Controls Engineering Lead

Brunel; City of Melbourne; On-site; AUD 160,000 - 220,000; Full time

Job summary

Brunel is seeking an experienced Controls Engineering Lead to join the Australian IPP engineering function. This senior technical role involves designing and optimising controls and automation systems across hybrid energy assets in Australia.

The successful candidate will oversee various responsibilities including the integration of control systems, technical governance, and performance optimisation while ensuring compliance with Australian standards. This role offers a unique opportunity to impact energy infrastructure projects.

Qualifications

• Strong experience in controls engineering, preferably in complex energy or industrial environments.
• Exposure to hybrid power systems and energy project environments.
• Understanding of Australia's energy transition and grid integration challenges.

Responsibilities

• Lead the design, configuration, and integration of control systems across hybrid power assets.
• Support technical design and optimisation of new IPP opportunities.
• Optimise performance of operational hybrid energy assets.

Skills

Controls engineering (SCADA, PLCs, EMS)

Hybrid power systems (renewables, BESS)

Technical leadership

Stakeholder management

Job description

An experienced Controls Engineering Lead is sought to join the Australian IPP engineering function.

This is a senior technical leadership role reporting into the Head of Engineering, responsible for the design, integration, optimisation, and governance of controls and automation systems across a portfolio of hybrid energy assets in Australia.

The role spans the full lifecycle of IPP projects — from development and design through to commissioning, operations, and continuous optimisation of live assets.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead the design, configuration, and integration of control systems across hybrid power assets
• Oversee SCADA, PLC, Energy Management Systems (EMS), and automation platforms
• Develop and implement control strategies across diesel, gas, solar, and BESS technologies
• Drive standardisation and consistency of control architectures across Australian projects

Project Development & Delivery

• Provide controls engineering input into feasibility studies and project development
• Support technical design and optimisation of new IPP opportunities
• Oversee commissioning, testing, and validation of control systems during project delivery

Asset Performance & Optimisation

• Optimise performance of operational hybrid energy assets
• Improve system efficiency, reliability, availability, and fuel performance
• Support remote monitoring, diagnostics, and predictive maintenance initiatives
• Contribute to emissions reduction and sustainability objectives across the portfolio

Technical Governance & Stakeholder Engagement

• Establish and maintain engineering standards for controls and automation systems
• Collaborate with internal engineering, operations, project delivery, and commercial teams
• Interface with OEMs, EPC contractors, and technology partners
• Ensure compliance with relevant Australian safety, environmental, and quality standards

About You

You are an experienced controls or automation engineering professional with a background in complex energy or industrial environments within Australia.

You will bring:

• Strong experience in controls engineering (SCADA, PLCs, EMS, or equivalent systems)
• Exposure to hybrid power systems including generation, renewables, and BESS integration
• Background in mining, utilities, infrastructure, or IPP/energy project environments
• Experience operating across both project delivery and live asset optimisation
• Strong technical leadership capability and stakeholder management skills
• Understanding of Australia’s energy transition and grid integration challenges

Why This Role

• Work on large-scale hybrid and remote energy assets across Australia
• Influence both the design and operational performance of critical energy infrastructure
• Join a growing IPP platform with long-term ownership of assets
• Exposure to cutting-edge hybrid and renewable integration projects
• High-impact engineering leadership role with end-to-end asset lifecycle involvement