Staff Software Controls Engineer - Site Control

Ring Inc; Menlo Park (CA); On-site; USD 162,000 - 190,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Pre-IPO stock options

Benefits

Job summary

Mainspring Energy is seeking a highly skilled Staff Controls Software Engineer to develop and test the software that integrates our Linear Generators into power infrastructure. As an IC in a Scrum team, you will build reliable site control systems and ensure seamless integration with DERs and microgrids.

You will own the design, coding, and testing lifecycle, implement OPC-UA, Modbus, and other industrial protocols, and collaborate with Product and Hardware teams to translate utility

Qualifications

• 8+ years in commercial power generation or utility-scale automation.
• Expert in SCADA, HMI, and industrial controllers (PLCs/PACs).
• Strong experience with OPC-UA, MQTT, Modbus, and DNP3 in secure industrial environments.
• Familiar with grid interconnection standards like IEEE 1547 and UL 1741; cybersecurity knowledge (NERC CIP).

Responsibilities

• Design, implement, and test control system features for high-volume manufacturing environments.
• Develop and maintain communication interfaces using OPC-UA, Modbus, MQTT, and other industrial protocols.
• Build and refine SCADA and HMI designs with intuitive operator interfaces and diagnostics.
• Participate in Scrum ceremonies and agile processes to deliver reliable software increments.
• Own the testing lifecycle for new features, including unit, integration, and HIL validation.
• Collaborate with Product and Hardware teams to translate requirements into software specs.

Skills

SCADA

HMI

IEC 61131-3

IEC 61499

OPC-UA

MQTT

Modbus

DNP3

Cybersecurity

Documentation

Tools

UART

PLC/PACs

Job description

About Mainspring

Mainspring Energy manufactures and delivers fuel-flexible, low-emissions local power solutions that rapidly add new capacity and deliver reliable, affordable, and sustainable electric power. The company began commercial shipments of its Mainspring Linear Generators in 2020 and today has hundreds of megawatts in advanced development and field operations for leading Fortune 500 companies, data centers, and utilities. Mainspring also partners with global energy leaders including AEP, NextEra Energy Resources, Schneider Electric, and more.

The core values that ground our work, guide our decisions, and connect us together:

• Pragmatic Optimism
• Excellence without Ego
• Proactive Collaboration

Job Overview

Mainspring Energy is seeking a highly skilled Staff Controls Software Engineer to develop and test the critical software that integrates our Linear Generators into global energy infrastructure. As an individual contributor (IC) within a high-performing Scrum team, you will focus on building commercial-grade site control systems, ensuring seamless integration with Microgrids, Distributed Energy Resources (DERs), and utility-scale power plants. You will be responsible for writing high-quality code, conducting rigorous testing, and collaborating with your team to deliver the communication and control backbone of our technology.

Key Responsibilities

• Technical Execution: Design, implement, and test control system features, ensuring they are robust and scalable for a high-volume manufacturing environment

• Protocol Implementation: Develop and maintain communication interfaces using OPC-UA, Modbus, and other industrial protocols to ensure system interoperability

• SCADA & HMI Development: Build and refine SCADA systems and HMI designs, focusing on creating intuitive operator interfaces and deep diagnostic visibility for the team

• Agile Team Participation: Work closely within a Scrum framework, participating in sprint planning, code reviews, and daily stand-ups to deliver reliable software increments

• Testing & Validation: Own the testing lifecycle for new features, including unit testing, integration testing, and hardware-in-the-loop (HIL) validation to ensure site safety logic and grid compliance

• DER Integration: Implement strategies for integrating Mainspring technology into Distributed Energy Resource Management Systems (DERMS) and complex microgrid environments

• Cross-Functional Collaboration: Work with Product and Hardware teams to translate utility requirements and interconnection standards into functional software specifications

Qualifications

• Industry Experience: 8+ years of hands-on experience in commercial power generation, industrial automation, or utility-scale energy projects

• Systems Expertise: Expert proficiency with SCADA, HMI, and industrial controllers (PLCs/PACs). Deep hands-on experience with IEC 61131-3 for machine control and a strong preference for experience in IEC 61499 for event-driven architectures. Experience with industrial serial protocols ( like UART) is a plus

• Deep Protocol Knowledge: Proven track record of developing and testing control logic for complex power sites (e.g., microgrids, large-scale solar + storage). Expert-level proficiency in OPC-UA, MQTT, Modbus, and DNP3 within secure industrial environments

• Grid Interconnection Standards: Experience with grid interconnection standards (e.g., IEEE 1547, UL 1741)

• Cybersecurity Frameworks: Knowledge of cybersecurity frameworks for industrial control systems (e.g., NERC CIP)

• Technical Communication: Ability to create clear technical documentation and system diagrams that bridge the gap between industrial hardware and modern software

$161,500 - $190,000 a year

This position is onsite at our Menlo Park HQ. The salary will be adjusted to reflect local market conditions based on employee location as well as the experience of the employee. Along with the base salary, Mainspring offers pre-IPO stock options + benefits.

Does your experience not meet all of our posted requirements? Studies have shown that some people are less likely to apply to positions unless they meet every listed requirement. At Mainspring, we are committed to building a diverse, inclusive, flexible, and collaborative environment, so if you want to help us transition the world to clean and affordable electricity, and don't meet all posted requirements for a particular role, we’d still love to hear from you. Mainspring can sometimes be flexible enough to shift responsibilities for the right person, or otherwise identify open or upcoming roles that may better fit your professional background.

In more traditional words, Mainspring Energy, Inc is an Equal Opportunity Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, or protected veteran status and will not be discriminated against on the basis of disability.

This compensation and benefits information is based on Mainspring Energy's estimate as of the date of publication and may be modified in the future. We generally do not negotiate on salary once we have made an offer. The level of pay within the range will depend on a variety of job-related factors that may include location, relevant prior experience and/or education, or particular skills and expertise. New hires joining the company tend to be paid within the starting base pay range noted above, with opportunities to increase pay over time based on development of additional skills, competencies, and company-specific knowledge.