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Salary: USD 120,000 - 140,000 / annual
Terabase Energy is seeking a Senior Project Controls Engineer to support the design, configuration, commissioning, and documentation of plant control systems for utility-scale solar, storage, and hybrid renewable energy projects.
You will execute controls design work with guidance from senior leadership, applying working knowledge of grid functionality and Utility/ISO standards while contributing to continuous improvement of product standards. The role is approximately 90% project execution and 10% continuous improvement and product development.
Key Responsibilities:
Project Execution & Technical Delivery (~90%):
- Execute controls design for utility-scale solar, BESS, and hybrid projects, reviewing project scope to identify requirements and deviations from standard offerings
- Program and commission SEL controllers using AcSELerator; develop control logic in Codesys using IEC 61131-3 structured text and continuous function charts
- Follow controls development processes for project-specific work, including documentation of requirements, logic development, testing in simulated/lab environments, and test result documentation
- Implement and validate closed-loop Active Power and Reactive Power, AVR and PFR Algorithms
- Maintain version control for all code artifacts using Bitbucket
- Troubleshoot SCADA and controls issues using Wireshark, breakpoints, cross-reference, and watch list tools, escalating complex issues as needed
- Produce project deliverables: System Architecture Diagrams, Control Narratives, Logic Diagrams, commissioning documents, and operator manuals
Product & Process Improvement (~10%):
- Contribute to new feature development and bug fixes in collaboration with the Product Engineering team
- Prepare technical and non-technical documentation for senior controls engineers
- Participate in Continuous Improvement and Lessons Learned programs, sharing field insights to inform product standards
- Prepare for Factory Acceptance Tests (FATs) and customer-facing presentations
Stakeholder Communication & Collaboration:
- Support senior engineers as a controls technical contact for EPCs, asset owners, and grid operators
- Lead assigned portions of FATs as formal presentations; communicate to non-technical audiences
- Flag technical risks and schedule pressures to project management with context and proposed solutions
- Maintain Jira tickets daily with thorough detail
Success Indicators:
- Deliver high-quality work across multiple concurrent projects with ownership and urgency
- Leverage standardized platforms and tools efficiently
- Maintain 100% adherence to Terabase quality processes
- Actively develop technical skills through code reviews, feedback, and FAT participation
- Complete project deliverables on time, within scope, meeting Utility/ISO regulatory standards
- Maintain Jira, version control, and documentation consistently
- Build growing expertise in Terabase SCADA and utility-scale grid 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
- 3+ years of IEC 61131-3/PLC programming experience, preferably in Codesys or AcSELerator environment
- 2+ years of utility-scale renewable power plant controls experience (solar, BESS, or hybrid) preferred, including exposure to project-specific development work, Factory Acceptance Test (FAT), commissioning and Site Acceptance Test (SAT)
Technical Skills:
- Proficient IEC 61131-3 programming; primary IDEs are AcSELerator (SEL controllers) and Codesys, with familiarity with Diagram Builder; proficiency with traces, cross-references, breakpoints, and watch lists
- Working knowledge of industrial protocols: Modbus-TCP, DNP3, OPC-UA, C37.118, etc.
- Solid understanding of grid functionality: Primary Frequency Response (PFR), Automatic Voltage Regulation (AVR), Active/Reactive power closed loop control, and capacitor bank functionality
- Familiarity with Utility/ISO testing and interconnection requirements (ERCOT, PJM, BPA, IEEE 2800, NERC, etc.)
- Exposure to Power Plant Controller (PPC) design, configuration, and commissioning
- Familiarity with PSCAD, PSSE, and/or TSAT modeling processes for utility-scale sites is a plus
- Exposure to hardware in the loop (HIL) hardware, such as RTDS, OPAL-RT, Speedgoat, Typhoon, etc., is a plus
