SCADA Controls Engineer - Data Center

Hammerhead AI; Redwood City (CA); On-site; USD 90,000 - 120,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Competitive salary

401(k) plan

Equity in a startup

Comprehensive health, dental, and vision coverage

Job summary

Hammerhead AI is seeking a SCADA Engineer in Redwood City, California, to design and deploy the industrial monitoring systems that support our AI-driven data center operations. Your role will involve creating high-performance human-machine interfaces and validating control logic, ensuring efficient orchestration of cooling, power, and compute systems. Ideal candidates will have at least 3 years of SCADA experience and proficiency in PLC programming and industrial protocols. Competitive compensation and benefits are provided.

Qualifications

• 3+ years of experience designing and deploying SCADA systems.
• Proficiency in PLC programming languages and debugging.
• Familiarity with industrial communication protocols.

Responsibilities

• Design and implement scalable SCADA systems.
• Build intuitive human-machine interfaces for operators.
• Review and troubleshoot PLC ladder logic.

Skills

SCADA & HMI Mastery

PLC Programming

Protocol Knowledge

Systems Thinking

Modern Skills

Tools

Ignition

Wonderware

FactoryTalk

Python

SQL

Job description

About Hammerhead

We're unleashing AI with intelligent orchestration while addressing one of the most pressing bottlenecks for AI access to Power. Our cutting‑edge platform optimizes data center power infrastructure to maximize AI token generation within existing electrical limits, without requiring new power plants or grid expansions. Our team has optimized over 8 gigawatts of mission‑critical power globally, and we're addressing a $64 billion‑per‑year market opportunity while dramatically reducing the environmental footprint of AI infrastructure.

Our team values collaboration across interdisciplinary fields, and we’re excited to offer a role that bridges modern AI with operational technology. Experience with data‑center infrastructure, advanced power systems, and AI orchestration is highly valued.

• Work at the intersection of AI, energy, and compute creating the next generation AI infrastructure
• Collaborate with colleagues that are experts in modern reinforcement learning and AI, IoT, IIoT software, and infrastructure technologies
• Contribute to building a more efficient and sustainable future for AI compute
• Join a company at the cutting edge of modern data center design and operation
• Receive competitive compensation, equity, and benefits in a high‑growth, mission‑driven environment

Learn from an experienced team that has built and sold startups before.

Learn more about Hammerhead

• These AutoGrid alums want to change how data centers use power
• How Hammerhead wants to rewrite the economics of AI
• News & Blogs

Role Description

As a SCADA Engineer at Hammerhead, you will design and deploy the industrial monitoring and control layer that underpins our AI‑driven data center operations. Reporting to the CTO, you will be responsible for the "eyes and ears" of the data center, ensuring that our operators and reinforcement learning agents have a real‑time, high‑fidelity view of gigawatts of mission‑critical assets. You will bridge the gap between traditional operational technology (OT) and modern software, crafting sophisticated HMIs and validating control logic that allows us to safely orchestrate cooling, power, and compute systems at scale.

Key Responsibilities

• SCADA Architecture & Design: Design and implement scalable SCADA systems (using modern platforms like Ignition or custom solutions) to visualize real‑time telemetry from data center assets including UPS, chillers, and switchgear.
• HMI Development: Build intuitive, high‑performance human‑machine interfaces that provide operators with critical situational awareness and visibility into the actions taken by our RL control agents.
• Logic & Control Validation: Review and troubleshoot PLC ladder logic and function block diagrams to ensure local control loops (PID, interlocks) interact safely with high‑level AI orchestration commands.
• Data Historian Integration: Integrate with high‑throughput time‑series data storage solutions to ensure reliable data capture for compliance, auditing, and AI model retraining.
• OT/IT Integration: Collaborate with connector & integration engineers to map physical I/O points to software tags, ensuring seamless data flow from PLCs and RTUs into the Hammerhead platform.

Qualifications

• SCADA & HMI Mastery: 3+ years of experience designing and deploying SCADA systems and building complex HMIs for critical infrastructure (data centers, power utilities, or manufacturing). Experience with Ignition, Wonderware, or FactoryTalk is essential.
• PLC Programming: Proficiency in reading, writing, and debugging ladder logic, structured text, and function block diagrams on major hardware platforms (Siemens, Allen Bradley, Schneider Electric).
• Protocol Knowledge: Deep familiarity with industrial communication protocols such as Modbus (TCP/RTU), BACnet, DNP3, and IEC 61850.
• Systems Thinking: Understanding of electrical power distribution systems or HVAC mechanical systems; you know what a "chiller plant optimization" actually physically entails.
• Modern Skills: Comfortable with Python scripting, SQL databases, and working alongside software engineers in a modern DevOps environment.

What We Offer

• Competitive salary, bonus, 401(k) plan and equity in a rapidly growing startup
• Comprehensive health, dental, and vision coverage
• Opportunity to apply the latest AI technologies working with an experienced team

Join our team to shape the foundation of tomorrow’s AI infrastructure. Visit our Careers page at hammerheadco dot ai / careers to apply.