Senior Instrumentation & Controls Engineer

Fervo Energy; Reno (NV); Hybrid; USD 100,000 - 120,000; Full time

Job summary

Fervo Energy in Reno, NV is seeking a Senior Instrumentation & Controls Engineer to design and maintain control systems for geothermal power plants. The ideal candidate will have a Bachelor’s degree in engineering and 9-12 years of relevant experience. Key responsibilities include developing SCADA applications, programming PLCs, and collaborating with engineering teams to ensure design integration. This position allows for some hybrid flexibility with in-office presence required in Reno or other specified locations.

Qualifications

• 9‑12 years of experience in Instrumentation & Control Engineering or related role.
• Strong knowledge of industry standards like NEC and ISA.
• Exceptional communication skills with proven technical report writing ability.

Responsibilities

• Design control system architectures for geothermal power blocks.
• Develop and maintain SCADA applications for plant operations.
• Program PLCs for control systems, creating a full I&C drawing package.

Skills

Instrumentation & Control Engineering

Control system architectures

SCADA applications

Allen-Bradley PLC programming

Communication networks troubleshooting

Mentoring junior staff

Education

Bachelor’s degree in Electrical, Mechanical, Chemical Engineering

Tools

Rockwell Studio 5000

Ignition

Job description

Fervo is building the most cost‑effective, repeatable geothermal power plants in the world. Joining the GeoBlock engineering team means solving frontier technical problems with immediate real‑world impact, accelerating the clean energy transition and reinventing the way infrastructure is built.

We are seeking engineers who share Fervo’s mission, enjoy driving meaningful innovation, and take extreme ownership over the cost and constructability implications of their designs. Every decision will directly influence the speed and scale of Fervo’s mission.

Senior Instrumentation & Controls Engineer

Responsibilities

• Design control system architectures for a standardized 50 MW geothermal power block, including control philosophies, cause and effect matrices, control narratives, and I/O lists.
• Develop and maintain Ignition SCADA applications using Perspective, covering server architectures, HMI screen development, tag configuration, alarming, historian integration, and report generation for plant operations.
• Program Allen‑Bradley PLCs (ControlLogix, CompactLogix) in Rockwell Studio 5000, leveraging the shared code library maintained by Fervo’s controls architecture team.
• Produce a full I&C drawing package, including control system architecture diagrams, panel designs, instrument loop diagrams, wiring diagrams, and low‑voltage schematics.
• Review P&IDs and instrument datasheets; size and select instrumentation such as control valves, flow meters, pressure transmitters, and safety valves.
• Design and specify control panels—enclosure layout, component selection, low‑voltage wiring—and coordinate with panel fabricators through construction and factory acceptance testing.
• Configure and troubleshoot industrial communication networks (Modbus TCP/IP, EtherNet/IP, Profinet, OPC‑UA); support fiber‑optic infrastructure design and installation coordination between field devices, PLCs, and SCADA.
• Support greenfield construction and commissioning at Fervo sites, including site visits, SAT support, loop checks, and coordination with instrumentation and electrical contractors.
• Collaborate with process, mechanical, and electrical engineers 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 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, Mechanical, Chemical Engineering, or related ABET‑accredited program.
• 9‑12 years of experience in Instrumentation & Control Engineering (or related role).
• Strong knowledge of industry standards and regulations, including NEC, ISA, and other applicable codes.
• Ability to lead and mentor junior staff.
• Exceptional oral and written communication skills, and a proven track record of clear, thorough technical reports.
• Understanding of process equipment (vessels, tanks, heat exchangers, heaters, rotating equipment, packaged equipment, valves, specialty items).
• Experience with P&ID development, control narratives, cause & effect charts, SIS design, instrumentation studies, valve and instrument sizing, and automation/control system architecture.
• Field experience preferred.
• Experience assisting Process/Mechanical Engineers, supporting field evaluations and HAZOP/PHA reviews, and contributing 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 requires regular in‑office presence in Houston, TAB; Oakland, CA; or Reno, NV, with some hybrid flexibility.