Sr. Project Controls Engineer

Location: Berkeley, California, United States

Department: SCADA Engineering and Product

Workplace: remote

Description

Role Purpose

The Project Controls Engineer supports the design, configuration, commissioning, and documentation of plant control systems for utility-scale solar, storage, and hybrid renewable energy projects. This engineer executes project work with guidance from senior engineers, applies working knowledge of grid functionality and Utility/ISO standards, and contributes to the continuous improvement of product standards. Approximately 90% of this role is project execution, while up to 10% is continuous improvement and product development.

Responsibilities

Project Execution & Technical Delivery (~90%)

• Execute controls design for utility-scale solar, BESS, and hybrid projects under the guidance of senior engineers, including review of the project scope to identify project-specific requirements and deviations from the standard Terabase controls product offering.

• Program and commission SEL controllers using AcSELerator; develop control logic in Codesys using IEC 61131-3 structured text and continuous function charts

• Follow the controls development process for any project-specific development work, including documentation of requirements, logic development, testing in a simulated/lab environment and documentation of test results.

• Implement and validate closed-loop Active Power and Reactive Power, AVR and PFR Algorithms

• Maintain version control for all code artifacts according to established version control procedure (Bitbucket)

• Troubleshoot SCADA and controls issues using Wireshark, breakpoints, cross-reference, and watch list tools, escalating complex issues to senior engineers as needed

• Produce project deliverables: System Architecture Diagrams, Control Narratives, Logic Diagrams, commissioning documents, and operator manuals

Product & Process Improvement (~10%)

• Contribute to new feature development and bug fixes in collaboration with the Product Engineering team

• Prepare technical and non-technical documentation for review by senior controls engineers

• Participate in the Continuous Improvement and Lessons Learned program, sharing field insights to inform product standards and templates

• Prepare for FATs and customer-facing presentations with coaching from senior engineers

Stakeholder Communication & Collaboration

• Support senior engineers as a controls technical contact for EPCs, asset owners, and grid operators through project execution, FAT, and commissioning

• Support FATs and lead assigned portions as formal presentations; communicate to non-technical audiences with supporting materials prepared in advance

• Flag technical risks and schedule pressures to project management team with context and proposed solutions

• Maintain Jira tickets daily with thorough detail, following Jira best practices

Expectations & Success Indicators

• Deliver high-quality work across multiple concurrent projects with ownership and urgency, seeking guidance when needed

• Leverage standardized platforms and tools to work efficiently

• Maintain 100% adherence to Terabase quality processes

• Actively develop technical skills through code reviews, feedback, and FAT participation alongside senior engineers

• Project deliverables completed on time, within scope, and meeting Utility/ISO regulatory standards

• Jira, version control, and documentation consistently maintained without follow-up from management

• Build growing expertise in Terabase SCADA and Utility-Scale grid controls, progressing toward independent project ownership

• Travel up to 10% for on-site commissioning, FAT, and customer engagements

Requirements

Requirements

Education & Experience

• Bachelor’s degree or higher in Engineering, Control Systems, Computer Science, or related field

• 3+ years of IEC 61131-3/PLC programming experience, preferably in Codesys or AcSELerator environment

• 2+ year of utility-scale renewable power plant controls experience (solar, BESS, or hybrid) preferred, including exposure to project-specific development work, Factory Acceptance Test (FAT), commissioning and Site Acceptance Test (SAT)

Technical Skills

• Proficient IEC 61131-3 programming; primary IDE is AcSELerator (SEL controllers) and Codesys, familiarity with Diagram Builder; proficiency with using traces, cross-references, breakpoints, and watch lists

• Working knowledge of industrial protocols: Modbus-TCP, DNP3, OPC-UA, C37.118, etc.

• Solid understanding of grid functionality: Primary Frequency Response (PFR), Automatic Voltage Regulation (AVR), Active/Reactive power closed loop control, and capacitor bank functionality – including the underlying principles

• Familiarity with Utility/ISO testing and interconnection requirements (ERCOT, PJM, BPA, IEEE 2800, NERC, etc.)

• Exposure to Power Plant Controller (PPC) design, configuration, and commissioning

• Familiarity with PSCAD, PSSE, and/or TSAT modeling processes for utility-scale sites is a plus

• Exposure to hardware in the loop (HIL) hardware, such as RTDS, OPAL-RT, Speedgoat, Typhoon, etc., is a plus

Benefits

Compensation And Benefits

Our salary ranges are determined by role, level, and location. This role offers a base salary of $120,000 – $140,000. Within each posted range, individual pay is determined (and may be greater or higher), dependent on work location and additional factors, including job-related skills, experience, and relevant education or training. Terabase offers competitive compensation along with a comprehensive benefits package, including:

• Generous time off and holiday policy

• Flexible time off

• Comprehensive benefits package

• Career progression

• 401k match

• Stock options

• Home office set up allowance

• And much more!

Terabase is an equal opportunity employer. We recruit, hire, employ, train, promote, and compensate individuals based on job-related qualifications and abilities. We strongly encourage people of all backgrounds to apply.

We do not discriminate for any reason including race, color, sex, gender, age, religion or religious creed, national origin, ancestry, citizenship, marital status, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, genetic information, physical or mental disability, military/ veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by law.

We offer a welcoming and inclusive environment in service to one another, our products, the diverse consumers we represent, and the communities we call home.