Staff Software Controls Engineer - Site Control

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