Principal Controls Engineer

About Wattch

Wattch enables observability intelligence and control for renewable energy systems of all shapes and sizes. Were building hybrid SCADAunified monitoring and control for distributed energy. We serve customers across solar battery storage EV charging and industrial power applications from 10kW rooftop systems to 100MW utility-scale projects bridging the gap between traditional SCADA and the fragmented monitoring tools used for distributed resources.

About the role

Wattchs controls practice was built by our founderssix years of architecting and implementing SCADA for our most demanding projects. As Wattch grows their attention is increasingly split. Were looking for an engineer who can work shoulder-to-shoulder with them on these challenges and eventually own the technical direction of our entire controls practice.

Youll join a world-class engineering team and contribute to the core platform that powers our implementationswith technical leadership responsibilities that match your experience from day one. If youve spent years deploying other peoples controls platforms and have opinions about how they should work this is your chance to build something better.

What youll work on

These are examples of real projects from our current queue youd contribute to:

• 100MWh 24/7/365 offgrid-capable storagesolar for an industrial facility
• Data center PV integration with complex multi-interconnect load-following requirements
• Multi-asset VPP coordination across distributed sites
• Market-participating front-of-meter DC-coupled BESS
• Building processes that enable our project managerss to scale standardized implementationsload following BTM storage utility telemetryacross a rapidly growing portfolio

On a given day you may...

• Architect and implement controls for complex distributed energy projects
• Implement utility interconnection requirements for telemetry and control
• Collaborate with software engineers to improve the underlying controls stack
• Interface with clients (technical and commercial) utilities and OEMs
• Remotely support commissioning and troubleshooting alongside field teams

Youre perfect for this role if you...

• Have a strong grasp of controls first principlesfeedback loops stability system dynamics
• Are proficient with industrial protocols (Modbus TCP/RTU DNP3 etc.)
• Have deep experience implementing SCADA systems (SEL RTAC Ignition or equivalent)
• Are familiar with IP networking in OT contextsrouting diagnostics security
• Have worked with grid-scale solar and/or battery storage systems

What sets you apart: youve contributed to the platforms themselves not just deployed them. Youve worked for a SCADA platform vendor or youve built and shipped your own controls tooling. You know how these systems work under the hood and you have opinions about how they should be better.

Bonus points if you...

• Have NERC CIP compliance experience
• Have worked with ISO market integration (CAISO ERCOT PJM)
• Can point to experience mentoring engineers or authoring technical processes
• Bring a power systems or electrical engineering background

Logistics

This role is based in our Atlanta office (Eastside Beltline) with an expectation of 3 days per week in-office. For exceptional candidates well consider remote arrangements. For remote applicants expect to be on-site for an initial ramp-up period then roughly 3 weeks per year in Atlanta plus occasional site visits (2-5 days per year) for critical projects.

Company Benefits

• Unlimited PTO plus 11 paid federal holidays and office closed last week of the year
• Comprehensive group health insurance
• Incentive Stock Options (ISO)
• Small highly collaborative team at an exciting inflection point for the company
• Clear growth trajectory in a high-impact role

Wattch is an equal opportunity employer. We believe that the unique contributions of all Wattchers create our success and we aim to offer an inclusive environment in service to one another our products and the communities we serve. We value empathy clarity and sustainability and strive to make these values present in our daily interactions as well as our hiring process. To ensure that our products and culture continue to incorporate everyones perspectives and experience we dont discriminate based on race religion national origin gender identity or expression sexual orientation age or marital veteran or disability status. We welcome all applications.