus an Advanced Technology division that runs the Navy’s additive manufacturing efforts. Its goal is to deliver and sustain modern vessels, broaden its maritime footprint, and advance defense-focused autonomous and additive manufacturing technologies.

Company Size

1,001-5,000

Company Stage

N/A

Total Funding

N/A

Headquarters

N/A

Founded

1999

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Simplify's Take

What believers are saying

  • June 2026 MMF3 opened, expanding submarine-module capacity for Virginia and Columbia boats.
  • Austal says submarine module work remains highly profitable and strategically important.
  • Wildcat's September 2026 bid keeps Austal USA's standalone value in play.

What critics are saying

  • August 2026 guidance flipped Austal USA to a $175 million EBIT loss.
  • T-ATS, AFDM, and LCU overruns exposed weak execution on legacy contracts.
  • Hanwha and Wildcat bids signal a sale fight that can disrupt management.

What makes Austal USA unique

  • Mobile's integrated yard builds submarines, steel vessels, and modules in one campus.
  • Since 2022, Austal USA leads Navy submarine module fabrication and outfitting.
  • The Danville AM CoE gives Austal a rare Navy additive-manufacturing position.

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Benefits

Flexible Work Hours

Company News

Australian Defence Magazine
Sep 9th, 2026
Wild card bids for Austal USA.

Wild card bids for Austal USA. By Max Blenkin | Canberra | 9 September 2026 2 / 3 free articles left. Australian shipbuilder Austal has received a second bid to buy its US subsidiary Austal USA. That follows a bid for Austal USA from Hanwha Defense USA, a subsidiary of South Korean defence and industrial powerhouse Hanwha Aerospace. The latest bid comes from Miami-based Wildcat Infrastructure which has put forward a non-binding bid to Austal's board to buy Austal USA, comprising the company's US entities and shipyard at Mobile, Alabama. Their proposal values Austal USA at between $US 1.25 billion (approx. A $1.73 billion) and $US 1.35 billion (approx. A $1.87 billion). That's a big step up on the Hanwha bid which values Austal USA at US $1.05 billion (approx. A $1.45 billion) to US $1.2 billion (approx. A $1.66 billion). Not much is known about Wildcat Infrastructure. The company website says Wildcat Equity Partners is a privately held family investment firm "focused on businesses where long-term capital, management expertise and perseverance can make all the difference." According to its LinkedIn profile, Wildcat Infrastructure "builds and acquires next-generation companies driven by the global demand for critical infrastructure, specifically Energy (clean and renewable), Information (5G), Transport (bridge and roads) and Water Infrastructure (clean water and wastewater systems)." Wildcat Infrastructure president and executive director is businessman George Nicolaides whose entry on LinkedIn shows a background in the oil sector. In a statement to the Australian Securities Exchange (ASX), Austal said Wildcat had indicated it intended to operate the company as a standalone platform, retaining the Austal brand and the company's US operations. "The board and its advisers will consider the transaction proposed by Wildcat," the statement said. Like the Hanwha bid, this was good news for shareholders with Austal shares jumping 6.4 per cent to $4.63, their highest level since April. Austal is the largest Australian owned defence company operating in the US, building a numbers of ships for the US Navy, including the Independence-variant Littoral Combat Ships and Spearhead-class Expeditionary Fast Transport vessels. In 2024, Hanwha made an unsuccessful takeover bid for all of Austal. The company rejected the offer citing concerns that regulatory approvals from the US and Australia would not be forthcoming. But at the time, Austal said they remained open to "further engagement if Hanwha is able to provide certainty on whether a transaction would be approved." Hanwha subsequently withdrew the offer. However, Hanwha does own almost 20 per cent of Austal in Australia. Wildcat's bid could open the way for a bidding war. Another issue is whether the US would approve a sale to South Korea, considering the Trump administration's strong America first stance. As well, Trump ordered a scaling back on joint exercises because of South Korea's refusal to assist the US in its conflict against Iran.