Sr Engineer I, Plant Controls

RWE; Austin (TX); On-site; USD 155,000 - 165,000; Full time

Job summary

RWE Americas is seeking a Sr Engineer I, Plant Controls, to lead the design and execution of control systems for new utility-scale renewables sites. You will define plant requirements, select SCADA concepts, and oversee development from design through commissioning, coordinating with third-party providers and internal teams.

You will oversee networking design, RTU configurations, and plant control strategies across multiple projects, while guiding junior engineers and ensuring alignment with

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Electrical Engineering, Mechatronics, Control Engineering, or equivalent
• 7+ years of professional experience in control systems and SCADA platforms
• Excellent grasp of networking design fundamentals (fiber/ethernet, switch, VLAN)
• Experience configuring RTUs or plant controllers; software development a plus
• Strong technical documentation skills (exhibits, scope of works, functional descriptions)
• Ability to analyze requirements and create technical documentation for stakeholders
• Experience commissioning networking and plant controls; collaboration with contractors

Responsibilities

• Lead SCADA design, configuration, and commissioning across multiple projects
• Coordinate with project managers and engineering SMEs to meet SCADA requirements and timelines
• Review project contracts and provide technical input; help develop standards and educate finance teams
• Gather technical requirements from grid codes and contracts to ensure SCADA capability
• Develop and maintain project exhibits and standard documentation
• Define scope of work and technical requirements for control system vendors and integrators
• Review contractor design documents for operational fit with SCADA standards
• Lead development of technical SCADA requirements including networking (IP, VLANs)
• Commission substation equipment, switches, and plant networks; mentor junior engineers
• Drive interpretation of Battery plant operational data and strategic goals for SCADA
• Collaborate with broader engineering teams and communicate with diverse stakeholders
• Train and educate junior engineers across project phases
• Own strategic projects for SCADA and drive process improvements

Skills

SCADA design

Project coordination

Stakeholder communication

Autonomous work

Attention to detail

Education

Bachelor's degree in Electrical Engineering or related field

Tools

RTU configuration

Networking fundamentals

VLAN configuration

SCADA software basics

Job description

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Austin, TX, US, 78701 Chicago, IL, US, 60654 White Plains, NY, US, NY 10606

RWE Americas, LLC
To start as soon as possible, full time, permanent

Functional area: Engineering
Remuneration: Exempt

The Plant Controls Team within RWE Americas ensures control solutions for utility-scale renewables projects (Solar, Wind, and Battery) are designed with the highest quality for the entire life cycle - from the development phase to operation. This position executes on the design, construction, commissioning, and administration of control systems within RWE Americas.

In this position, the Sr Engineer I, Plant Controls, will be key in the design and execution of control solutions for new sites. You will be gathering project-specific requirements to define the services and functionalities required by the plants, determine the most suitable SCADA concept for interconnection, and ensure the right control system design for the application.

In this position, you will be involved in all the different stages of the project, starting from the design stage, then guiding the implementation phase, and supporting the on-site commissioning of the solution.

You will work hand-in-hand with third-party providers, assessing the most suitable options and bringing concepts into the field.

As a Plant Controls engineer, you will be a key interface between Operations and Development parts of the business.

Role Responsibilities

• Leads SCADA design, configuration, and commissioning on multiple projects and provides oversight and guidance to junior engineers
• Coordinates with project managers and other engineering SME’s to ensure SCADA requirements are met, and project timelines are achieved
• Reviews and provides constructive input for project contracts with financial partners and equipment manufacturers; advises and provides technical input for contract wording discussions; works towards developing standards and educating financial teams on contract requirements
• Gathers technical requirements for projects based on grid codes, standards, and contracts, and ensures SCADA system capability to achieve these requirements
• Generates and modifies project exhibits for contractors and vendors in alignment with SCADA standards and strategy; owns development of standard exhibits and documentation for the team
• Develops and oversees the scope of work and technical requirements for control system vendors and integrators; owns the development of standard documentation for projects
• Reviews contractor design documents and ensures design will meet operational needs of the SCADA system and alignment with SCADA standards
• Leads, oversees, and implements the development of technical SCADA requirements, including networking design (IP addressing, VLANs), RTU configuration, and plant control strategy across multiple projects
• Commissions substation equipment, switches, and plant networks for projects; works closely with junior engineers to train and build up their skillsets
• Drives and pursues interpretation and understanding of operational data of Battery plants across the wider business
• Owns the development of strategic goals for the SCADA team and ensures alignment with organizational objectives
• Proactively works towards alignment with broader engineering teams and understands team position and contribution within the organization
• Able to communicate effectively with a diverse range of business stakeholders
• Owns strategic projects for the SCADA team and drives changes to standards and processes
• Actively trains and educates junior engineers across all project phases

