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Interface Innovations is currently hiring for two roles to support fabrication, assembly, commissioning, and field testing/repair of its control systems, in its shop in St Johns, Portland facility, and in the field in Washington and Oregon.

Interface Innovations is an industrial controls and software engineering firm. We offer the following:

• Controls system design and engineering, including production of process and instrumentation diagrams, system controls schematics, and integration and commissioning plans
• Engineering, design and manufacture of UL508a-compliant industrial control panels
• Custom deployed control modules and telemetry units for retrofit of existing equipment to networked SCADA.
• Custom software development for test and measurement in industry and development, with Python and LabVIEW.

Our panels and control systems are deployed in many industries, such as water treatment, wastewater treatment, brewing, and research and development.

• Networked connectivity and functionality, with data connection through our endpoint API and web dashboard for customer access.
• Big touchscreens, accessible and modern HMI UI, using free and available software where possible.
• Forward-compatible features and hardware that make our products both easy to use and service, and ensure they will be valuable for the customer in the foreseeable future, without gatekeeping their upgrade/maintenance behind expensive software packages that are in the domain of control shops with the means to hold their licenses.
• Accurate and complete documentation of our work, providing complete CAD drawings, schematics, and source code as a part of our deliverables packages.
• Complete, timely, and persistent support of our customers and our products. We continue to support every system that has been deployed, nearing fifteen years in business. This is a critical standard that retains customers and gains business.

• Hardware
  • Standard fabrication equipment required to manufacture control panels from stainless steel NEMA4X enclosures. Saws, punch, loads of hardware and stock components.
  • Bridgeport 3 axis mill. 2-axis CNC
  • 3D Printers. We have a creality ender and anycubic Kobra Max. These are used for shop parts, custom enclosures, and for fun.
  • Laser Engraver. We have an xTool 10W diode laser engraver. We use this to make panel labels from two-layer acrylic.
  • Soldering and electronic fab. Standard soldering stations, air gun, logic analyzer, typical power supplies and metering tools. Scope.
• Software
  • Python. The vast majority of our codebase is written in python, using Pycharm/jetbrains IDE. Our micros run micropython for the most part. The libraries that run our servers run our micros.
  • LabVIEW. We have a certified LabVIEW developer on staff, have done quite a bit of custom software contracting, and sell build packages for interfacing LabVIEW with test hardware. In installations with a PC and dumb touchscreen, our HMI UI is written in LabVIEW and compiled for the end user.
  • AutoCAD. We draw schematics of every product we sell and deliver them to the customer. In cases of plant control systems, we also use Plant3D as a linkable export to our CAD sheet sets.
  • Autodesk Fusion. Used to generate 3D models for prints and enclosures.

We are looking for two primary roles. These could be one person, but will most likely be two part-time.

• Hours: Part time. Average 20 hours per week, depending on workload
• Pay: $30-40/hr, DOE
• Benefits: None at part time. FTE possible in future.

Description

This role will consist of the following:

• Assembly and manufacture of electronics assemblies, typically consisting of a microcontroller, carrier PCB
• Running pre-written commissioning scripts to provision devices
• QC: Verifying function of devices, noting deficiencies, and following prescribed process steps for mitigating defects or configuration issues.

Required skills

• Ability to solder. Almost exclusively DIP packages where required, so tiny packages like SOT or QFN or other should not be required, except in the case of troubleshooting
• Ability to operate a computer. Most commissioning is automated, but the ability to do basic connection routines, troubleshooting, and interpret output is required.
• Basic wiring skills. Ability to cut strip, terminate wire. Operation of wire strippers, screwdrivers, and other basic electronics tools.
• Ability to read electrical schematics. Primarily being able to follow lines for what goes where. Ability to learn here is most important, as many schematic formats are idiosyncratic.
• Ability read a product datasheet for required information, such as rating specifications.
• Basic knowledge of electricity and electrical principles. What is AC and DC voltage. How to be safe around electrically energized devices.
• How to use a voltmeter, or at least understanding what it does and having the ability to learn.

Desired skills

• Understanding how microelectronic devices like microcontrollers work.
• Understanding how basic circuits and circuit elements like capacitors, resistors, transformers, DC power supplies, LEDs, operators, indicators.
• Python language fluency/proficiency
• Circuit troubleshooting skills. If the assembly is not doing what it should, being able to look at a schematic, and use a voltmeter to figure out what has gone wrong.

Description

• Carry out testing and QC of hardware as a part of production
• Visit sites to deploy, deliver, or update field devices
• Act as hands in the field for engineers
• Follow procedure for addressing common hardware/software issues

Required skills

• Ability to drive, safely. May be in personal vehicle or company van, TBD.
• Ability to operate a computer and typical software applications, e.g. Word, email, etc.
• Ability to read and interpret output from serial terminal or other interface as a component of device troubleshooting.
• Wiring skills. Ability to cut strip, terminate wire. Operation of wire strippers, screwdrivers, and other basic electronics tools.
• Ability to read electrical schematics.
• Ability to follow and diagnose issues in relation to electrical schematics.
• Understanding of basic process instrumentation and unit operations such as drives, motors, level and temperature sensing.
• Ability read a product datasheet for required information, such as rating specifications.
• Thorough knowledge of electricity and electrical principles. What is AC and DC voltage. How to be safe around electrically energized devices.
• How to use a voltmeter to troubleshoot, and ensure equipment is de-energized prior to service.

Desired skills

• Understanding of UL and NEC standards in relation to control panel layout and safety, or ability to read and understand from hard copy.
• Understanding how microelectronic devices like microcontrollers work.
• Understanding how basic circuits and circuit elements like capacitors, resistors, transformers, DC power supplies, LEDs, operators, indicators.
• Python language fluency/proficiency
• Circuit troubleshooting skills. If the assembly is not doing what it should, being able to look at a schematic, and use a voltmeter to figure out what has gone wrong.

Please fill out our interest form (link below), and we will get back to you. Thanks.

Job Interest Form