Controls Engineer, Transformers

Giga Energy; United States; Remote; USD 90,000 - 120,000; Full time

Job summary

Giga Energy is seeking a Controls Engineer to design and support the control, monitoring, and protection systems used in the company’s liquid-filled transformers. You will ensure that transformer accessories and control schemes operate reliably and integrate with manufacturing and testing.

The role bridges electrical design, factory execution, and field performance, with onsite work in major hubs and rare exceptions for top candidates living outside them.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Electrical, Controls, or Instrumentation Engineering.
• 4+ years of experience in controls or electrical system design.
• Experience developing electrical schematics and wiring diagrams.
• Familiarity with transformer accessories and instrumentation.
• Ability to work across disciplines and international teams.

Responsibilities

• Design and support transformer control and monitoring systems, including OTIs, WTI, cooling control logic, and alarms/trips.
• Design and support transformer control and protection systems, including tap changers, loadbreak switches, and fuse coordination.
• Define and review routing of control wiring, shafts, and conduits for compliance, accessibility, and serviceability.
• Develop and review control schematics, wiring diagrams, and I/O lists.
• Support factory testing, troubleshooting, and validation.
• Ensure designs comply with customer specs and standards.
• Coordinate with mechanical and electrical teams to resolve interfaces.
• Support field issues, root-cause analysis, and corrective actions.
• Document control logic, wiring standards, and test procedures.

Skills

Electrical engineering

Controls design

Instrumentation

Cross-functional collaboration

International teamwork

Education

Bachelor's degree in Electrical, Controls, or Instrumentation Engineering

Tools

PLC programming

Relay logic

Industrial automation

Job description

What you’ll do

We’re hiring a Controls Engineer to design and support the control, monitoring, and protection systems used in Giga’s liquid-filled transformers. You’ll ensure that transformer accessories and control schemes operate reliably, meet customer requirements, and integrate cleanly with manufacturing and testing. This role bridges electrical design, factory execution, and field performance.

Where you'll work

This role is ideally based in our San Francisco, Long Beach, or Houston offices, with full-time onsite expectations outside of bi-weekly WFH Fridays.

That said, we will make exceptions for truly exceptional talent if you live outside one of our hubs. If you're the right person for this role, we'll have a conversation about what works.

Responsibilities

• Design and support transformer control and monitoring systems, including:

  • Oil and winding temperature indicators (OTI / WTI)

  • Cooling control logic (fans, pumps)

  • Alarm and trip circuits

  • Monitoring and SCADA interfaces (as applicable)

• Design and support transformer control and protection systems, including:

  • Off-circuit tap changers (position indication, interlocks, control wiring)

  • Loadbreak switches and associated operating mechanisms

  • Primary and secondary fusing, including coordination with transformer impedance and system requirements

• Define and review routing of control wiring, operating shafts, linkages, and conduits, ensuring:

  • Compliance with electrical clearances and insulation requirements

  • Mechanical protection, accessibility, and serviceability

  • Alignment with tank, cover, and accessory layouts

• Develop and review control schematics, wiring diagrams, and I/O lists

• Support factory testing, troubleshooting, and validation

• Ensure designs comply with customer specifications and applicable standards

• Coordinate with mechanical and electrical teams to resolve interface issues

• Support field issues, root-cause analysis, and corrective actions

• Document control logic, wiring standards, and test procedures

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree in Electrical, Controls, or Instrumentation Engineering

• 4+ years of experience in controls or electrical system design

• Experience developing electrical schematics and wiring diagrams

• Familiarity with transformer accessories and instrumentation

• Ability to work across disciplines and international teams

• Bonus Points:

• Experience with power transformers or high-voltage equipment

• PLC, relay logic, or industrial automation experience

• Familiarity with utility or industrial customer requirements