Lead Controls Software Engineer

Voltify•Jacksonville, FL

3d•$140,000 - $180,000•Hybrid

About The Position

Voltify is developing next-generation battery locomotives that autonomously and dynamically fast-charge via a dedicated self-sustaining microgrid network. This initiative aims to reduce rail industry dependency on fossil fuels and lower energy expenses by over 20%. The company has secured over $50 million in contingent orders from major global rail companies and has raised over $30 million from prominent investors. The founding team has a history of building successful billion-dollar companies in the renewable energy and infrastructure sectors. This role involves owning the controller software for the microgrid control management system, which commands real energy assets and ensures the reliable operation of locomotive charging infrastructure. The engineer will design, implement, and deploy control software on various PLC platforms, integrating diverse energy assets like solar, BESS, grid interconnects, and chargers into a unified control plane. The software will directly control physical hardware to optimize energy flows for advanced rail transportation. The position requires a versatile individual capable of understanding the entire system architecture while also focusing on intricate details. The role offers significant future growth potential, with the expectation that the individual will eventually build and lead the U.S. controls team. The company culture emphasizes extreme ownership and speed, appealing to those who want to actively build the future of rail energy.

Requirements

6+ years of hands-on PLC software development experience.
Proven experience implementing multiple types of PLCs, including both hardware PLCs and soft-PLCs.
Strong command of at least two PLC environments (e.g., Codesys, Siemens, Rockwell, Beckhoff, B&R, Schneider, Mitsubishi, Omron) and the ability to quickly learn new platforms.
Fluency in IEC 61131-3 languages (Structured Text, Ladder, FBD, SFC) with sound judgment on when to use each.
Fluency in industrial communication protocols: Modbus TCP/RTU, OPC-UA, DNP3, or CANbus.
Proven track record of integrating software with physical hardware.
Comfort debugging issues involving hardware, protocols, and register maps.
Good proficiency in Python, including building standalone services, data pipelines, and automation tools.
Ability to hold the entire system architecture in mind while focusing on details.
Adaptability to changing requirements and effectiveness in unfamiliar tasks.
Extreme ownership, strong research and learning ability, and excellent critical-thinking and problem-solving skills.
Willingness to travel extensively to sites across the U.S. (and occasionally beyond).
Ambition and interpersonal skills to grow into a leadership role managing the U.S. team.

Nice To Haves

Experience implementing microgrids or working with DERs, power flows, and energy management systems.
Experience with AWS services (e.g., IoT Core, Lambda, DynamoDB) for cloud-connected control applications.
Experience with JavaScript/TypeScript for dashboards or internal tooling.

Responsibilities

Design, develop, deploy, and maintain PLC software for microgrid control management across a variety of platforms, including hardware PLCs and soft-PLCs (PC-based / runtime controllers).
Implement control logic in CODESYS and other proprietary/vendor-specific environments (e.g., Siemens TIA Portal, Rockwell Allen-Bradley Studio 5000, Beckhoff TwinCAT, B&R Automation Studio, Schneider EcoStruxure, Mitsubishi GX Works, Omron Sysmac).
Write robust, maintainable code using IEC 61131-3 languages (Structured Text, Ladder, Function Block Diagram, Sequential Function Chart) as required by the platform and task.
Architect and implement control for complex microgrid systems, managing solar inverters, battery energy storage systems (BESS), grid-tie interconnections, and EV/locomotive chargers, including islanding/reconnection and protection coordination.
Integrate diverse industrial hardware using protocols such as Modbus TCP/RTU, OPC-UA, DNP3, and CANbus.
Implement and harden the bi-directional Cloud ↔ Edge communication pipeline (e.g., via MQTT), ensuring data integrity and handling connectivity edge cases.
Travel frequently to deployment sites for on-site commissioning, integration testing, and troubleshooting.
Set engineering standards, conduct code reviews, define MVPs, and make architectural decisions balancing speed with reliability.
Lay the groundwork to build and lead the U.S. controls team.