Senior Controls Engineer – On‑Site Power & Microgrid

OpenAI, Inc.; Oregon; Hybrid; USD 130,000 - 180,000; Full time

Job summary

OpenAI is seeking a Controls Engineer to design and integrate automation systems for on-site generation supporting large AI data center campuses. You will own control architecture and functional requirements across generation packages, balance-of-plant systems, electrical protection, microgrid controls, and data center monitoring.

You will work from concept through factory testing, site commissioning, performance validation, and operational improvement, with a focus on integration, testing, and

Qualifications

• 8+ years of controls, automation, or instrumentation engineering experience in power generation, industrial plants, utilities, or mission-critical infrastructure.
• Strong experience with PLC, DCS, SCADA, historian, industrial-networking, and control-system integration.
• Knowledge of generation controls, synchronization, load sharing, protective interfaces, process control, and safety interlocks.
• Experience developing functional specifications, sequences, I/O, alarms, graphics, and factory or site test procedures.
• Understanding of industrial cybersecurity, redundancy, failover, and change-control practices.

Responsibilities

• Define control-system architecture, functional design specifications, sequences of operation, cause-and-effect matrices, alarm philosophy, and interface requirements.
• Integrate OEM controls, PLCs, DCS, SCADA, historian, microgrid controllers, protection systems, and data center BMS or EPMS platforms.
• Develop and review I/O lists, network architecture, control narratives, graphics, alarm limits, interlocks, permissives, and fail-safe behavior.
• Coordinate synchronization, load sharing, islanding, black start, load shedding, restoration, and generation-to-data-center operating modes.
• Evaluate cybersecurity, redundancy, time synchronization, communications protocols, data quality, and remote-support requirements.
• Lead or support software reviews, simulator testing, factory acceptance testing, site acceptance testing, commissioning, and tuning.
• Troubleshoot control-system and plant-performance issues and convert findings into corrective actions and reusable standards.
• Partner with electrical, mechanical, CSA, IT, security, operations, OEM, EPC, and data center controls teams.

Skills

Controls engineering

Industrial automation

SCADA

DCS

Industrial networking

Cybersecurity awareness

Education

Bachelor's degree in controls/electrical/mechanical engineering

Job description

OpenAI is seeking a Controls Engineer to design and integrate automation systems for on-site generation supporting large AI data center campuses. You will own control architecture and functional requirements across generation packages, balance-of-plant systems, electrical protection, microgrid controls, and data center monitoring.

You will work from concept through factory testing, site commissioning, performance validation, and operational improvement, with a focus on integration, testing, and