Instrumentation & Controls (I&C) Engineer – Data Center Power Generation

Brunel; Ohio; Hybrid; USD 120,000 - 180,000; Full time

Job summary

SB Energy, a fast-growing energy and infrastructure company, seeks an Instrumentation & Controls Engineer for Data Center Power Generation. You will serve as the owner-side I&C SME, providing oversight from engineering through turnover on simple-cycle and combined-cycle gas projects across the U.S.

Location is Hybrid/Remote with travel to project sites in Pike County, Ohio about 25%. You will collaborate with OEMs, EPCs, utilities, and data center teams to ensure safe, reliable plant control

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Electrical Engineering, Instrumentation & Controls Engineering, Automation Engineering or related field.
• 7–10+ years of professional I&C experience, including power generation.
• Direct experience with simple-cycle and/or combined-cycle projects.
• Strong understanding of plant instrumentation, process controls, DCS/PLC systems, turbine controls.

Responsibilities

• Serve as owner’s I&C SME for gas generation projects from design through turnover.
• Review I&C design criteria, drawings, control narratives, and architecture.
• Coordinate interfaces between equipment, OEMs, EPCs, and control system suppliers.
• Define control narratives, data maps, and communication protocols.
• Support integration of generation controls with data center power requirements and utility/grid systems.
• Lead I&C design reviews and resolutions of technical comments.

Skills

I&C engineering

Power generation

DCS/PLC systems

Gas turbines

Control system integration

Owner-side engineering

Cross-functional collaboration

Travel readiness

Education

Bachelor's degree in Electrical/Instrumentation & Controls/Automation Engineering

Tools

DCS platforms

PLC programming

HMI systems

Turbine control systems

Job description

Brunel has partnered with SB Energy to hire an Instrumentation & Controls (I&C) Engineer - Data Center Power Generation to support the development and execution of large-scale power generation and data center infrastructure projects across the U.S.

In this role, you will serve as SB Energy's owner-side I&C subject matter expert, providing technical oversight for simple-cycle and combined-cycle gas power generation projects from engineering and procurement through construction, commissioning, and turnover. You will work closely with OEMs, EPC contractors, control system suppliers, utilities, grid operators, consultants, and internal engineering teams to ensure safe, reliable, and fully integrated plant control systems.

About SB Energy

SB Energy is a fast-growing energy and infrastructure company backed by SoftBank Group and Ares Infrastructure. Headquartered in Redwood City, California, the company develops, builds, owns, and operates large-scale power and data center infrastructure across the United States.

Since launching in 2019, SB Energy has grown into a leading integrated platform with more than 3 GW in operation and a multi-GW pipeline of energy and data center infrastructure nationwide. The company combines innovation, technical expertise, and execution excellence to deliver reliable and secure infrastructure that helps power America’s future.

About the Role

The Instrumentation & Controls Engineer - Data Center Power Generation will provide owner-side technical leadership for instrumentation, controls, and automation systems supporting simple-cycle and combined-cycle gas generation projects.

You will oversee I&C design and system integration, coordinate interfaces between major equipment packages and plant control systems, review engineering deliverables, resolve technical issues, and support projects through procurement, construction, testing, commissioning, and final turnover.

This position will also play an important role in integrating power generation controls with data center load requirements and utility/grid operator systems.

Location: Hybrid/Remote with approximately 25% travel to project sites in Pike County, Ohio

