Senior Staff Engineer: Power Systems & Site Control

Mainspring Energy•Menlo Park, CA

3d•Remote

About The Position

Mainspring Energy is looking for a Technical Lead & Architect to define the future of how our Linear Generators integrate into the global energy infrastructure. You will be the primary architect for commercial-grade site control systems, ensuring our technology seamlessly integrates with Microgrids, Distributed Energy Resources (DERs), and utility-scale power plants. You aren’t just writing code; you are designing the communication and control backbone that allows our generators to play nicely with solar, storage, and the grid.

Requirements

Industry Experience: 8+ years of experience in commercial power generation, industrial automation, or utility-scale energy projects
Systems Expertise: Deep hands-on experience with SCADA, HMI, and industrial controllers (PLCs/PACs).Expert proficiency in IEC 61131-3 for local machine control. Additionally, a strong preference for candidates experienced in IEC 61499 to design event-driven, distributed architectures that enable seamless coordination across decoupled site assets
Deep Protocol Knowledge: Expert-level understanding of OPC-UA , MQTT, Modbus, DNP3 (Pub/Sub, Client/Server) and its application in secure industrial environments
Site Design: Proven track record of designing control logic for complex power sites (e.g., microgrids, peaking plants, or large-scale solar + storage)
Architectural Fluency: Ability to draft high-level system diagrams and technical specs that bridge the gap between "industrial hardware" and "modern software"

Nice To Haves

Experience with grid interconnection standards (e.g., IEEE 1547, UL 1741)
Knowledge of cybersecurity frameworks for industrial control systems (NERC CIP, etc.)
Background in Python or C++ for high-performance industrial applications

Responsibilities

Site Architecture: Lead the architectural design of site-level control systems, ensuring high-speed, reliable coordination between multiple LGens and balance-of-plant equipment
Protocol Mastery: Design and implement robust communication interfaces using OPC-UA, Modbus, and other industrial protocols to ensure interoperability
SCADA & HMI Development: Own the vision for our SCADA systems and HMI design, focusing on intuitive operator interfaces and deep diagnostic visibility
DER Integration: Develop strategies for integrating Mainspring technology into Distributed Energy Resource Management Systems (DERMS) and complex microgrid environments
Technical Mentorship: Act as the subject matter expert for the engineering team on commercial power standards, site safety logic, and grid compliance
Cross-Functional Leadership: Work closely with Product and Hardware teams to translate utility requirements and interconnection standards into software specifications