Mainspring Energy is revolutionizing power generation with its innovative technology, the Mainspring Linear Generator. The Senior Staff Engineer will lead the architectural design of site control systems, ensuring seamless integration with microgrids and utility-scale power plants while providing technical mentorship and cross-functional leadership.
Responsibilities:
- Lead the architectural design of site-level control systems, ensuring high-speed, reliable coordination between multiple LGens and balance-of-plant equipment
- Design and implement robust communication interfaces using OPC-UA, Modbus, and other industrial protocols to ensure interoperability
- Own the vision for our SCADA systems and HMI design, focusing on intuitive operator interfaces and deep diagnostic visibility
- Develop strategies for integrating Mainspring technology into Distributed Energy Resource Management Systems (DERMS) and complex microgrid environments
- Act as the subject matter expert for the engineering team on commercial power standards, site safety logic, and grid compliance
- Work closely with Product and Hardware teams to translate utility requirements and interconnection standards into software specifications
Requirements:
- 8+ years of experience in commercial power generation, industrial automation, or utility-scale energy projects
- Deep hands-on experience with SCADA, HMI, and industrial controllers (PLCs/PACs)
- Expert proficiency in IEC 61131-3 for local machine control
- Strong preference for candidates experienced in IEC 61499 to design event-driven, distributed architectures that enable seamless coordination across decoupled site assets
- Expert-level understanding of OPC-UA, MQTT, Modbus, DNP3 (Pub/Sub, Client/Server) and its application in secure industrial environments
- Proven track record of designing control logic for complex power sites (e.g., microgrids, peaking plants, or large-scale solar + storage)
- Ability to draft high-level system diagrams and technical specs that bridge the gap between 'industrial hardware' and 'modern software'
- 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