Responsibilities

• Serve as the owner’s I&C engineering subject matter expert for simple-cycle and combined-cycle gas generation projects from initial design through commissioning and closeout.
• Review I&C design criteria, specifications, drawings, control narratives, logic diagrams, equipment selections, and control system architecture.
• Provide technical oversight of DCS, PLCs, turbine control systems, HMIs, historian systems, instrumentation, control valves, and industrial communication networks.
• Evaluate control strategies, operating sequences, alarms, permissives, interlocks, and trips to ensure alignment with process requirements, equipment protection, and operating philosophy.
• Coordinate I&C interfaces across gas turbines, steam turbines, HRSGs, generators, balance-of-plant equipment, OEM packages, EPC contractors, and control system suppliers.
• Define and coordinate control narratives, signal lists, communication protocols, data maps, time synchronization, and command/status interfaces.
• Support integration between generation controls and data center power requirements, including load changes, operating modes, dispatch signals, and response to loss of generation or load.
• Lead and participate in I&C design reviews and drive resolution of technical comments and open engineering issues.
• Develop and coordinate technical responses to RFIs, equipment submittals, vendor drawings, technical deviations, and proposed substitutions.
• Review proposed design and configuration changes for impacts on plant safety, reliability, operability, cost, and schedule.
• Develop or review I&C specifications, technical requisitions, procurement packages, and supplier proposals.
• Participate in Factory Acceptance Testing (FAT) and testing of DCS, PLC, and packaged control systems, including simulation of interfaces, operating sequences, alarms, and interlocks.
• Coordinate with utilities, ISOs/RTOs, OEMs, and EPC contractors on generator interconnection controls, communications, telemetry, dispatch, and remote monitoring requirements.
• Provide technical support during construction, installation, calibration, loop checks, site acceptance testing, commissioning, startup, and performance testing.
• Support troubleshooting of control systems and equipment interfaces during commissioning and initial plant operations.
• Review as-built drawings, final control narratives, software/configuration backups, test reports, instrument records, and other closeout documentation.
• Partner with Engineering, Project Management, Construction, Operations, Procurement, QA/QC, and Cybersecurity teams to ensure successful project execution.

Qualifications / Requirements

• Bachelor's degree in Electrical Engineering, Instrumentation & Controls Engineering, Automation Engineering, or a related engineering discipline.
• 7-10+ years of professional experience, including I&C engineering experience within gas-fired power generation.
• Direct experience with simple-cycle and/or combined-cycle power generation projects.
• Strong understanding of power plant instrumentation, process controls, DCS and PLC systems, turbine controls, and balance-of-plant controls.
• Experience coordinating technical interfaces between major equipment OEMs, EPC engineering teams, and control system suppliers.
• Ability to independently review control narratives, logic diagrams, cause-and-effect matrices, P&IDs, instrument specifications, I/O lists, loop drawings, and control system architecture.
• Working knowledge of process measurement, instrument selection, control valves, loop control, industrial communications, and control system integration.
• Experience reviewing or testing plant operating sequences, alarms, permissives, interlocks, and protective functions.
• Experience working with utilities and ISOs/RTOs on generator interconnection controls, communications, telemetry, commissioning, or testing.
• Familiarity with instrumentation, control system, and industrial cybersecurity standards.
• Strong technical judgment with the ability to identify design risks, evaluate technical issues, and develop practical recommendations.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills and the ability to collaborate effectively with project managers, contractors, OEMs, consultants, and operations teams.
• Ability to work remotely and travel approximately 25% to project sites in Pike County, Ohio.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience with both simple-cycle and combined-cycle gas generation projects.
• Previous experience serving as an owner's engineer or technical representative for a developer, asset owner, or utility.
• Experience with gas generation facilities supporting or co-located with large-scale data center campuses.
• Experience coordinating plant-level load controls, turbine controls, and data center power management systems.
• Experience with major power generation DCS and turbine control platforms.
• Familiarity with HRSG controls, steam cycle controls, water treatment systems, emissions monitoring, and other balance-of-plant systems.
• Familiarity with substation SCADA, RTUs, and high-voltage electrical/control interfaces.
• Experience with FAT, site acceptance testing, commissioning, startup, and operating plant troubleshooting.
• Familiarity with safety instrumented systems, functional safety practices, and operational technology cybersecurity.
• Professional Engineer (PE) license and/or relevant instrumentation, controls, or automation certification is a plus.

Compensation & Benefits

At SB Energy, employees and their families have access to a comprehensive benefits package, including:

• 100% Company-Paid Medical, Dental & Vision coverage for employees and dependents
• 401(k) with Company Match
• Generous Paid Time Off + 11 Paid Holidays
• 12 Weeks Parental Leave
• Life, AD&D & Long-Term Disability Coverage
• Flexible Spending Accounts (FSA) for Medical, Dependent Care, Transit & Parking
• Mental, Physical & Social Wellness Support
• Flexible Work Arrangements & Hybrid Office Setup Benefits
• Monthly Reimbursement for Phone, Internet & Data
• Optional Legal & Pet Insurance Plans
• Device Purchase Support