Staff Software & Controls Engineer

ON.energy; Houston (TX); On-site; USD 140,000 - 190,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical, dental, and vision insurance

401(k) with company match

Paid time off and company holidays

Professional development and growth

Job summary

ON.energy is seeking a Senior Software & Controls Engineer to lead architecture, design, and development of control software for energy storage and power infrastructure. You’ll guide multi-site projects, set standards, and mentor junior engineers while interfacing with clients, vendors, and internal teams.

You will own control strategies, CI/CD practices, and cybersecurity considerations, ensuring high-impact, resilient deployments across global sites.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Electrical Engineering, Controls, Software Engineering, or related field; Master’s degree preferred.
• 8–12 years of progressive experience developing PLC, HMI, and control software for industrial or energy systems.
• Experience coaching, mentoring, and reviewing work of junior/mid-level engineers.
• Strong knowledge of Modbus, OPC UA, Profinet and industrial networks.
• Willingness to travel extensively for commissioning, field deployments, and client engagements, including travel to the United States.

Responsibilities

• SME for control software architecture and control strategy on large-scale BESS and power infrastructure projects.
• Lead system architecture discussions; define and own control strategy standards, templates, and design frameworks.
• Architect, develop, and maintain PLC, HMI, and embedded/control software platforms; establish reusable code libraries and standards.
• Own configuration, integration, and lifecycle management of Ignition SCADA systems across the portfolio.
• Set and enforce software documentation, version control, and CI/CD practices; drive automation improvements.

Skills

C++

C#

Python

Object-oriented programming

Education

Bachelor’s degree in Electrical Engineering

Master’s degree preferred

Tools

TIA Portal

Ignition SCADA

Job description

ON.energyis building the backbone of energy and AI infrastructure powering grid-safe data centers and mission-critical facilities. The company supplies and operates hyperscale power systems that solve the toughest resilience challenges, delivering custom solutions for AI data centers, mission-critical facilities, and front-of-the-meter assets. ON recently announced a 5GW partnership, with 3GW currently under construction across multiple hyperscale data center campuses. With patented technology and proprietary software,ON.energydevelops projects worldwide that set new benchmarks for resilience.

Role Summary

The Senior Software & Controls Engineer is a recognized subject matter expert responsible for the architecture, design, development, and technical leadership of control software and automation systems across ON.energy’s energy storage and power infrastructure portfolio. This role manages large, multi-site projects and processes with limited oversight from engineering leadership, sets control strategy and software standards for the broader engineering organization, and coaches, reviews, and delegates work to junior and mid-level engineers. The role owns resolution of the most difficult and often complex control, integration, and field-performance problems, and serves as the primary technical authority interfacing with clients, vendors, and internal stakeholders on high-stakes engagements.

Key Responsibilities

• Serve as subject matter expert (SME) for control software architecture and control strategy across large-scale BESS and power infrastructure projects, operating with limited oversight from engineering leadership.
• Lead system architecture discussions; define and own control strategy standards, functional specification templates, and design frameworks used across the engineering organization.
• Architect, develop, and maintain PLC, HMI, and embedded/control software platforms; establish reusable code libraries, design patterns, and coding standards for the broader team.
• Own configuration, integration, and lifecycle management of Ignition SCADA systems across the project portfolio, including HMI development standards and data architecture.
• Set and enforce software documentation, version control, and CI/CD practices across the engineering team; drive continuous improvement of automation scripts, testing tools, and simulation environments.
• Lead cross-functional collaboration with electrical, mechanical, firmware, and field service teams on complex, ambiguous integration challenges.
• Lead selection, evaluation, and qualification of control hardware and vendors (controllers, relays, meters, network devices); own vendor relationships and technical negotiations.
• Plan, lead, and sign off on Factory Acceptance Tests (FATs) and Site Acceptance Tests (SATs) for large or complex projects; mentor junior engineers in test execution.
• Serve as the escalation point for the most complex control logic, real-time execution, and PLC/SCADA issues; lead root-cause analysis and resolution for critical field and operational incidents, remotely and on‑site.
• Own and drive cybersecurity compliance strategy for control systems, ensuring adherence to UL, IEEE, NFPA, and other applicable standards across the project portfolio.
• Provide senior technical oversight during installation, commissioning, and field deployment for major projects.
• Coach, review, and delegate work to junior and mid-level Software & Controls Engineers; support technical skill development and career growth.
• Act as primary technical point of contact for clients, vendors, and internal stakeholders on the most complex engagements; lead technical documentation, training, and knowledge‑transfer efforts.
• Manage large projects and processes with limited oversight from management, ensuring on‑time, on‑budget delivery of control software deliverables.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree in Electrical Engineering, Controls, Software Engineering, or a related field (Master’s degree preferred), or equivalent advanced experience.
• 8–12 years of progressive experience developing PLC, HMI, and control software for industrial or energy systems, including experience leading complex projects.
• Demonstrated experience coaching, mentoring, and reviewing the work of junior/mid-level engineers.
• Expert-level object-oriented programming skills (e.g., C++, C#, Python, or similar).
• Advanced, hands‑on expertise with Siemens PLC programming (TIA Portal) across multiple large-scale deployments.
• Deep expertise with Ignition SCADA, including advanced HMI development, system architecture, and integration at scale.
• Strong command of control algorithms, real‑time systems, and industrial automation concepts, with the ability to define standards and best practices.
• Expert knowledge of industrial communication protocols (e.g., Modbus, OPC UA, Profinet) and system integration architecture.
• Proven track record establishing version control, CI/CD, and structured software development practices across a team.
• Demonstrated ability to independently diagnose and resolve highly complex control system issues, both remotely and on‑site.
• Experience leading FAT/SAT programs and signing off on acceptance criteria for large or complex projects.
• Strong communication and leadership skills; experience interfacing directly with senior stakeholders and clients.
• Willingness to travel extensively for commissioning, field deployments, and client engagements, including travel to the United States.

For US-based roles - What you’ll get:

• Competitive salary + annual performance-based bonus eligibility
• Medical, dental, and vision insurance
• 401(k) with company match
• Paid time off and company holidays

For Mexico-based roles - What you’ll get:

• Competitive salary + annual performance bonus eligibility
• Major medical expenses and life insurance
• Paid time off and holidays (per local policy)

For all roles:

• Professional development and growth opportunities
• Opportunity to grow with a mission-driven team shaping the future of clean energy
• Equal Opportunity: ON.energy is committed to equal employment opportunity and to maintaining a work environment free of harassment, discrimination, or retaliation.
• Benefits vary by role and location and are subject to change.