What are the responsibilities and job description for the Controls Engineer, Switchboards position at Giga Energy?
What you’ll do
As a Controls Engineer at Giga, you will own the design, development, and commissioning of control systems for mission-critical infrastructure. From panel design, control schematics to breaker and meter programming, you’ll be the person who makes the systems actually work — and keeps them running. If you love getting into the details of how complex systems talk to each other and take pride in building things that can’t afford to go down, this is your role.
Where you’ll work
This role is based out of one of our offices (Long Beach, CA / Houston, TX). We work in person because the best engineering happens when smart people are in the same room.
Responsibilities
Pre-PO & Sales Support:
- Provide technical expertise to sales teams during the bidding and pre-purchase order phase.
- Clarify customer requirements and ensure technical feasibility during proposal development.
- Participate in post-PO engineering reviews with sales teams and customers to align on project scope and deliverables
Customer Submittals:
- Compile and deliver comprehensive electrical submittal packages to customers, including:
- Single Line Diagrams (SLD) and breaker schedules
- Detailed wiring schematics
- Complete electrical datasheets
- Comprehensive electrical Bills of Materials (BOM)
- Factory Acceptance Testing (FAT) protocols
Engineering & Detailed Design:
- Collaborate with mechanical engineering teams on switchboard enclosure design and integration.
- Execute complete power panel electrical design from concept through production-ready documentation.
- Develop finalized manufacturing packages for the production floor, ensuring clarity and accuracy for assembly teams
Procurement Support:
- Partner with purchasing teams to source electrical components and ensure timely delivery.
- Specify critical components including power meters (PM), surge protective devices (SPD), current transformers (CT), and other control devices
Operations & Production Support:
- Provide hands-on guidance to assembly teams during power panel and component assembly.
- Standardize component labeling and wire tagging protocols to improve consistency and quality.
- Deliver floor-level technical assistance during panel wiring and troubleshooting
Quality Assurance & Test Training:
- Train, mentor, and audit the quality testing team on critical testing procedures:
- Ground loop testing
- Hi-pot (dielectric withstand) testing
- Electrical functionality verification
- Breaker programming and trip unit configuration
- 480VAC live-power testing
- UL sticker application and final enclosure close-up procedures
- Facilitate customer witness tests as required to ensure product acceptance
Post-Delivery Support:
- Provide technical customer service after product delivery to ensure successful installation and operation.
- Troubleshoot field issues remotely or on-site as needed.
- Answer installation questions and provide technical guidance to customers and field teams
Requirements
- Strong background in electrical engineering with hands-on experience in switchboard or power distribution systems
- Proficiency in electrical design software (AUTOCAD) and schematic development
- Excellent communication skills to work cross-functionally with sales, production, quality, and customers
- Ability to mentor and train technical teams
- Problem-solving mindset with a focus on quality and customer satisfaction
Bonus points
- Knowledge of UL standards (UL 891, UL 67, UL 1558, etc.) and testing protocols
- Experience working in a UL 891 shop environment with hands-on testing experience