Senior Instrumentation & Controls Engineer

Fervo Energy•Reno, NV

6h•$140,000 - $170,000•Hybrid

About The Position

Fervo Energy is seeking a Senior Instrumentation & Controls Engineer to lead the design and optimization of instrumentation and controls systems for its geothermal power plants. The role applies advanced engineering judgment and first-principles analysis to develop high-performance, cost-effective designs, while mentoring junior engineers and influencing cross-disciplinary decisions. As Fervo scales from first-of-a-kind projects to repeatable plant deployments, this engineer will help improve standardization and efficiency across projects. The engineer will design control architectures for standardized 50 MW geothermal power blocks and develop SCADA applications, PLC programs, instrumentation and control drawings, and control panels. The position also supports equipment selection, industrial communications, construction and commissioning, troubleshooting, cybersecurity coordination, and integration with process, mechanical, electrical, and operations teams. The role is based at the Houston, Texas; Oakland, California; or Reno, Nevada office. It follows a hybrid schedule, with employees expected to work in the office three days per week; regular in-office presence is an essential function.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree in Electrical Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Chemical Engineering, or a related discipline from an ABET-accredited program.
9–12 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 demonstrated 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 codes and standards for control system specification and design.
Understanding of process equipment, including vessels, tanks, heat exchangers and coolers, heaters, rotating equipment such as pumps and compressors, packaged equipment, valves, and specialty items.
General understanding of project document production phases and the relationship between drawings and specifications.
Experience with process flow and P&ID development, control narratives, Cause & Effect charts, SIS design, instrumentation studies, valve and instrument sizing, and automation/control system architecture.
Ability to 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.

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, alarming, historian integration, and report generation.
Program Allen-Bradley ControlLogix and CompactLogix PLCs in Rockwell Studio 5000 using standard code blocks, and contribute to maintaining and evolving the 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 control valves, flow meters, pressure transmitters, safety valves, and other instrumentation.
Design and specify control panels, including enclosure layouts, 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.
Troubleshoot process control, control network, and instrumentation problems in the field; support operations teams during startup and steady-state operation.

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 flexible spending account 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 the Employee Stock Purchase Program.
Long-term incentive and bonus opportunities for eligible roles.