Controls System Architect - Plant Controls

GE Vernova; City of Schenectady (NY); On-site; USD 113,000 - 189,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical, dental, vision coverage

401(k) with company match

Tuition assistance

Paid holidays

Parental leave

Employee assistance program

Job summary

GE Vernova is seeking a System Architect to provide technical oversight of Plant Controls development for customer projects. This role spans design, development, and process improvements, guiding software teams and leading design reviews to ensure requirements and quality standards are met.

The candidate will coordinate across Steam Turbine, BOP, and HRSG subsystems, applying lean principles to drive productivity and quality while overseeing project execution from ITO through OTR and

Qualifications

• Bachelor of Science in Engineering in Electrical, Chemical, Mechanical, or related field.
• 8+ years' experience with controls development in Mark VIe.
• Experience across at least two Plant Controls subsystems (ST, BOP, HRSG).

Responsibilities

• Guide design, development, execution, and validation of Plant Controls software to requirements.
• Develop and maintain documentation and work instructions for controls processes.
• Lead milestone design reviews and ensure cross-system integration quality.
• Mentor Plant Controls engineers across ST, BOP, and HRSG domains.
• Support commissioning and FAT/SAT activities and field issue resolution.
• Collaborate with management to deliver on-time, high-quality plant controls solutions.

Skills

Leadership

Mentoring

Design reviews

Lean principles

Education

Bachelor of Science in Engineering

Tools

Mark VIe

Job description

Job Description Summary

The System Architect is responsible for the technical oversight of Plant Controls development for customer projects. This is a key technical role that spans development and improvement of Control software work processes, guiding and mentoring software development teams, and leading design reviews to ensure customer requirements and quality standards are met. The successful candidate will oversee project execution from ITO through OTR and commissioning, applying lean principles to solve problems, drive productivity, and improve quality. The Plant Controls System Architect coordinates technical deliverables across multiple plant subsystems — including Steam Turbine, Balance of Plant (BOP), and Heat Recovery Steam Generator (HRSG) — within combined cycle and simple cycle power plant configurations.

Roles and Responsibilities

• Guide teams in the design, development, execution, and validation of Plant Controls software — encompassing Steam Turbine, BOP, and HRSG controls — to project and product requirements.
• Develop and maintain documentation and work instructions for Plant Controls software requisition processes, ensuring alignment across all plant subsystem disciplines.
• Conduct milestone design reviews to ensure controls features and quality meet the established acceptance criteria, with specific attention to cross-system integration points (e.g., ST/GT/BOP interface logic, unit master coordination, and load dispatch).
• Provide technical guidance and mentoring to Plant Controls software engineers working across steam turbine, BOP, and HRSG domains.
• Support field personnel with resolution of commissioning Engineering Report (ER) cases related to plant-wide controls issues, startup sequencing, and interlock verification.
• Maintain relationships within the Gas Power and Power Conversion Engineering communities to communicate requirements and drive project solutions for Plant Controls.
• Define and deliver productivity and process improvements that increase the capacity and efficiency of the Plant Controls team.
• Work with internal engineering teams, internal customers, and external customers to gather requirements and deliver a quality product on time to meet Power Plant startups and commissioning milestones.
• Coordinate with Steam Turbine, BOP, and HRSG engineering leads to define interface control documents (ICDs), signal lists, and functional design specifications for integrated plant solutions.
• Provide oversight of plant-level protection logic, unit sequencing, auxiliary system controls, and emissions-related control strategies.
• Support development and review of Factory Acceptance Tests (FAT) and Site Acceptance Tests (SAT) for Plant Controls deliverables.
• Collaborate with project management and the broader ITO/OTR team to manage scope, schedule, and quality of Plant Controls software deliverables.

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor of Science in Engineering — Electrical, Chemical, Mechanical, or a related engineering discipline.
• Minimum 8 years of experience with controls development in the Mark VIe platform.
• Demonstrated experience with Plant Controls across at least two of the following subsystems: Steam Turbine Controls, Balance of Plant (BOP) Controls, or HRSG Controls.

Desired Characteristics

• Technical skills and expertise in Plant Controls / Combined Cycle Controls, including steam turbine startup/shutdown sequences, BOP auxiliary system logic, and HRSG control strategies.
• Familiarity with plant-level control strategies including unit master load control, frequency response, emissions compliance (NOx, CO), and grid code requirements.
• Demonstrated leadership skills guiding teams through software development in a multi-discipline plant controls environment.
• Experience working in a global matrixed environment, with strong influence and cross-functional collaboration skills across mechanical, electrical, and controls disciplines.
• Excellent communication skills with the ability to deliver concise messaging and lead customer-facing meetings, including FAT/SAT reviews and commissioning readiness discussions.
• System Integration mindset to understand plant-wide customer requirements and deliver innovative, integrated control solutions across GT, ST, BOP, and HRSG subsystems.
• Ability to drive improvement initiatives and incorporate lessons learned for future projects across the Plant Controls product portfolio.
• Knowledge of power plant thermodynamic principles and the ability to translate plant process behavior into effective control design solutions.
• Experience supporting commissioning of combined cycle or cogeneration power plants, including resolution of real-time control issues in the field.
• Familiarity with industry standards applicable to Plant Controls, such as NFPA 85 (Boiler and Combustion Systems Hazards Code), NERC reliability standards, and applicable IEC/IEEE control system standards.

Additional Information

GE Vernova offers a great work environment, professional development, challenging careers, and competitive compensation. GE Vernova is an Equal Opportunity Employer. Employment decisions are made without regard to race, color, religion, national or ethnic origin, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, age, disability, protected veteran status or other characteristics protected by law.

GE Vernova will only employ those who are legally authorized to work in the United States for this opening. Any offer of employment is conditioned upon the successful completion of a drug screen (as applicable).

Relocation Assistance Provided: No

For candidates applying to a U.S. based position, the pay range for this position is between $113,200.00 and $188,800.00. The Company pays a geographic differential of 110%, 120% or 130% of salary in certain areas. The specific pay offered may be influenced by a variety of factors, including the candidate’s experience, education, and skill set.

Bonus eligibility: discretionary annual bonus.

This posting is expected to remain open for at least seven days after it was posted on October 06, 2026.

• Medical, dental, vision, and prescription drug coverage.
• Health Coach from GE Vernova, a 24/7 nurse-based resource.
• Employee Assistance Program, providing 24/7 confidential assessment, counseling and referral services.
• Retirement benefits include the GE Vernova Retirement Savings Plan, a tax-advantaged 401(k) savings opportunity with company matching contributions and company retirement contributions, as well as access to Fidelity resources and financial planning consultants.
• Other benefits include tuition assistance, adoption assistance, paid parental leave, disability benefits, life insurance, 12 paid holidays, and permissive time off.

GE Vernova Inc. or its affiliates (collectively or individually, “GE Vernova”) sponsor certain employee benefit plans or programs GE Vernova reserves the right to terminate, amend, suspend, replace, or modify its benefit plans and programs at any time and for any reason, in its sole discretion. No individual has a vested right to any benefit under a GE Vernova welfare benefit plan or program. This document does not create a contract of employment with any individual.