Senior Controls Engineer
Job Location:
Arlington, TX - USA
Yearly Salary:
Posted on:
Vacancies:
Job Summary
Are you ready to be part of a companythatsnot just talking about the future but actively shaping it Join The AES Corporation the largest US-based global power company witha teamof 8300employees across 12 countries.
AES has beenranked #1 byBloombergNEFin renewable energy sales to corporations in the US and Americas for five consecutive years providing electricityformillions of peopleworldwide.
We are proud to foster a strong workplace culture earning prominent positions in Great Place to Work rankings across the markets where weoperate. AES was also named one of the Worlds Most Ethical Companies for the 13th consecutive year in 2026 highlighting our dedication to integrity transparency and responsible business practices.
Our spirit of innovation continues to earn industry recognition. AES is the only seven-time winner of the Edison Electric Institutes Edison Awards in the twenty-first century a distinction honoringglobal leadership in advancing the electric power industry.
Ifyoureready to be part of a companythatsnot just adapting to change but driving it AES is the place for just building a more sustainable futurewerepowering it. Apply now and energize your career with a true leader inglobalenergy.
Position Summary
The Senior Controls Engineer will lead the design testing commissioning and continuous improvement of plant-level control systems for utility-scale solar and battery energy storage projects.
This role provides technical leadership for Power Plant Controller (PPC) Energy Management System (EMS) and supervisory control solutions that support safe reliable and compliant plant operations. The position partners closely with internal teams OEMs EPCs and operations stakeholders to define control strategies evaluate designs and support successful project execution from design through commercial operation.
The ideal candidate brings strong experience with renewable energy controls technical problem solving and cross-functional collaboration in a fast-paced project environment.
We are open to considering U.S. remote-based candidates preferably located in the Pacific (PST) time zone.
Key Responsibilities
Control Strategy Development and Implementation
Design develop andmaintainplant-level control logic for utility-scale solar PV and BESS facilities including PPC EMS and supervisory control systems.
Develop control strategies for active power control (APC) reactive power control (RPC) frequency response voltage regulation ramp rate limiting and state-of-charge (SOC) management for hybrid solar and storage facilities ensuring performance under expected grid operating conditions.
Develop control logic in IECenvironments such asCodesysAcSELerator BeckhoffTwinCAT or equivalent platforms.
Review OEM and EPC-supplied control strategies and design documentationidentifygaps and risks and provide recommendations that support successful commissioning and long-term operational performance.
Define and support control interfaces for inverter OEMs and BESS vendors including protocols such as Modbus DNP3 and IEC 61850.
Controller Modeling and Validation
Develop and review dynamic controller models in PSS/E to support interconnection andcontrolsvalidation activities.
Support EMT modeling and validation activities in PSCAD/EMTDC toidentifyand resolve control design issues before field implementation.
Support NERC MOD-026 and MOD-027 submissions and respond to ISO/RTO model review comments alongside the power systems team.
Testing Commissioning and Issue Resolution
Develop structured test plans for new control features and product releases with clear acceptance criteria and documented pass/fail expectations.
Support HIL testing environments (RTDS OPAL-RT or equivalent) for controller validation before hardware ever touches a real plant.
Lead or support factory and site acceptance testing (FAT/SAT) including setpoint verification alarm and trip logic validation and SCADA communications checkout while escalating issues and driving resolution as needed.
Support root cause analysis and corrective action development for post-commercial-operation issues ensuring lessons learned are incorporated into future designs and processes.
Technical Standards and Documentation
Ensure control designscomply withapplicable standards including IEEE 1547 IEEE 2800 relevant NERC requirements and project interconnection obligations.
Develop clear and complete documentation including functional specifications logic descriptions I/O lists test procedures and commissioning reports that support consistency maintainability and knowledge transfer.
Stay current on evolving inverter-based resource grid code requirements and apply those insights to engineering standards and project delivery.
Cross-Functional Collaboration and Technical Leadership
Partner with project development engineering and construction teams to support equipment selection vendor evaluation and early identification ofcontrols-related risks.
Collaborate with SCADA commissioning and operations teams to support reliable plant performance through startup and ongoing operations.
Providetechnical guidance to less-experienced engineers through knowledge sharing design review and coaching to support team capability and quality outcomes.
Minimum Qualifications
Education
Bachelors degree in Electrical Engineering Controls Engineering or a closely related field.
Equivalent combinations of education and relevant experience may be consideredin accordance withcompany policy and business needs.
Experience
5 years ofcontrolsengineering experience including work with utility-scale solar PV and/or BESS facilities.
Experience developing control strategies for grid-connected renewable energy assets.
Experience reviewing OEM or EPC control submissions and functional designdocuments andproviding substantive technical feedback.
Working knowledge of PSS/E or PSCAD for controller-level modeling and validation.
Hands-on experience with PPC or EMS commissioning and acceptance testing for utility-scale renewable projects.
Technical Skills
IECcontrol logic development inCodesysAcSELerator BeckhoffTwinCAT or equivalent PLC-based environments.
Strong troubleshooting and root cause analysis skills with the ability to trace issues through softwarecontrolsinterfaces and system behavior.
Working knowledge of PSS/E and/or PSCAD at the controller level.
Communication protocols: Modbus TCP/RTU DNP3 IEC 61850 (GOOSE/MMS)SunSpec.
SCADA/historian familiarity: PI Historian OSIsoft or equivalent.
Python or MATLAB/Simulink for control analysis test automation or data evaluation.
Standards Knowledge
IEEE 1547-2018 and IEEE 2800-2022 interconnection requirements for inverter-based resources.
NERC MOD-026 MOD-027 and PRC-024 familiarity.
General awareness of UL 9540 / UL 9540A for BESS systems.
Preferred Qualifications
HIL testing experience with RTDS/RSCAD OPAL-RT orSpeedgoat
MATLAB/Simulink for control modeling or algorithm prototyping
BESS dispatch optimization degradation-aware SOC management or demand response control strategies
Experience with Emerson Ovation ABB Ability or Schweitzer SEL platforms in renewable energy applications
Working knowledge of interconnection processes at ERCOT CAISO MISO PJM or WECC as they relate to controls and model submissions
Familiarity with OT/ICS cybersecurity frameworks (IEC 62443 NERC CIP basics)
Professional Engineer (PE) license
Required Experience:
Senior IC
About Company
AES is a global energy company that creates greener, smarter and innovative energy solutions. Together, we can accelerate the future of energy.
