Senior Controls Engineer

ON.energy
Houston +2 more
On-site

Who this role is best for

Geared toward controls engineers comfortable with industrial communication protocols and product development, working in mission-critical environments with a focus on hardware design and system integration.

Best fit for

  • Candidates with product development experience in industrial controls and a background in mission-critical environments like data centers or utilities
    — “mission-critical environments such as data centers, utilities or substations”
  • Individuals who can lead control system validation and have experience with site commissioning and factory testing
    — “Lead or support FAT, SAT and site commissioning; troubleshoot issues and feed lessons learned back into product design”
  • Engineers with a strong grasp of OT networking and experience segmenting control networks for security and reliability
    — “Specify control-network requirements and work with IT and network teams so the product's OT network is segmented, secure and reliable”

Things to consider

  • Travel is expected up to 20% for FAT and site commissioning, which may be a constraint for some candidates
    — “Willing to travel up to 20% for FAT and site commissioning”
  • This role requires a candidate who can work across multiple technical disciplines, including power electronics and cybersecurity standards
    — “work closely with power electronics, electrical, battery systems, software and project teams”

How to stand out

  • Highlight experience with Modbus, DNP3, and IEC 61850 protocols in your resume and interview responses
    — “Hands-on experience with industrial protocols (Modbus, DNP3, OPC-UA and/or IEC 61850)”
  • Emphasize your ability to document complex control systems, including schematics and as-built drawings
    — “Produce and maintain controls documentation: schematics, panel layouts, wiring diagrams, I/O lists, bills of materials, control narratives and as-built drawings”
  • Showcase your track record of working with control panel builders and ensuring manufacturability and quality
    — “Select and qualify vendors for controllers, panels and key controls components, and work with panel builders on manufacturability and quality”
  • Demonstrate your understanding of cybersecurity standards like IEC 62443 and how they apply to control systems
    — “Exposure to industrial cybersecurity standards (IEC 62443, NERC CIP)”
  • Position yourself as a technical leader who can influence product design and control platform evolution
    — “you'll be a technical voice on how our controls platform evolves”
Pace · SteadyCollaboration · HighAutonomy · MediumDecision Impact · Team

Derived from job-description analysis by Serendipath's career intelligence engine.

What success looks like

  • successful product design
  • secure and reliable OT network
  • customer satisfaction
Typical background
controls engineering experienceindustrial protocols knowledge

Skills & requirements

Required

Control System Hardware DesignControls DocumentationIndustrial Communication ProtocolsControl Panel DesignFAT And Commissioning

Preferred

Power Conversion EquipmentMission-critical Environments

Stack & domain

Control System HardwareControl PanelsI/O ArchitectureController And HMI SelectionPower DistributionIndustrial Communication ProtocolsOT NetworkingControl SchematicsArchitecture DrawingsFAT And Field CommissioningCommunicationAI UPSMedium-voltage UPSGrid InterconnectionData CenterPower ElectronicsBattery SystemsSoftwareProject TeamsControls PlatformIndustrial ProtocolsControl Panel BuildersUL 508A

About the role

Original posting from ON.energy via Greenhouse

ON.energy is setting the standard for large load interconnection. ON’s patented AI UPS™ is a medium-voltage UPS that serves as a firewall, protecting the data center from the grid, and the grid from the data center. With multiple gigawatts currently under construction, we are enabling grid-safe data centers. 

We're looking for a Senior Controls Engineer to help design, document and improve the control hardware inside the AI UPS. You'll own control panel design, I/O and controller architecture, and the documentation and validation that take a product design from the drawing board through factory testing and site commissioning. You'll work closely with power electronics, electrical, battery systems, software and project teams, and you'll be a technical voice on how our controls platform evolves.

Key Responsibilities

Design and develop control system hardware for the AI UPS product line, including control panels, I/O architecture, controller and HMI selection, power distribution, and interfaces to power conversion and battery systems.

Produce and maintain controls documentation: schematics, panel layouts, wiring diagrams, I/O lists, bills of materials, control narratives and as-built drawings.

Define control architecture between the product's subsystems (inverters/converters, BMS, protection relays, switchgear, auxiliary systems) and to site-level SCADA/EMS.

Integrate and validate industrial communication protocols (Modbus TCP/RTU, DNP3, OPC-UA, IEC 61850) between product components and customer systems.

Specify control-network requirements and work with IT and network teams so the product's OT network is segmented, secure and reliable.

Select and qualify vendors for controllers, panels and key controls components, and work with panel builders on manufacturability and quality.

Lead or support FAT, SAT and site commissioning; troubleshoot issues and feed lessons learned back into product design.

Compile technical packages for project engineering and support business development with controls architecture and technical proposals.

Participate in product design sprints and design reviews, and drive improvements across design, commissioning and O&M.

Support compliance with applicable standards (UL 508A, NFPA 70/NEC, IEC 61131, IEEE 1547, and cybersecurity frameworks such as IEC 62443).

Required Experience

Bachelor's degree in Electrical, Controls or Electronics Engineering, or a related field.

5+ years of hands-on controls engineering experience in product development, OEM or project-based industrial settings.

Demonstrated experience designing control panels and control hardware, from schematic through build and test.

Strong working knowledge of PLCs or industrial controllers, I/O design, and HMI/SCADA integration.

Hands-on experience with industrial protocols (Modbus, DNP3, OPC-UA and/or IEC 61850).

Working understanding of OT networking: VLANs, segmentation, managed switches and firewalls.

Proficiency producing and reading control schematics and architecture drawings (AutoCAD Electrical, EPLAN or similar).

Experience supporting FAT and field commissioning.

Clear communication with technical and non-technical teams.

Willing to travel up to 20% for FAT and site commissioning.

Preferred Experience

Controls experience with power conversion equipment, UPS, BESS, inverters, switchgear or medium-voltage systems.

Mission-critical environments such as data centers, utilities or substations.

Experience with control panel builders or UL 508A shops.

Familiarity with protection relays (SEL, GE, ABB) and power-system controls.

Exposure to industrial cybersecurity standards (IEC 62443, NERC CIP).

For US-based roles - What you’ll get:

Competitive salary + annual performance-based bonus eligibility

Medical, dental, and vision insurance

401(k) with company match

Paid time off and company holidays 

For Mexico-based roles - What you’ll get:

Competitive salary + annual performance bonus eligibility

Christmas Bonus (Aguinaldo): 30 days

Major medical expenses and life insurance

Paid time off and holidays (per local policy)

For all roles:

Professional development and growth opportunities

Opportunity to grow with a mission-driven team shaping the future of clean energy

Equal Opportunity: ON.energy is committed to equal employment opportunity and to maintaining a work environment free of harassment, discrimination, or retaliation.

Benefits vary by role and location and are subject to change.

Agency Notice: ON.energy does not accept unsolicited resumes from staffing agencies, search firms, or third-party recruiters. Resumes submitted without a fully executed Master Services Agreement (MSA) and a written request from an authorized member of our Talent Acquisition team will be considered the property of ON.energy. No placement fees or compensation will be paid for unsolicited candidate submissions.

Source: ON.energy careers (Greenhouse)

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