Controls and SCADA Engineering Manager

Fluence is seeking a Controls & SCADA Engineering Manager to strengthen its Solution Engineering capabilities across the Americas region. This role reports to the Director of Network Software Deployment and leads a team of Controls & SCADA Engineers, working in close collaboration with Network Support Engineers, Systems Deployment Engineers, and cross‑functional stakeholders to support regional project execution.

The Manager of Controls & SCADA Engineering is responsible for technical leadership, team development, and delivery oversight of controls, SCADA, monitoring, and communications solutions supporting next‑generation Battery Energy Storage Systems (BESS), power integration, and utility‑scale power plant solutions. This role ensures the consistent development and deployment of scalable, reliable, and cost‑effective controls and network architectures, aligned with Fluence standards and customer requirements.

In this position, the manager provides direction and governance across the full project lifecycle, guiding teams from initial system concepts through construction‑ready designs, commissioning, and handover. The role requires close coordination with internal engineering disciplines, product teams, EPC partners, and external contractors to ensure solutions are technically sound, execution‑ready, and aligned with project, safety, and quality expectations.

Key Responsibilities

• Serve as the primary technical authority and escalation point for controls, SCADA, industrial networking, and OT system integration across the full project lifecycle, from concept and design through commissioning and handover.
• Provide technical leadership and delivery oversight for controls and SCADA engineering across multiple concurrent energy storage projects, ensuring consistent execution, quality, and alignment with Fluence standards.
• Own the technical governance and direction of Fluence OS (FOS) controls and network solutions, including EMS, PLCs, HMIs, data acquisition platforms, and ICS/OT architectures, ensuring solutions are scalable, reliable, and deployment‑ready.
• Guide the development and maintenance of controls architectures, functional descriptions, and integration strategies supporting BESS functionality and interfaces with higher‑level plant controllers and multi‑asset systems.
• Oversee the creation and validation of controls specifications, points lists, and data integration mappings (e.g., OPC, telemetry interfaces) to meet customer monitoring, control, and data requirements.
• Define and oversee FAT and SAT strategies, working closely with Network Design, Systems Deployment, and Commissioning teams to reduce commissioning risk, duration, and rework.
• Ensure all controls and SCADA engineering deliverables are contract‑compliant, constructible, and regionally appropriate, accounting for applicable codes, standards, jurisdictional requirements, and cost impacts.
• Maintain awareness of industry codes, standards, certifications, and regulatory requirements related to energy storage and power systems, and support project leadership in securing approvals and addressing compliance risks.
• Partner with Project Managers and Project Engineers to plan, prioritize, and resource controls and SCADA activities across the project portfolio, balancing workload, schedules, and technical risk.
• Lead and support technical issue resolution across design, deployment, and commissioning, driving root cause analysis, corrective actions, and knowledge capture to prevent recurrence.
• Mentor, coach, and develop Controls & SCADA Engineers, providing technical guidance, reviewing engineering outputs, and fostering consistent engineering rigor and professional growth.
• Drive the continuous improvement of engineering processes, standards, templates, test procedures, and deployment tools to improve efficiency, quality, and scalability.
• Track, analyze, and improve operational performance metrics, including deployment quality, commissioning efficiency, issue recurrence, and lessons learned.
• Champion a strong culture of safety, documentation discipline, engineering excellence, and quality execution across the controls and SCADA organization.
• Communicate complex technical concepts clearly and effectively to technical and non‑technical stakeholders, including project leadership, customers, and executive audiences.
• Support project execution primarily through remote engineering and oversight, with travel to project sites as required to enable successful delivery, troubleshooting, and stakeholder alignment.

