Instrumentation & Controls Engineer

Stanford Climate Ventures; Oakland (CA); On-site; USD 140,000 - 190,000; Full time

Job summary

Fervo Energy is seeking an Instrumentation & Controls Engineer to lead design and optimization of I&C systems for 50 MW geothermal blocks. You will develop control philosophies, I/O lists, and cause-and-effect matrices, while mentoring junior engineers and driving standardization across projects.

You will program PLCs in Rockwell Studio 5000, build Ignition Perspective SCADA solutions, and produce complete I&C drawings and valve/instrument sizing.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Electrical or Chemical Engineering from an ABET-accredited program.
• 7 years of Instrumentation & Control Engineering experience or related role.
• Strong knowledge of NEC, ISA, and other applicable industry codes and standards.

Responsibilities

• Design control system architectures for standardized 50 MW geothermal blocks.
• Develop and maintain Ignition SCADA applications using Perspective.
• Program Allen-Bradley PLCs (ControlLogix, CompactLogix) in Studio 5000.
• Produce a complete I&C drawing package including control schematics and wiring diagrams.
• Review P&ID and instrument datasheets; size and select instrumentation.
• Design and specify control panels and coordinate with fabricators.
• Configure and troubleshoot industrial networks (Modbus, EtherNet/IP, Profinet, OPC-UA).
• Support greenfield construction, SATs, loop checks and contractor coordination.
• Collaborate with process, mechanical, and electrical disciplines for integrated I&C design.
• Coordinate with IT/OT and cybersecurity teams for secure remote access.
• Troubleshoot process control and field issues during startup and operation.

Skills

IC Engineering

Mentoring

Technical writing

NEC/ISA knowledge

Field experience

Education

ABET-accredited Bachelor's in Electrical or Chemical Eng

Tools

Ignition Perspective

Rockwell Studio 5000

SCADA/PLC programming

Job description

As an Instrumentation & Controls Engineer, you will be a technical leader in the design and optimization of instrumentation & controls systems for Fervo’s innovative power plants. You will apply advanced engineering judgment and first-principles analysis to develop high-performance, cost-effective plant designs, while mentoring junior engineers and influencing cross-disciplinary decision-making. As Fervo transitions from first-of-a-kind projects to scaling deployment of its plants, you will play a key role in driving standardization and efficiency improvements across projects.

Description

Requirements

Responsibilities

• Design control system architectures for standardized 50 MW geothermal power blocks, including development of control philosophies, cause and effect matrices, control narratives, and I/O lists
• Develop and maintain Ignition SCADA applications using Perspective, including server architectures, HMI screen development, tag configuration, alarming, historian integration, and report generation for geothermal facility operations
• Program Allen-Bradley PLCs (ControlLogix, CompactLogix) in Rockwell Studio 5000 using standard code blocks developed by Fervo’s controls architecture team; contribute to the maintenance and evolution of that shared library as experience grows
• Produce a complete I&C drawing package including control system architecture drawings, panel designs, instrument loop diagrams, wiring diagrams, and low-voltage wiring schematics
• Review Piping and Instrumentation Diagrams (P&IDs) and instrument datasheets; size and select instrumentation including control valves, flow meters, pressure transmitters, and safety valves
• Design and specify control panels including enclosure layout, component selection, and low-voltage wiring; coordinate with panel fabricators through construction and factory acceptance testing
• Configure and troubleshoot industrial communication networks including Modbus TCP/IP, EtherNet/IP, Profinet, and OPC-UA; support fiber optic infrastructure design and installation coordination between field devices, PLCs, and SCADA
• Support greenfield construction and commissioning activities at Fervo sites, including site visits, SAT support, loop checks, and coordination with instrumentation and electrical contractors
• Collaborate with process, mechanical, and electrical engineering disciplines to ensure I&C design is fully integrated across the standardized 50 MW Geoblock product; support HAZOP and PHA evaluations
• Coordinate with IT/OT and cybersecurity teams to ensure control system designs meet network segmentation and secure remote access requirements
• Troubleshoot process control, control network, and instrumentation problems in the field; support operations teams in identifying and resolving issues during startup and steady-state operation

Qualifications

• Bachelor's Degree in Electrical Engineering. Chemical Engineering, or related degree from an ABET accredited program
• 7 years of experience in Instrumentation & Control Engineering experience or related role
• Strong working knowledge of industry standards and regulations.
• Ability to lead and mentor junior staff.
• Advanced oral and written communication skills, and a proven ability to write clear, thorough technical reports
• Knowledge and application of National Electrical Code (NEC), International Society of Automation (ISA) and other applicable industry codes and standards as they apply to control system specification and design
• Understanding of various process equipment such as vessels, tanks, heat exchangers & coolers, heaters, rotating equipment (pumps and compressors), packaged equipment, valves & specialty items
• General understanding of all phases of project document production and the relationship between drawings and specifications.
• Field experience preferred
• Experience with process flow/P&ID development, control narratives, Cause & Effect charts, SIS design, instrumentation studies, valve and instrument sizing, and automation/control system architecture.
• Ability to assist Process/Mechanical Engineers, support field evaluations and HAZOP/PHA reviews, and contribute to procurement (specifications, bid documents, instrument/PLC I/O lists).

Location

Fervo Energy has offices in Houston, TX, Golden, CO, Reno, NV, Oakland, CA, and Salt Lake City, UT. This position will be eligible for some hybrid work flexibility, but regular in-office presence at any of the above locations will be required.