Sr. Controls Engineer – OT SCADA Projects

Position Overview

The Sr. Controls Engineer – OT SCADA Projects leads the design, configuration, commissioning, and support of plant control systems for utility-scale solar, storage, and hybrid renewable energy projects. This engineer works with minimal oversight, applies expert knowledge of grid functionality and Utility/ISO standards, mentors junior engineers, and contributes to product standards. Approximately 80% of this role is project execution, while up to 20% is continuous improvement and product development.

Responsibilities

Project Execution & Technical Delivery (~80%)

• Lead end-to-end controls design for utility-scale solar, BESS, and hybrid projects, including review of the project scope to identify project-specific requirements and deviations from the standard Terabase controls product offering.
• Program and commission SEL controllers using AcSELerator; develop control logic in Codesys using IEC 61131-3 structured text and continuous function charts
• Follow the controls development process for any project-specific development work, including documentation of requirements, logic development, testing in a simulated/lab environment and documentation of test results.
• Implement and validate closed-loop Active Power and Reactive Power, AVR and PFR Algorithms
• Maintain version control for all code artifacts according to established version control procedure (Bitbucket)
• Efficiently troubleshoot complex SCADA and controls issues using Wireshark, breakpoints, cross-reference, and watch list tools
• Produce project deliverables: System Architecture Diagrams, Control Narratives, Logic Diagrams, commissioning documents, and operator manuals

Product & Process Improvement (~20%)

• Contribute to new feature development and bug fixes in collaboration with the Product Engineering team
• Review documentation prepared by junior controls engineers (technical and non-technical)
• Lead the Continuous Improvement and Lessons Learned program, feed field insights back into product standards and templates
• Coach junior engineers through FAT preparation and customer-facing presentation

Stakeholder Communication & Collaboration

• Serve as primary controls technical contact for EPCs, asset owners, and grid operators through project execution, FAT, and commissioning
• Lead FATs as formal presentations; communicate to non-technical audiences with supporting materials prepared in advance
• Flag technical risks and schedule pressures to project management team with context and proposed solutions
• Maintain Jira tickets daily with thorough detail; enforce Jira best practices with junior engineers

Expectations & Success Indicators

• Deliver high-quality work independently across multiple concurrent projects with ownership and urgency
• Leverage standardized platforms and tools to work efficiently
• Ensure 100% adherence to Terabase quality processes; enforce standards with junior engineers
• Mentor junior controls engineers through technical guidance, code review, and FAT coaching
• Project deliverables completed on time, within scope, and meeting Utility/ISO regulatory standards
• Jira, version control, and documentation consistently maintained without follow-up from management
• Recognized internally and externally as the go-to technical authority on Terabase SCADA and OT controls
• Travel up to 10% for on-site commissioning, FAT, and customer engagements

Requirements

Education & Experience

• Bachelor’s degree or higher in Engineering, Control Systems, Computer Science, or related field
• 5+ years of IEC 61131-3/PLC programming experience, preferably in Codesys or AcSELerator environment
• 3+ years of utility-scale renewable power plant controls experience (solar, BESS, or hybrid), including project-specific development work, Factory Acceptance Test (FAT), commissioning and Site Acceptance Test (SAT)

Technical Skills

• Expert IEC 61131-3 programming; primary tooling is AcSELerator (SEL controllers) and Codesys, including Diagram Builder, traces, breakpoints, and watch lists
• Extensive knowledge of industrial protocols: Modbus-TCP, DNP3, OPC-UA, C37.118, etc.
• Expert knowledge of grid functionality: Primary Frequency Response (PFR), Automatic Voltage Regulation (AVR), Active/Reactive power closed loop control, and capacitor bank functionality – including the underlying grid rationale, not just controller behavior
• Proficiency with Utility/ISO testing and interconnection requirements (ERCOT, PJM, BPA, IEEE 2800, NERC, etc.)
• Experience with Power Plant Controller (PPC) design, configuration, and commissioning
• Familiarity with PSCAD, PSSE, and/or TSAT modeling processes for utility-scale sites
• Experience with hardware in the loop (HIL) hardware, such as RTDS, OPAL-RT, Speedgoat, Typhoon, etc.