Senior Controls Engineer, On-Site Power for AI Data Centers

OpenAI, Inc.; United States; Remote; USD 140,000 - 210,000; Full time

Job summary

OpenAI, Inc. is seeking a Controls Engineer to design and integrate automation systems for on-site power generation serving large AI data center campuses.

You will own control architecture across generation packages, balance-of-plant systems, electrical protection, microgrid controls, and monitoring. You will work from concept through factory testing, site commissioning, performance validation, and ongoing improvement, collaborating with cross-functional teams to ensure reliability and safety in

Qualifications

• 8+ years in controls, automation, or instrumentation engineering for power generation or mission-critical infra.
• Strong experience with PLC, DCS, SCADA, historian, and industrial networking integration.
• Knowledge of generation controls, synchronization, load sharing, protective interfaces, and safety interlocks.
• Experience writing functional specs, sequences, I/O, alarms, graphics, and test procedures.
• Ability to troubleshoot across software, instrumentation, electrical, mechanical, and process boundaries.
• Understanding of industrial cybersecurity, redundancy, failover, and change-control practices.
• Bachelor’s degree in controls, electrical, mechanical, chemical, computer engineering, or related field.

Responsibilities

• Define control-system architecture, functional design specs, sequences, alarms, and interfaces.
• Integrate OEM controls, PLCs, DCS, SCADA, historian, microgrid controllers, and BMS/EPMS platforms.
• Develop I/O lists, network architecture, graphics, alarm limits, interlocks, permissives, and fail-safe behavior.
• Coordinate synchronization, load sharing, islanding, black start, load shedding, and operating modes.
• Evaluate cybersecurity, redundancy, time sync, protocols, data quality, and remote-support needs.
• Lead or support software reviews, simulator testing, factory/site acceptance testing, commissioning, tuning.
• Troubleshoot control-system and plant-performance issues; implement corrective actions and reusable standards.
• Collaborate with electrical, mechanical, CSA, IT, security, operations, OEM, EPC, and data center controls teams.

Skills

Controls engineering

PLC/DCS/SCADA

Industrial cybersecurity

Systems integration

Troubleshooting

Electrical engineering

Change-control practices

Education

Bachelor's degree in controls, electrical, mechanical, chemical engineering, computer engineering, or related field

Tools

IEC 61850

Modbus

OPC UA

DNP3

EtherNet/IP

Job description

OpenAI, Inc. is seeking a Controls Engineer to design and integrate automation systems for on-site power generation serving large AI data center campuses.

You will own control architecture across generation packages, balance-of-plant systems, electrical protection, microgrid controls, and monitoring. You will work from concept through factory testing, site commissioning, performance validation, and ongoing improvement, collaborating with cross-functional teams to ensure reliability and safety in