Electrical Controls Engineer

Beyond New Horizons; Mountain View (CA); On-site; USD 134,000 - 209,000; Full time

Job summary

Beyond New Horizons in Mountain View is seeking an Electrical Controls Engineer to join their team at NASA Ames Research Center. The role involves providing technical guidance in designing, operating, and maintaining complex facility power and control systems. Ideal candidates should possess a Bachelor’s degree in Electrical or Controls Engineering and at least two years of relevant experience.

The position offers a full-time role with a salary range of $134,000 to $209,000 depending on grade level.

Qualifications

• Minimum of 2 years of progressive and relevant experience in engineering or a related technical field.
• U.S. Citizenship is required.

Responsibilities

• Provide technical guidance for power systems operation, troubleshooting, and maintenance.
• Support development and maintenance of automated control systems.
• Project-manage modernization or sustainment projects.

Skills

Troubleshooting

Verbal and written communication

Knowledge of electromechanical systems

Experience with PLC and SCADA software

Education

Bachelor of Science degree in Electrical or Controls Engineering from an ABET-accredited program

Tools

Computer-Aided Engineering (CAE) tools

Computer-Aided Design (CAD) tools

Job description

Job Title: Electrical Controls Engineer

Location: NASA Ames Research Center, Moffett Field, CA (NFAC)

Job Family Code: O - Engineering

Function/Branch: Engineering/NFAC

Directorate: Test Operations

Position Type: Regular Full-Time

Pay Type: Exempt

Grade: H08 (OC0803) – H09 (OC0930)

Salary Range: H08 – $134,000 – $178,000; H09 – $157,000 – $209,000 per year

Overview

Beyond New Horizons, LLC (BNH) has an exciting opportunity for an Electrical Controls Engineer at the National Full-Scale Aerodynamics Complex (NFAC), home of the world’s largest wind tunnels, located at NASA Ames Research Center, Moffett Field, CA. The successful candidate joins an integrated team supporting Test Operations and Sustainment (TOS II) for the United States Air Force’s Arnold Engineering Development Complex (AEDC).

Open to internal and external candidates. The selected candidate must be available to work any shift; shift determination will be based on the priority of work at the time of reporting to work.

Job Summary

The successful candidate will join the NFAC electrical and controls engineering team, providing technical guidance in designing, operating, and maintaining existing complex facility power and control systems. The complex systems drive the fans that supply airflow through the wind tunnels and control test-model support systems. You will support planning and execution of extensive capital projects to sustain, upgrade, or modernize all critical facility and fan drive electrical and control systems.

The NFAC team performs large‑scale, subsonic wind tunnel testing, furthering research and development of diverse technologies. NFAC tests rotorcraft such as helicopters, tilt‑rotors, and eVTOLs; Mars and other space parachute systems; drag improvements on large semi‑tractor‑trailer trucks; wind turbines for power generation; and many other applications for the military and commercial sectors.

Responsibilities

• Provide technical guidance to operate, troubleshoot, repair, maintain, and upgrade existing facility power systems (drives, motors, generators, transformers, power distribution switchgears, variable frequency drives, etc.)
• Support development, design, troubleshooting, and maintenance of automated control systems
• Collaborate with customers and the test team to establish design requirements and implement facility modifications as required to meet test objectives
• Project‑manage facility electrical and control system modernization or sustainment projects, including development, planning, budgeting, scheduling, execution, and close-out
• Develop, implement, and execute common work processes, instructions, guidelines, procedures, Statements of Work, design drawing packages, and checklists as required
• Ensure preventive maintenance programs for optimizing reliability of facility electrical and control systems are technically adequate
• Collaborate with and guide Electricians, Instrumentation technicians, and other craft in design, operation, and maintenance of facility projects and systems
• Prepare and/or review engineering studies and reports
• Wear company‑issued PPE (Personal Protective Equipment) in accordance with supervisory direction and company policy
• Perform other related duties as required

Basic Qualifications

• Bachelor of Science degree in Electrical or Controls Engineering, or a relevant technical field from an ABET‑accredited program
• Grade 07 (H07): Minimum of 2 years of progressive and relevant experience in engineering or a related technical field. Additional technical education can be substituted for experience.
• Current United States citizenship required

Preferred Qualifications

• Excellent verbal and written communication skills
• Excellent troubleshooting skills
• Knowledge of electromechanical systems, engineering calculations, and applications of engineering methods and materials
• Basic knowledge of major industry or regulatory standards and design criteria pertinent to electrical and controls engineering
• Education and/or work experience in low, medium, or high‑voltage power distribution
• Education and/or work experience with motor‑generator sets
• Education or work experience with computer‑aided engineering (CAE)/computer‑aided design (CAD) tools
• Experience in systems startup, field engineering, or plant operations/maintenance in large industrial plants, utilities, process plants, or other engineering/construction firms
• Basic experience with PLC and SCADA software and tools

Eligibility

U.S. Citizenship is required. BNH will not sponsor any applicants for employment authorization or offer any immigration‑related support for this position (e.g., H1B, F1 OPT, STEM OPT, J‑1, E‑2, E‑3, L‑1).

Salary

Minimum and maximum full‑time annual salaries for this role are listed below, by location.

• H06: $97,000 – $128,300
• H07: $108,000 – $144,000 annually at NFAC, NASA Ames Research Center, Moffett Field, CA

Equal Employment Opportunity

BNH is an Equal Employment Opportunity Employer. We provide equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants for employment and prohibit discrimination and harassment of any type without regard to race, color, religion, age, sex, veteran status, or any other grounds for discrimination prohibited by applicable law. This policy applies to all terms and conditions of employment, including recruiting, hiring, placement, promotion, termination, layoff, recall, transfer, leaves of absence, compensation, and training.