Senior Controls Engineer
ON.energy · Houston, Texas, United States; Miami, Florida, United States; Reston, Virginia, United States
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.