System Controls Engineer- Power Generation

Pacifico Energy; Dallas (TX); On-site; USD 120,000 - 160,000; Full time

Job summary

Pacifico Energy seeks a System Controls Engineer to design, implement, test, and optimize control systems for data center power generation projects. The role reports to the Director of Engineering - Controls and Commissioning and involves hands-on commissioning, documentation, and collaboration with engineering, construction, vendors and operations.

You will travel up to 40% to sites, work with SCADA platforms, protection relays, and energy management systems, and contribute to FAT/SAT,

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Electrical Engineering, Power Systems Engineering, Computer Engineering, Computer Science, Mechanical Engineering, or related field.
• Minimum of 5 years of experience in controls engineering, SCADA, industrial automation, or power/energy infrastructure projects.
• Experience with power generation for Data Center, renewable energy, battery energy storage, microgrid, or distributed generation projects preferred.
• Familiarity with protective relays, SCADA, and industrial automation platforms.
• Strong knowledge of control theory, optimization, instrumentation, and industrial networks.

Responsibilities

• Plan and execute controls deliverables from design through commissioning and O&M handoff.
• Lead SCADA and controls implementation, including design review, programming, testing, and documentation.
• Coordinate controls, protection, communications, and monitoring deliverables with clear records.
• Collaborate with engineering, EPC partners, vendors, customers, and operations teams.
• Support schedule and budget by identifying controls risks early and driving issue resolution.
• Travel to project sites up to 40% for commissioning and testing.

Skills

Control theory

SCADA programming

Industrial automation

Field commissioning

Troubleshooting

Communication skills

Education

Bachelor's degree in Electrical Engineering

Master's degree preferred

Tools

Citect

Ignition

Wonderware

WinCC

Aveva

Job description

Pacifico Energy develops, finances, builds, and operates energy infrastructure that powers businesses and communities. In the U.S., we are tackling one of the biggest challenges facing AI and large-scale data centers: access to reliable power. Our private grids bring dedicated generation and energy storage directly to customers, helping projects move forward without waiting for traditional utility connections. We draw on Pacifico Energy Group’s experience across the U.S., Japan, South Korea, and Vietnam, spanning solar, wind, battery storage, and natural gas. Joining Pacifico means helping turn ambitious energy projects into operating infrastructure, with work that connects directly to the people and businesses building the future of AI.

We are seeking a talented System Controls Engineer to support Power Generation for Data Center projects. Reporting to the Director of Engineering - Controls and Commissioning, this role will design, implement, test, commission, and optimize control systems for distributed energy assets, including solar PV, battery energy storage, microgrids, backup generation, and monitoring systems. This position requires strong controls engineering capability, hands-on commissioning discipline, clear documentation, and the ability to work closely with engineering, construction, vendors, customers, and operations teams.

What you get to do:

Project Execution and Commissioning Support:

• Support the Director of Engineering - Controls and Commissioning in planning and executing controls deliverables for Power Generation for Data Center projects from design through commissioning and O&M handoff.
• Lead SCADA and controls implementation activities, including design review, programming, configuration, testing, commissioning documentation, and closeout support.
• Coordinate controls, protection, communications, and monitoring deliverables while maintaining clear action trackers, issue logs, and project documentation.
• Collaborate with project engineering, construction, EPC partners, equipment vendors, customers, and operations teams to ensure technical solutions meet project goals and client expectations.
• Support project schedule and budget commitments by identifying controls risks early, communicating status clearly, and driving timely resolution of technical issues.

System Design & Configuration:

• Design and implement control strategies for Data Center, BTM, and microgrid projects, including renewable integration, battery energy storage, backup generation, and energy management optimization.
• Configure and program SCADA and energy management platforms such as Citect, Ignition, Wonderware, WinCC, Aveva or similar systems.
• Configure and program SEL RTUs, RTAC, protection relays and meters.
• Review electrical one-lines, control schematics, I/O lists, network diagrams, and vendor documentation for seamless integration of PLCs, meters, relays, inverters, BESS controllers, gateways, and network infrastructure.
• Integrate field devices and control systems using protocols and networks such as Modbus TCP/RTU, CANbus, TCP/IP, OPC UA, DNP3, IEEE 61850, IEEE C37.118 and related industrial communication standards.
• Develop or review control narratives, sequence of operations, controls architecture, philosophy, points lists, alarm lists, and SCADA graphics requirements.

System Monitoring & Asset Management:

• Specify and implement monitoring and asset management solutions that capture performance, availability, alarms, battery state of charge, and energy output data.
• Configure event logging, alarm management, historian/database tags, dashboards, and secure data transfer to internal cloud or server environments.
• Perform system diagnostics and troubleshooting to improve uptime, reliability, availability, and response time.
• Develop commissioning checklists, asset management protocols, alarm rationalization practices, and predictive maintenance inputs to support long-term reliability.

Commissioning, Testing & Field Support:

• Travel to project sites up to 40% to support installation, commissioning, site acceptance testing, troubleshooting, energization, and turnover activities.
• Lead or support Factory Acceptance Testing (FAT), Site Acceptance Testing (SAT), point-to-point checks, controls checkout, functional performance testing, and integrated systems testing.
• Provide technical support to field teams, electrical contractors, vendors, and O&M personnel during installation, commissioning, and early operations.
• Prepare and review commissioning documentation such as test scripts, completion checklists, cable schedules, control enclosure layouts, relay panel layouts, network addressing tables, redlines, and turnover packages.
• Drive timely closure of commissioning punch-list items and capture lessons learned to improve future project execution.

SCADA and Controls Upgrades:

• Implement upgrades and enhancements to SCADA, PLC, RTU, RTAC controls, monitoring, and reporting systems to improve performance and maintainability.
• Use programming languages such as Python, C#, MATLAB, Simulink, C, or C++ to automate system functions, optimize control logic, and support data analysis.
• Manage database systems such as SQL or MySQL for SCADA data storage, reporting, event review, and performance analytics.
• Coordinate with internal IT/OT stakeholders and vendors on remote access, cybersecurity, network segmentation, credentials, and data connectivity requirements.

What you bring to the role:

• Bachelor's degree in Electrical Engineering, Power Systems Engineering, Computer Engineering, Computer Science, Mechanical Engineering, or a related field; Master's degree preferred.
• Minimum of 5 years of experience in controls engineering, SCADA, industrial automation, or power/energy infrastructure projects.
• Experience supporting power generation for Data Center, renewable energy, battery energy storage, microgrid, distributed generation, or similar power systems projects preferred.
• Experience with Gas Turbine, Reciprocating gas generator controls preferred.
• Strong knowledge of control theory, feedback control, optimization, system identification, instrumentation, and industrial communication networks.
• Hands-on experience with SCADA systems, PLC programming, HMI configuration, industrial automation platforms, controls testing, and field commissioning.
• Familiarity with renewable energy technologies and distributed energy assets, including solar photovoltaics, energy storage systems, generators, fuel cells, CHP, meters, relays, and switchgear.
• Experience with FAT, SAT, integrated systems testing, commissioning documentation, issue tracking, redlines, and project turnover packages.
• Proficiency in programming or analysis tools such as MATLAB, Simulink, Python, C/C++, C#, SQL, or MySQL.
• Ability and willingness to travel to project sites up to 40% for commissioning, testing, troubleshooting, and customer/project support.
• Excellent problem-solving skills and the ability to analyze complex technical issues in both office and field environments.
• Strong communication and interpersonal skills, with the ability to collaborate effectively across engineering, construction, operations, vendors, and customers.
• Detail-oriented with a commitment to safety, quality, reliability, continuous improvement, and clear technical documentation.