Controls & SCADA Engineer

ABOUT THE POSITION 

Fluence is seeking a Controls & SCADA Engineer to strengthen its Solution Engineering capabilities across the Americas region. This role reports to the Controls and SCADA Engineering Manager and works collaboratively with Network Support Engineers, other Controls & SCADA Engineers, and Systems Deployment Engineers to support and execute regional projects. 

The Controls & SCADA Engineer contributes to the design, development, and deployment of innovative controls, monitoring, and automation solutions, supporting next‑generation Battery Energy Storage Systems (BESS), power integration initiatives, and state‑of‑the‑art utility‑scale power plants. The role plays a key part in delivering cost‑effective, reliable, and scalable network and controls systems aligned with Fluence standards and customer requirements. 

In this position, the engineer translates initial system concepts into fully detailed, construction‑ready designs, working closely with internal engineering teams, product groups, EPC partners, and external contractors. The role supports projects throughout the lifecycle—from system design and integration through deployment and commissioning—ensuring technical quality, constructability, and successful execution. 

Key Responsibilities 

• Serve as the primary technical authority and trusted advisor for controls, SCADA, and industrial networking throughout the full project lifecycle—from design through commissioning and handover. 

• Lead the engineering development, coordination, review, and technical oversight of multiple contracted energy storage projects at varying stages of execution. 

• Own the specification, design, testing, and startup of Fluence OS (FOS) controls and network solutions, including Energy Management Systems (EMS), PLCs, HMIs, data collectors, and other ICS/OT components. Application‑specific training will be provided to support commissioning activities. 

• Develop and maintain controls architecture, controls narratives, and integration strategies for BESS functionality, including interfaces with higher‑level plant controllers managing multiple asset types. 

• Create and manage controls specifications, points lists, and OPC mappings to support customer remote monitoring, control, and data integration requirements. 

• Define and execute FAT and SAT strategies in collaboration with Network Design and Systems Deployment teams to reduce commissioning risk and duration. 

• Coordinate and manage external engineering firms, subcontractors, and cross‑functional internal teams (electrical, network, manufacturing, fire suppression, product, deployment, and commissioning) to ensure high‑quality, on‑time, and on‑budget delivery. 

• Ensure all engineering deliverables are contract‑compliant, constructible, and regionally appropriate, accounting for jurisdictional codes, standards, and cost impacts. 

• Maintain working knowledge of applicable codes, standards, and certifications within the energy storage industry and support project leadership in securing regulatory and jurisdictional approvals. 

• Partner with Project Managers and Project Engineers to plan, prioritize, and resource controls and SCADA activities across multiple concurrent projects. 

• Act as the technical escalation point for complex controls, SCADA, networking, and system‑integration issues during design, deployment, and commissioning. 

• Support technical issue resolution across the project lifecycle, driving root‑cause analysis and corrective actions. 

• Contribute to the development and continuous improvement of engineering processes, templates, test procedures, and deployment tools. 

• Track and improve operational performance metrics, including deployment quality, commissioning efficiency, and issue recurrence. 

• Champion continuous improvement initiatives related to OS deployment, controls functionality, and OT/network integration. 

• Communicate complex technical concepts clearly and effectively to both technical and non‑technical stakeholders, including project leadership and customers. 

• Promote a strong culture of safety, documentation discipline, engineering rigor, and quality execution. 

• Perform the majority of configuration and deployment tasks remotely; however, travel to project sites is required as needed to support successful execution. 

Required Qualifications 

• 7+ years of experience designing, implementing, and supporting Controls, Communications, Network, and SCADA systems within the power utility or related industries, including BESS, PV, or hybrid power systems. Demonstrated intermediate-to-expert proficiency with industrial SCADA, DCS, and DAS platforms. 

• Bachelor’s degree in Electrical Engineering, Industrial Automation, Computer Engineering, Information Technology, or a related discipline (or equivalent practical experience). 

• Strong experience with PLC and HMI development, including programming, configuration, testing, and commissioning for renewable energy or utility-scale power applications. 

• Deep technical knowledge of power plant control systems, including SCADA development, data acquisition, power plant controllers, PCS controls, Battery Management Systems (BMS), and integration with low-, medium-, and high-voltage electrical systems. 

• Proven experience executing engineering for EPC-style power projects, encompassing SCADA, communications, controls systems, protection and metering, and integration with utility and grid operator interfaces. 

• Hands-on experience with industrial communication protocols, including IEC 60870-5-101/103/104, IEC 61850 MMS, DNP3, Modbus TCP/RTU, OPC UA, and MQTT. 

• Working knowledge of industrial automation hardware and platforms, including: 

• PLCs (e.g., Siemens S7, Allen Bradley ControlLogix) and IEC 61131-based soft logic. 

• Protection relays and power quality/revenue meters (e.g., SEL, Electro Industries, SICAM, Bachmann Electronic, etc.). 

• SCADA gateways, RTUs, and data concentrators. 

• Strong understanding of industrial networking, including TCP/IP, routing, switching, managed Ethernet switches, fiber and serial media, and deployment of enterprise-grade network equipment (e.g., Cisco) in operational technology (OT) environments. 

• Knowledge of cybersecurity principles for industrial control systems, including firewalls, network segmentation, secure remote access, and server infrastructure in compliance with OT/IT security best practices. 

• General understanding of the design, operation, and maintenance of high-voltage electrical equipment, such as inverters, transformers, I/O systems, telecommunications equipment, and plant-level controllers. 

• Experience leading or mentoring engineers, technicians, or contractors in the electric power or related industrial sectors; ability to work effectively within matrixed and cross-functional organizations. 

• Demonstrated ability to manage multiple projects and competing priorities, delivering time-sensitive engineering solutions with minimal supervision, while meeting budget, schedule, and customer expectations. 

• Experience working in Agile/SCRUM environments, including task tracking and delivery using tools such as JIRA. 

• Strong written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to collaborate across disciplines and influence without direct authority. 

• Familiarity with workplace safety standards, procedures, and compliance requirements applicable to industrial and utility-scale environments. 

Preferred Qualifications 

• Experience supporting Battery Energy Storage Systems (BESS), renewable energy projects (PV or hybrid systems), or large-scale industrial infrastructure. 

• Background in industrial control systems (ICS) and SCADA architectures, with exposure to IT/OT convergence in operational environments. 

• Experience with the Ignition SCADA / IIoT platform (Inductive Automation), including system configuration, visualization, or data integration. 

• Familiarity with virtualization and containerization platforms, such as VMware, Proxmox, and Docker, in support of SCADA or OT system deployments. 

• Basic working knowledge of Linux system administration, including system configuration, troubleshooting, and operational support. 

• Willingness and ability to travel up to 30%, as required to support project execution, commissioning, and on-site troubleshooting.