BESS Controls Engineer Jobs
Design and deploy the control systems that optimize and protect battery energy storage assets.
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What Does a BESS Controls Engineer Do?
A BESS Controls Engineer designs, programs, and deploys the control systems — including SCADA, EMS, PLC, and protection relays — that manage how battery energy storage systems charge, discharge, respond to grid signals, and protect themselves and the grid from faults. They are the software and automation backbone of the modern BESS project.
Controls Engineers work closely with systems engineers, commissioning teams, and operations staff to ensure that automated dispatch strategies, frequency response algorithms, and protection schemes are correctly implemented and validated. They often develop custom HMI interfaces, historian configurations, and remote monitoring dashboards that allow operators to manage assets across a portfolio.
As BESS systems become increasingly sophisticated — participating in ancillary services markets, providing grid-forming inertia, and integrating with co-located renewables — the role of the Controls Engineer has become central to maximizing the value and reliability of storage assets.
Essential Functions & Responsibilities
- Design and program EMS/SCADA systems for BESS dispatch and optimization
- Configure BMS communications interfaces (CANbus, Modbus, DNP3, IEC 61850)
- Develop and test PLC programs for BOP equipment control and sequencing
- Configure protection relay settings in coordination with systems and commissioning engineers
- Design HMI screens and operator interfaces for local and remote monitoring
- Implement grid services algorithms — frequency regulation, voltage support, peak shaving
- Integrate BESS systems with utility SCADA and ISO/RTO market systems
- Develop cybersecurity controls per NERC CIP or equivalent requirements
- Support factory and site acceptance testing of control systems
- Provide controls support during commissioning and operational troubleshooting
Key Skills & Expertise
- SCADA platforms — OSIsoft PI, Ignition, GE iFIX, Wonderware, or similar
- EMS design and dispatch algorithm implementation
- PLC programming — Rockwell, Siemens, Schneider
- Communication protocols — Modbus TCP/RTU, DNP3, IEC 61850, CANbus, MQTT
- Protection relay configuration — SEL, ABB, GE Multilin
- Grid services — AGC, frequency regulation, volt/VAR, synthetic inertia
- Cybersecurity fundamentals — NERC CIP, network segmentation, firewalls
- Python, SQL, or other scripting for data analysis and automation
Typical Qualifications
- ✓Bachelor's degree in Electrical Engineering, Computer Engineering, or Controls Engineering
- ✓3+ years of experience in BESS, power systems, or industrial controls
- ✓Experience with utility-scale BESS or renewable energy control systems preferred
- ✓Understanding of ISO/RTO market participation and telemetry requirements
- ✓Ability to read electrical schematics and protection relay diagrams
Salary Range
$100,000 – $175,000
BESS Controls Engineers earn $100,000–$175,000 depending on experience and platform expertise. Those with deep ISO/RTO integration or grid-forming inverter experience command the highest compensation.
Career Path
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