What are the responsibilities and job description for the Controls Engineer position at onenergy?
ON.energy is building the power infrastructure that makes the AI era possible. As AI demand surges past what the grid and traditional data centers can support, ON.energy provides a new class of power technology proven at gigawatt scale and trusted by the world’s leading cloud and AI companies. Our systems are already deployed across 2.5 GW of hyper-scale campuses, validated by top U.S. national labs, and certified for grid-safe operation by major utilities. With real products in the field, we’re scaling faster than the grid can, transforming power from a bottleneck into a competitive advantage for the companies building the future.
Role Summary
The Controls Engineer is responsible for deploying, configuring, and supporting control systems for utility-scale Battery Energy Storage System (BESS) projects. This role is central to commissioning success, ensuring reliable operation and integration of Siemens PLC-based control systems with EMS, PCS, BMS, protection systems, and site networks.
Key Responsibilities
- Deploy, configure, and support Siemens PLC-based control systems for BESS projects
- Support commissioning activities including system bring-up, integration testing, and site acceptance testing (SAT)
- Troubleshoot PLC logic, communications, and I/O issues during commissioning and early operations
- Integrate PLCs with EMS, PCS, BMS, protection relays, meters, and SCADA systems
- Support communication protocols such as Modbus TCP/RTU, IEC 61850 (as applicable), and other OT interfaces
- Collaborate closely with Network Engineers, Deployment Engineers, EMS teams, and Field Commissioning teams
- Support factory acceptance testing (FAT) and field commissioning activities
- Assist with developing standardized PLC configurations, templates, and commissioning procedures
- Review and validate control system documentation, drawings, and as-built configurations
- Travel to project sites during deployment and commissioning phases as required
Required Experience & Skills
- Hands-on experience with Siemens PLC platforms (TIA Portal, S7-1500 / S7-1200 or similar)
- Experience commissioning or supporting industrial control systems in the field
- Strong understanding of PLC-based control architectures and OT systems
- Experience integrating PLCs with external systems (EMS, SCADA, PCS, BMS, protection)
- Ability to troubleshoot across controls, networking, and software boundaries
- Comfortable working in fast-paced commissioning environments with time pressure
- Willingness to travel to project sites during deployment and commissioning
Preferred Experience
- Experience with utility-scale BESS, power generation, renewables, or substation environments
- Familiarity with EMS platforms and grid-interactive systems
- Experience supporting commissioning teams on live sites
- Understanding of cybersecurity considerations in OT environments
- Background working alongside EPCs, vendors, and OEMs
What Success Looks Like (6–12 Months)
- Siemens PLC-based control systems are deployed reliably across new BESS projects
- Commissioning timelines are supported through rapid issue resolution and system readiness
- Control system integration issues are identified and resolved efficiently
- Documentation quality and repeatability improve across deployments
- Field and commissioning teams trust this role as a key technical partner
What You’ll Get
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Competitive salary performance bonus
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401(k) match, health, vision, dental
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Paid time off and company holidays
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Work that matters—building resilient, secure infrastructure for the future of energy