Job Requirements and Experiences

• A Bachelor's degree in Electrical Engineering, Mechatronics, Control Engineering, a similar field of engineering, or equivalent professional experience
• A minimum of 7 years of professional experience in control systems and SCADA platforms (any industry)
• Excellent grasp of networking design fundamentals, including fiber/ethernet, switch, and VLAN configuration
• Strong background in configuration of RTUs or other plant controllers (software development experience also a plus)
• Has proven experience developing technical documentation, including exhibits, scope of works, functional descriptions, and plant control narratives
• Structured and thorough in analyzing and documenting requirements and creating technical documentation for different stakeholders
• Demonstrated experience in commissioning networking and plant controls
• Demonstrated experience overseeing contractors delivering technical work
• Experience within renewable energy or the power industry is highly desired, but not required
• Required travel up to 20%
• Works autonomously to deliver projects without oversight
• Takes ownership of work and resolves issues; seeks guidance when direction is needed
• Documents work and progress effectively
• Reports upwards on project status and progress
• Coordinates with technical members of adjacent teams to align on work deliverables that impact one another, seeks to understand and resolve gaps and escalates issues through appropriate channels
• Effective communicator capable of working with people from different backgrounds
• High Attention to detail
• Excellent interpersonal skills, energetic, and a self-starter
• Proactive in resolving issues
• Effectively uses team collaboration tools and software
• Must be open to collaboration and working in a team environment
• Clear passion and motivation to work in the renewables industry

This position is an office-based role with some travel and visits to other RWE Americas offices and field locations. The employee must be able to sit, walk, or stand for long durations of time.

Applicants must be legally authorized to work in the United States. RWE Americas is unable to sponsor or take over sponsorship of employment visas at this time.

Pay range

The annual base salary range for this position in Chicago is $155,00 - $165,000. The listed salary range represents our good faith estimate for this position and represents the range for new hire salaries across all U.S locations. Please note that the salary information is a general guideline only. RWE considers factors such as (but not limited to) scope and responsibilities of the position, candidate’s education & work experience, training & certifications, and key skills as well as market and business considerations at the time of the offer.

Benefits offered

Medical, Dental, Vision, Life Insurance, Short-Term Disability, Long-Term Disability, 401(k) match, Flexible Spending Accounts, EAP, Education Assistance, Parental Leave, Paid time off, and Holidays. Eligible employees also participate in short-term incentives, in addition to salary.

Any questions? Contact [e-mail]

All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, religion, national origin, disability, veteran status, or other legally protected status.

RWE Americas, a subsidiary of RWE, is a US-based energy company that is helping to meet the growing demand for energy across the United States. Backed by RWE’s 125-year global legacy of managing diverse power assets, RWE Americas operates approximately 13 GW of power projects across 27 states. With a talented workforce of 2,000 employees, RWE Americas develops, constructs and operates wind, solar and battery storage projects, along with natural gas-powered generation, that safely deliver affordable, reliable electricity to our customers. Committed to responsible development, RWE Americas invests in local and rural communities, creating jobs and partnering with stakeholders to support and strengthen the places where we live and work. Learn more about how RWE Americas is generating impact at americas.rwe.com .

At RWE Americas, we foster a culture defined by our Essential Behaviors - Have Courage, Create Impact and Actively Collaborate. We encourage bold thinking and continuous learning, and we value ownership, resilience and inclusion in everything we do. When you join us, you become part of a team that supports your development, respects your contributions and celebrates shared success. This is a place where you can grow your career and make a meaningful difference.

We look forward to meeting you. Of course, you can find us on LinkedIn, Instagram, Facebook, YouTube and Xing, too.