Controls Engineer

Planet Green Holdings; San Francisco (CA); On-site; USD 90,000 - 130,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Competitive compensation

Benefits package

Growth opportunities

Job summary

Planet Green Holdings in San Francisco seeks a Controls Engineer to design and support integrated lighting control solutions for our high-performance luminaires and power platforms. The role connects PM&I with Product and Engineering, combining technical controls integration, submittals, and field support.

The successful candidate will have practical lighting controls expertise, strong electrical know-how, and a customer-focused approach.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Electrical Engineering, Lighting Technology, Architectural Engineering, or related field.
• 3+ years of hands-on commercial lighting controls experience in design, specification, or commissioning.
• Solid understanding of electrical drawings, wiring, control panels, power distribution, and emergency/normal power.
• Knowledge of 0-10V, occupancy/daylight controls, energy codes, DALI/DALI-2, BACnet, and networking.
• Ability to interpret construction docs and create accurate diagrams, specs, and submittals.

Responsibilities

• Design lighting controls strategies for RDU/DLVP, Class 2, integral-driver, and PoE apps.
• Review plans; produce control intent docs, wiring diagrams, BOMs, submittals, and shop drawings.
• Specify sensors, wall stations, controllers, gateways, and interfaces across wired/wireless systems.
• Support code-compliant solutions per Title 24, ASHRAE 90.1, IECC, UL 924, and safety standards.
• Collaborate with PM&I, Product, Engineering, Operations, Sales to resolve integration questions.
• Support remote and on-site commissioning, programming, troubleshooting, and training.
• Develop standard controls packages, guidance, templates, and training materials.

Skills

Lighting controls design

AutoCAD/Revit

Project coordination

Dimming controls

Education

Bachelor's degree in Electrical Engineering or related

Tools

AutoCAD

Revit

Bluebeam

Job description

Controls Engineer

San Francisco Bay Area | Approximately 33% travel

About the Company

We are a San Francisco-based innovator in sustainable, high-performance LED lighting solutions for data centers, commercial interiors, education, healthcare, and other demanding environments. We design ultra-efficient luminaires, Remote Driver Units (RDUs), and Distributed Low-Voltage Power (DLVP) systems that simplify installation and maintenance, improve energy performance, and support long-term reliability. Our team partners with engineers, contractors, and facility operators to solve complex lighting challenges in mission-critical spaces.

Position Overview

The Controls Engineer designs, specifies, documents, and supports integrated lighting control solutions for company fixtures and power platforms. This highly collaborative position connects the PM&I (Project Management & Integration) function with Product and Engineering, and combines technical product integration, controls submittals, and field support. The successful candidate brings practical lighting controls expertise, strong electrical systems knowledge, and a proactive, customer-focused approach.

Role Focus

• Approximately one-third product integration and cross-functional coordination with Product and Engineering.
• Approximately one-third controls submittals, drawings, specifications, and related documentation.
• Approximately one-third travel and field-facing project support as the controls group grows; travel is estimated at 33% of the role.

Key Responsibilities

• Design lighting controls strategies, including sensor placement, zoning, dimming, sequences of operation, and emergency overrides, for RDU/DLVP, Class 2, integral-driver, and PoE applications.
• Review electrical, architectural, and lighting plans; produce control intent documents, wiring/riser and one-line diagrams, bill-of-materials recommendations, submittals, and shop drawing reviews.
• Specify and assess compatibility of sensors, wall stations, controllers, gateways, and emergency interfaces across 0-10V, DALI/DALI-2, DMX, BACnet, and applicable networked or wireless systems.
• Support code-compliant solutions aligned with Title 24, ASHRAE 90.1, IECC, UL 924, and relevant electrical and safety standards.
• Partner with PM&I, Product, Engineering, Operations, Sales, specifying engineers, and contractors to resolve integration questions, support projects, and improve product capabilities.
• Support remote and on-site commissioning, programming, troubleshooting, and training; investigate dimming, communications, sensor, and emergency-lighting issues.
• Develop standard controls packages, technical guidance, sequence-of-operation templates, and training materials; capture field learnings to improve products and processes.

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Electrical Engineering, Lighting Technology, Architectural Engineering, or related discipline, or equivalent relevant experience.
• At least 3 years of hands-on commercial lighting controls experience in design, specification, programming, integration, or commissioning.
• Strong understanding of electrical drawings, wiring, control panels, power distribution, zoning, and emergency/normal power configurations.
• Practical knowledge of 0-10V dimming, occupancy and daylight controls, energy codes, and lighting control sequences; familiarity with DALI/DALI-2, BACnet, and networking concepts.
• Ability to interpret construction documents and create or review accurate technical diagrams, specifications, and submittals.
• Proficiency with AutoCAD and/or Revit; comfort with Bluebeam, Microsoft Office, and controls software tools.
• Strong troubleshooting, organization, communication, and project-prioritization skills; willingness to travel approximately 33%.

Preferred Experience

• Data center, mission-critical, or high-ambient-temperature applications.
• Remote drivers, distributed low-voltage power, Class 2, or PoE lighting systems.
• Controls platforms such as Lutron, Acuity nLight, Crestron, or Cooper Greengate; wireless or networked lighting controls.
• UL 924 emergency-lighting integration, building automation interfaces, and commissioning.
• Experience with lighting manufacturers, applications engineering, product development, or technical sales support; NCQLP or comparable credentials.

How We Work

We value curiosity, accountability, attention to detail, low-ego teamwork, and a willingness to pitch in wherever needed. The right person is comfortable with ambiguity, learns quickly, communicates clearly, and enjoys building practical, energy-efficient solutions alongside colleagues and customers.

What We Offer

An opportunity to shape a growing controls function, influence product integration, and contribute to energy-efficient lighting in critical facilities. Competitive compensation and benefits in a collaborative, engineering-driven environment.