Controls Engineer (Power Generation)

Location: US - Remote. Travel: 50%.

Salary: $177K–$285K plus equity.

Company

OpenAI is an AI research and deployment company building products and infrastructure for safely deploying general-purpose artificial intelligence.

What you will do

• Design control-system architecture, functional specifications, operating sequences, cause-and-effect matrices, alarm philosophy, and interface requirements for on-site power generation.
• Integrate OEM controls, PLCs, DCS, SCADA, historians, microgrid controllers, protection systems, and data center BMS or EPMS platforms.
• Develop and review I/O lists, network architecture, control narratives, graphics, alarms, interlocks, permissives, and fail-safe behavior.
• Coordinate synchronization, load sharing, islanding, black start, load shedding, restoration, and generation-to-data-center operating modes.
• Lead or support software reviews, simulator testing, factory acceptance testing, site acceptance testing, commissioning, tuning, and performance troubleshooting.
• Partner with electrical, mechanical, CSA, IT, security, operations, OEM, EPC, and data center controls teams; convert findings into corrective actions and reusable standards.

Requirements

• 8+ years of controls, automation, or instrumentation engineering experience in power generation, industrial plants, utilities, or mission-critical infrastructure.
• Strong experience with PLC, DCS, SCADA, historian, industrial networking, and control-system integration.
• Knowledge of generation controls, synchronization, load sharing, protective interfaces, process control, and safety interlocks.
• Experience developing functional specifications, sequences, I/O, alarms, graphics, and factory or site test procedures.
• Ability to troubleshoot across software, instrumentation, electrical, mechanical, communications, and operating-process boundaries.
• Understanding of industrial cybersecurity, redundancy, failover, and change-control practices.
• Bachelor’s degree in controls, electrical, mechanical, chemical engineering, computer engineering, or a related field.

Nice to have

• Experience with major turbine or reciprocating-engine control platforms and microgrid controllers.
• Experience with IEC 61850, Modbus, OPC UA, DNP3, EtherNet/IP, or comparable industrial protocols.
• Experience integrating generation controls with BMS, EPMS, DCIM, or utility systems.
• Professional Engineer license, functional-safety training, or industrial-cybersecurity certification.

Culture & Benefits

• Full-time role in OpenAI’s Scaling department.
• Remote work arrangement with 50% travel.
• Equity is included in the compensation package.
• Equal opportunity employer committed to reasonable accommodations and legally compliant background checks.