Staff Software Controls Engineer - Site Control

Mainspring Energy manufactures and delivers fuel-flexible, low-emissions local power solutions that rapidly add new capacity and deliver reliable, affordable, and sustainable electric power. The company began commercial shipments of its Mainspring Linear Generators in 2020 and today has hundreds of megawatts in advanced development and field operations for leading Fortune 500 companies, data centers, and utilities. Mainspring partners with global energy leaders including AEP, NextEra Energy Resources, and Schneider Electric.

The core values that ground our work, guide our decisions, and connect us together: Pragmatic Optimism, Excellence without Ego, and Proactive Collaboration.

About the role

Mainspring Energy is seeking a highly skilled Staff Controls Software Engineer to develop and test the critical software that integrates our Linear Generators into global energy infrastructure. As an individual contributor (IC) within a high-performing Scrum team, you will focus on building commercial-grade site control systems, ensuring seamless integration with Microgrids, Distributed Energy Resources (DERs), and utility-scale power plants.

Responsibilities

• Design, implement, and test control system features, ensuring they are robust and scalable for a high-volume manufacturing environment
• Develop and maintain communication interfaces using OPC-UA, Modbus, and other industrial protocols to ensure system interoperability
• Build and refine SCADA systems and HMI designs, focusing on creating intuitive operator interfaces and deep diagnostic visibility for the team
• Work closely within a Scrum framework, participating in sprint planning, code reviews, and daily stand-ups to deliver reliable software increments
• Own the testing lifecycle for new features, including unit testing, integration testing, and hardware-in-the-loop (HIL) validation to ensure site safety logic and grid compliance
• Implement strategies for integrating Mainspring technology into Distributed Energy Resource Management Systems (DERMS) and complex microgrid environments
• Work with Product and Hardware teams to translate utility requirements and interconnection standards into functional software specifications

Requirements

• 8+ years of hands-on experience in commercial power generation, industrial automation, or utility-scale energy projects
• Expert proficiency with SCADA, HMI, and industrial controllers (PLCs/PACs)
• Deep hands-on experience with IEC 61131-3 for machine control; experience with IEC 61499 for event-driven architectures is a plus
• Experience with industrial serial protocols (e.g., UART)
• Proven track record of developing and testing control logic for complex power sites (e.g., microgrids, large-scale solar + storage)
• Expert-level proficiency in OPC-UA, MQTT, Modbus, and DNP3 within secure industrial environments
• Experience with grid interconnection standards (e.g., IEEE 1547, UL 1741)
• Knowledge of cybersecurity frameworks for industrial control systems (e.g., NERC CIP)
• Ability to create clear technical documentation and system diagrams that bridge the gap between industrial hardware and modern software

Benefits

• Pre-IPO stock options
• Comprehensive benefits package

Pay

The salary range for this role is $175,000 - $225,000 per year. The level of pay within the range will depend on a variety of job-related factors including location, relevant prior experience, education, and skills. New hires tend to be paid within the starting base pay range noted above, with opportunities to increase pay over time based on development of additional skills, competencies, and company-specific knowledge.

Schedule

This position is onsite at our Menlo Park HQ.