Controls Engineer, Switchboards

Giga Energy Inc.; Houston (TX); On-site; USD 90,000 - 130,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health insurance

401(k) with match

Unlimited PTO

Parental leave

Commuter benefits

Job summary

Giga Energy Inc. is seeking a Controls Engineer, Switchboards to own the design, development, and commissioning of control systems for mission-critical infrastructure. You will handle panel design, control schematics, breaker and meter programming, and ensure systems stay reliable and safe.

Based in our Houston, TX office, you will work closely with mechanical, sales, and production teams to deliver complete power panel solutions, drive submittals, FAT protocols, and on-site support as needed.

Qualifications

• Background in electrical engineering with hands-on switchboard/power distribution experience.
• Proficient in electrical design software (AUTOCAD) and schematic development.
• Excellent communication to work cross-functionally with sales, production, quality, and customers.
• Ability to mentor and train technical teams.

Responsibilities

• Pre-PO & Sales support: provide technical expertise during bidding and pre-purchase order phases.
• Customer submittals: prepare SLDs, breaker schedules, wiring schematics, BOMs, FAT protocols.
• Engineering & Detailed Design: collaborate on switchboard enclosure design and power panel documentation.
• Procurement & Production: source components with procurement and prepare manufacturing packages.
• Operations: guide assembly teams during panel wiring, labeling, and testing.

Skills

Electrical design

Switchboard experience

AUTOCAD

Schematic development

Cross-functional collaboration

Tools

AUTOCAD

Job description

What you’ll do

As a Controls Engineer, Switchboards 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

Benefits

• Subsidized health, dental, and vision insurance

• Equity (options) in a rapidly growing startup

• 401(k) with 4% employer match

• Unlimited PTO

• Parental leave

• Healthcare and Dependent Care Flexible Spending Accounts (FSA) or Health Savings Account (HSA)

• Commuter benefits

• Monthly team onsites where all offices come in-person to collaborate