Staff Controls Engineer

NextGenEnergyJobs; San Jose, Northern (CA, KY); Hybrid; USD 120,000 - 170,000; Full time

Job summary

NextGenEnergyJobs is seeking a Staff Controls Test Engineer to validate controls software for reliability and deployment readiness in our energy systems teams. You will design and execute test plans for controls features and system behavior, build automated test frameworks, and work closely with controls engineers to improve coverage and testability.

You will replicate real-world operating scenarios, debug defects, and support release readiness reviews.

Qualifications

• 5+ years in test, controls, or systems engineering.
• Experience with controls systems and hardware-in-the-loop (HIL) testing.
• Strong debugging and root cause analysis skills.
• Familiarity with test automation, scripting, and data analysis.
• Hands-on experience with hardware setups and instrumentation.

Responsibilities

• Develop and execute test plans for controls features and system behavior.
• Validate controls code prior to release to integration, FIT, and field.
• Build and maintain automated test frameworks and test benches.
• Replicate real-world operating scenarios and edge cases for robust validation.
• Identify, debug, and track defects through resolution.
• Partner with controls engineers to improve test coverage and design for testability.
• Support regression testing and release readiness reviews.
• Analyze field issues and feed learnings back into test strategies.

Skills

Test planning

Controls systems

HIL testing

Debugging & RCA

Automation & scripting

Test benches

Instrumentation

Tools

Test benches

Instrumentation

Job description

The Staff Controls Test Engineer will be responsible for validating controls software to ensure functionality, reliability, and readiness for deployment.

Key Responsibilities

• Develop and execute test plans for controls features and system behavior
• Validate controls code prior to release to integration, FIT, and field
• Build and maintain automated test frameworks and test benches
• Replicate real-world operating scenarios and edge cases for robust validation
• Identify, debug, and track defects through resolution
• Partner with controls engineers to improve test coverage and design for testability
• Support regression testing and release readiness reviews
• Analyze field issues and feed learnings back into test strategies

Requirements

• 5+ years in test, controls, or systems engineering
• Experience with controls systems and hardware-in-the-loop (HIL) testing
• Strong debugging and root cause analysis skills
• Familiarity with test automation, scripting, and data analysis
• Hands-on experience with hardware setups and instrumentation