Controls Engineer

Scale; Ridgewood (NJ); Hybrid; USD 90,000 - 150,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical benefits

Paid vacation

401K matching

Job summary

Scale is seeking a Controls Engineer to join the product engineering team and help design, build, and commission microgrids. The role reports to the CTO and offers a hybrid schedule from offices in California, New Jersey, or New York City.

The ideal candidate brings PLC programming expertise, experience with distributed energy resources, and a strong background in control systems. A bachelor's in EE with 4+ years of experience is preferred.

Qualifications

• 5+ years of control loop design and switching power supply experience is a plus.
• Strong problem-solving skills for ladder logic debugging in complex systems.
• Bachelor’s degree in Electrical Engineering or equivalent experience required.

Responsibilities

• Design, develop, and program PLC-based electrical control systems.
• Specify, purchase, and troubleshoot control system hardware and instrumentation.
• Read and develop control system design documents (Functional Specs, User Manuals, reports).
• Troubleshoot and minimize downtime of electrical control systems.
• Design and manage site-level microgrid networks and security.
• Perform risk assessments and implement safety measures for controls.
• Collaborate with internal teams, clients, and vendors to resolve issues.
• Support cybersecurity for secure, reliable controls.
• Learn and refine microgrid controls for each project.

Skills

PLC programming

Controls engineering

Automation systems

Control loop design

Troubleshooting

Electrical interfaces

Detail-oriented

Education

Bachelor’s degree in Electrical Engineering

4+ years of experience or equivalent

Tools

SCADA

Job description

The Role

We are looking for a Controls Engineer to join our product engineering team and help design, build, and commission microgrids. You will report to our Chief Technology Officer and work a hybrid work schedule from one of our offices in either Oakland, CA, Santa Monica, CA, Ridgewood, NJ, or NYC.

Key Responsibilities

• Design, develop, and program PLC-based electrical control systems
• Specify, purchase, and troubleshoot control system hardware and instrumentation (field-mounted and panel-mounted instruments)
• Read, understand, and develop control system design documents (Functional Specifications, User’s Manual, and engineering reports)
• Troubleshoot and resolve any issues related to electrical control systems to minimize downtime and improve operational efficiency
• Design and manage site-level microgrid networks and security
• Perform risk assessments and implement safety measures to ensure the safe operation of control systems
• Collaborate with internal teams, clients, and external vendors as needed to resolve system issues
• Support cybersecurity efforts to ensure secure reliant and redundant controls
• Learn our microgrid controls and perfect them for each project

The Ideal Candidate

• Strong working experience with PLC programming, controls engineering, and various automation systems
• Experience with distributed energy resources, including batteries, solar, generators, and switchgear
• 5+ years of control loop design and switching power supply experience a plus
• Strong problem-solving skills and the ability to troubleshoot ladder logic of complex control systems
• Solid mechanical, electrical, and software interface skills
• Great attention to detail and the ability to manage multiple tasks simultaneously
• Continuous learner, staying updated with the latest advancements in control systems technology
• Bachelor’s degree in Electrical Engineering and 4+ years of experience OR an equivalent combination of skills, education, and experience

Benefits

• We offer a competitive compensation package and a comprehensive benefits program including medical benefits, paid vacation and holidays, and 401K matching.

Core Virtues

• Do the Right Thing
• Act Like an Owner
• Hustle
• Demand Results
• Go Together
• Evolve or Disappear

About Scale Microgrids

Scale is redefining resilience, with advanced microgrids that go beyond traditional backup power solutions to give businesses the power to adapt and thrive amid all of today’s growing energy challenges. As a vertically-integrated provider of turnkey advanced microgrid systems, Scale combines project design, engineering, and execution expertise with microgrid-as-a-service financing to offer our customers systems that are optimized to deliver maximum value from day one while ensuring ultra-reliable operations and fast time-to-power. Scale is backed by EQT, a firm with :$250B in assets, bringing a depth of experience, resources, and capital that will enable Scale to continue pursuing our vision of powering the world with distributed energy. The investment enables Scale to own and operate billions of dollars in distributed generation assets. To learn more about Scale Microgrids, please visit https://www.scalemicrogrids.com.

About EQT

EQT is a leading purpose-driven global investment organization with EUR 246 billion in total assets under management, divided into two business segments: Private Capital and Real Assets. EQT owns portfolio companies and assets in Europe, Asia Pacific, and the Americas and supports them in achieving sustainable growth, operational excellence, and market leadership. To learn more about EQT, please visit https://eqtgroup.com.

Scale strives to attract and retain a workforce that reflects the composition of our customer base and communities. We are committed to providing a work environment that provides everyone with equal access and opportunity to contribute and drive meaningful outcomes. We encourage applicants from all backgrounds to apply and will consider qualified applicants without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, or national origin.

We may use artificial intelligence (AI) tools to support parts of the hiring process, such as reviewing applications, analyzing resumes, or assessing responses and identifying potential inconsistencies or verification signals in application materials based on available information. These tools assist our recruitment team but do not replace human judgment. Final hiring decisions are ultimately made by humans. If you would like more information about how your data is processed, please contact us.