Required Qualifications & Experience

• 10+ years of progressive experience designing, implementing, and supporting Controls, Communications, Network, and SCADA systems within the power utility or related industries, including BESS, PV, or hybrid power systems, with demonstrated expert‑level proficiency in industrial SCADA, DCS, and DAS platforms.
• Bachelor's degree in Electrical Engineering, Industrial Automation, Computer Engineering, Information Technology, or a related discipline (or equivalent practical experience).
• Demonstrated technical leadership in PLC and HMI systems, including oversight of programming, configuration, testing, commissioning, and long‑term support for utility‑scale or renewable energy applications.
• Deep systems‑level knowledge of power plant controls, including SCADA architectures, data acquisition, plant and site controllers, PCS controls, Battery Management Systems (BMS), and integration across low‑, medium‑, and high‑voltage electrical systems.
• Proven experience leading engineering execution for EPC‑style power projects, encompassing SCADA, communications, controls systems, protection and metering, and integration with utility and grid operator interfaces.
• Broad experience with industrial automation platforms and field devices, including:
  • PLC platforms (e.g., Siemens S7, Allen Bradley ControlLogix) and IEC 61131‑based soft logic.
  • Protection relays and power quality/revenue metering systems (e.g., SEL, Electro Industries, Siemens SICAM, Bachmann, or equivalent).
  • SCADA gateways, RTUs, and data concentrators.
• Strong understanding of industrial networking and OT architectures, including TCP/IP, routing, switching, managed Ethernet switches, fiber and serial communications, and deployment of enterprise‑grade network equipment (e.g., Cisco) in operational environments.
• Solid understanding of industrial cybersecurity principles, including firewalls, network segmentation, secure remote access, and server infrastructure, aligned with OT/IT security best practices.
• General knowledge of the design, operation, and maintenance of high‑voltage electrical equipment, including inverters, transformers, I/O systems, telecommunications equipment, and plant‑level controllers.
• Proven experience leading, mentoring, and developing engineers and technical staff, including coordinating contractors and external engineering partners within matrixed and cross‑functional organizations.
• Demonstrated ability to manage multiple complex projects and competing priorities, providing technical direction and decision‑making to meet schedule, budget, quality, and customer objectives.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to clearly convey complex technical concepts and influence without direct authority across technical, commercial, and customer‑facing stakeholders.
• Familiarity with workplace safety standards, procedures, and regulatory compliance requirements applicable to industrial, construction, and utility‑scale environments.

Additional Skills

• Experience supporting Battery Energy Storage Systems (BESS), renewable energy projects (PV or hybrid systems), or large‑scale industrial or utility infrastructure, particularly in EPC or multi‑site deployment environments.
• Background in industrial control systems (ICS) and SCADA architectures, with demonstrated exposure to IT/OT convergence, enterprise integration, and modern operational technology ecosystems.
• Familiarity with the Ignition SCADA / IIoT platform (Inductive Automation), including its use for visualization, data integration, or fleet‑level monitoring strategies.
• Experience overseeing or supporting virtualized and containerized environments (e.g., VMware, Proxmox, Docker) used in SCADA, EMS, or OT system deployments.
• Working knowledge of Linux‑based systems commonly used in controls, SCADA, or OT environments, sufficient to guide teams, support troubleshooting, and collaborate effectively with IT and platform teams.
• Willingness and ability to travel up to 30%, as required to support team members projects, commissioning activities, team development, and key stakeholder engagements.

Our Culture

At Fluence, our culture is the foundation that drives our ambitious growth strategy and fuels our mission to transform the future of energy. Our core cultural pillars empower us to innovate, collaborate, and lead with purpose, ensuring we continue to deliver unparalleled value to our customers and the world.

Unleash Voices

We believe every voice matters. We encourage openness, active listening, and decisive action to create a culture where everyone has the opportunity to contribute to our success. We foster an environment where diverse perspectives are heard and valued, driving innovation and progress.

Customer Fluent

Our customers are at the heart of everything we do. We're committed to delivering exceptional value that exceeds expectations by understanding our customers' needs and adapting swiftly to meet them. Our deep focus on customer satisfaction drives us to continuously improve and innovate.

Infinite Impact

We are committed to creating the impossible. We push boundaries to deliver sustainable, game-changing solutions that shape a brighter, more energy-efficient future for all. Our team is passionate about making a lasting impact that will resonate for generations to come.

All In

We are all in for growth. Our teams are relentlessly focused on identifying and seizing opportunities that propel us forward. We embrace an ownership mindset, pushing ourselves and each other to accelerate progress and create lasting success.