Controls Engineer, Switchboards

Gigaenergy; Long Beach (CA); On-site; USD 90,000 - 130,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Subsidized health, dental, and vision

Equity (options)

401(k) with employer match

Unlimited PTO

Parental leave

FSA or HSA

Commuter benefits

Monthly team onsites

Job summary

Giga Energy is seeking a Controls Engineer to own design, development, and commissioning of control systems for mission-critical data-center infrastructure. You will handle panel design, schematics, and breaker/meter programming to ensure reliable operations.

This role emphasizes hands-on problem solving and in-room collaboration with cross-functional teams. Based in Long Beach, CA or Houston, TX, you will work on-site with a team of engineers to deliver fast, robust electrical solutions.

Qualifications

• 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.

Responsibilities

• Pre-PO & Sales Support: provide technical expertise to sales teams during bidding and pre-purchase order phase.
• Customer Submittals: compile and deliver electrical submittal packages including SLDs, breaker schedules, wiring schematics, BOMs, FAT protocols.
• Engineering & Detailed Design: collaborate with mechanical engineering on switchboard enclosure design and complete power panel electrical design.
• Procurement Support: source electrical components and specify critical components like PMs, SPDs, CTs.
• Operations & Production Support: guide assembly teams during power panel assembly and standardize labeling protocols.
• Quality Assurance & Test Training: train and audit testing procedures including hi-pot and functional verification.

Skills

Electrical design

Schematic design

AUTOCAD

Cross-functional collaboration

Mentoring

Tools

Power distribution systems

Job description

About Giga

Giga is building gigawatts of AI data centers to hasten a future of intelligence and abundance. We build data centers fast and at scale by combining the capabilities of an equipment supplier, engineering firm, general contractor, and real estate developer under one roof. Our team moves quickly and thinks practically. If you’re ready to make an impact in an industry that matters, we’re looking for people like you.

Why join Giga

• The Pace: We’re building at a speed most companies talk about but never actually operate at. If you’ve been bored somewhere else, you won’t be here.
• The Impact: Every person at Giga touches the work that matters. No layers, no waiting for approval chains. You’ll see your fingerprints on what we ship.
• The Team: A team of operators defining the future of AI infrastructure. We recruit A-players from the most innovative companies in the world, and they choose Giga because the work here means more.
• The Moment: AI doesn’t run without power, and that’s us. Giga is the picks and shovels behind the AI revolution. This industry is about to explode, and you’ll be in the room where it’s already happening.

What you’ll do

As a Controls Engineer 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

Who we hire

We hire people who thrive in chaos and get sharper under pressure. You don’t wait to be told what to do, you spot the gap and fill it. When there’s work to be done, you do it. You make decisions with the information you have, move fast, and adjust along the way. We’re not looking for perfect; we’re looking for people who get things done.

Equal Opportunity Employer Statement

Giga Energy is an equal opportunity employer and is committed to fostering an inclusive and diverse workplace. We do not discriminate based on race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, age, disability, veteran status, or any other protected characteristic as outlined by federal, state, or local laws.Giga Energy complies with all applicable labor laws, including the California Fair Employment and Housing Act (FEHA) and other relevant state and federal regulations. We provide reasonable accommodations for qualified individuals with disabilities and encourage applicants who require accommodations during the hiring process to contact us.