Instrumentation & Controls Engineer
About The Position
Fervo Energy is hiring an Instrumentation & Controls Engineer to lead the design and optimization of instrumentation and controls systems for its geothermal power plants. The engineer will use advanced engineering judgment and first-principles analysis to develop high-performance, cost-effective designs, mentor junior engineers, and influence cross-disciplinary decisions. As Fervo scales from first-of-a-kind projects to repeatable plant deployments, the role will help drive standardization and efficiency across projects. The position develops control system architectures for standardized 50 MW geothermal power blocks and maintains SCADA and PLC applications, documentation, instrumentation specifications, panels, and industrial networks. It supports procurement, fabrication, construction, commissioning, and operations troubleshooting, while coordinating with process, mechanical, electrical, IT/OT, cybersecurity, and field teams. The role follows a hybrid schedule, with employees expected to work in an office three days per week at one of Fervo Energy’s listed locations: Houston, Texas; Golden, Colorado; Reno, Nevada; Oakland, California; or Salt Lake City, Utah.
Requirements
- Bachelor’s degree in Electrical Engineering, Chemical Engineering, or a related discipline from an ABET-accredited program.
- Seven years of experience in Instrumentation & Control Engineering or a related role.
- Strong working knowledge of industry standards and regulations.
- Ability to lead and mentor junior staff.
- Advanced oral and written communication skills and a proven ability to write clear, thorough technical reports.
- Knowledge and application of the National Electrical Code (NEC), International Society of Automation (ISA) standards, and other applicable industry codes and standards for control system specification and design.
- Understanding of process equipment such as vessels, tanks, heat exchangers and coolers, heaters, rotating equipment, packaged equipment, valves, and specialty items.
- General understanding of all phases of project document production and the relationship between drawings and specifications.
- Experience with process flow/P&ID development, control narratives, cause-and-effect charts, SIS design, instrumentation studies, valve and instrument sizing, and automation/control system architecture.
Nice To Haves
- Field experience.
Responsibilities
- Design control system architectures for standardized 50 MW geothermal power blocks, including control philosophies, cause-and-effect matrices, control narratives, and I/O lists.
- Develop and maintain Ignition SCADA applications using Perspective, including server architectures, HMI screens, tag configuration, alarms, historian integration, and report generation.
- Program Allen-Bradley ControlLogix and CompactLogix PLCs using Rockwell Studio 5000 and contribute to the maintenance and evolution of Fervo’s shared code library.
- Produce complete I&C drawing packages, including control system architecture drawings, panel designs, instrument loop diagrams, wiring diagrams, and low-voltage wiring schematics.
- Review P&IDs and instrument datasheets; size and select instrumentation such as control valves, flow meters, pressure transmitters, and safety valves.
- Design and specify control panels, including enclosure layout, component selection, and low-voltage wiring; coordinate with panel fabricators through construction and factory acceptance testing.
- Configure and troubleshoot industrial communication networks, including Modbus TCP/IP, EtherNet/IP, Profinet, and OPC-UA; support fiber-optic infrastructure design and installation coordination.
- Support greenfield construction and commissioning at Fervo sites, including site visits, SAT support, loop checks, and coordination with instrumentation and electrical contractors.
- Collaborate with process, mechanical, and electrical engineering disciplines to integrate I&C design across the standardized 50 MW Geoblock product and support HAZOP and PHA evaluations.
- Coordinate with IT/OT and cybersecurity teams to meet network segmentation and secure remote-access requirements in control system designs.
- Troubleshoot process control, control network, and instrumentation problems in the field; support operations teams during startup and steady-state operation.
- Assist process and mechanical engineers, support field evaluations and HAZOP/PHA reviews, and contribute to procurement documents, specifications, bid documents, and instrument/PLC I/O lists.
Benefits
- Medical, dental, and vision plan options.
- Employer-paid basic life insurance and short-term and long-term disability coverage.
- 401(k) plan with up to 6% employer match.
- Flexible paid time off.
- Paid parental leave.
- Family-building, fertility, hormonal health, pregnancy, postpartum, and parenting support through Carrot.
- Dependent care FSA for eligible child and elder care expenses.
- Annual Lifestyle Spending Account for eligible wellness expenses, including fitness, financial planning, pet insurance, and pet care.
- Employee ownership opportunities through Fervo’s Employee Stock Purchase Program.
- Long-term incentive and bonus opportunities for eligible roles.
- Incentive stock options program.
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What This Job Offers
Job Type
Full-time
Career Level
Senior
