Senior Controls Engineer, Utility-Scale PV & BESS

Why Work at SMA America

At SMA America, we believe in Energy that Changes. Since 1981, we’ve been developing innovative solar technology that simplifies, secures, and enhances the performance of photovoltaic systems — all while pushing the boundaries of what’s possible in clean energy.

But we’re not just transforming power — we’re empowering people.

We’ve built a culture where bold ideas are welcomed, collaboration is second nature, and your career growth truly matters. With our Rocklin, CA headquarters as the hub, we offer a hybrid work model, competitive benefits, and a team-driven environment where your impact is seen and felt.

Whether you’re a sales expert, service pro, or engineering innovator, if you’re ready to join a purpose-driven team committed to shaping the future of energy — we’d love to meet you.

Senior Controls Engineer, Utility-Scale PV & BESS

WORK AUTHORIZATION

Applicants must be authorized to work in the United States on a full-time basis. SMA America does not offer employment visa sponsorship of any kind, including H-1B, OPT, CPT, or TN visas. Candidates who currently require or will in the future require visa sponsorship are not eligible for this role. Candidates operating under a temporary work permit or any visa-tied employment authorization are also not eligible.

AI-GENERATED APPLICATION MATERIALS

We review all resumes and application materials for AI-generated content. Submissions that show evidence of AI manipulation, including AI-written resumes, cover letters, or responses, will be disqualified from consideration without further review. We want to hear your authentic voice and see your genuine experience.

PURPOSE OF THE POSITION

The Senior Project Engineer enables reliable and compliant plant operation at the point of interconnection (POI) that allows our customers to integrate SMA system solutions into their local markets. This is a specialized role in the field of controls engineering, where the Senior Project Engineer may also be required to support integration tests and site acceptance tests for verification of compliance with local grid codes.

PRIMARY DUTIES / RESPONSIBILITIES

• Responsible for configuring, programming, integrating, and maintaining SMA’s utility-scale inverters’ plant-level control system, the SMA Power Plant Manager (PPM)
• Responsible for ensuring SMA inverter and PPM functions and parameters are set in accordance with the customer’s project expectations and requirements
• Responsible for the performance of large-scale photovoltaic and BESS power plant projects up to the hundreds-of-megawatts in scale
• Responsible for comprehensive control-related technical support throughout the end-to-end process of complex customer projects in North America
• Acts as the key contact during the pre-sales phase, working with project developers, SCADA vendors, and EMS providers, and serves as primary support for SMA America Service
• Leads Control System Assessments by gathering project data and defining functional requirements for the PPM
• Analyzes electrical system parameters, grid code requirements, and plant configurations
• Configures and/or describes the PPM in applications including active and reactive power control, grid-forming versus grid-following operation, SOC balancing, battery dispatch strategy, and frequency response
• Composes documents and high-level schematics demonstrating PPM functions’ alignment with project and grid requirements
• Creates and supports Inspection and Test Plans (ITPs) validating inverter functionality in accordance with project and grid requirements
• Supports integration testing…