Role Description
We are seeking an Instrumentation Engineer with deep experience in utility-scale solar to lead the specification, integration, commissioning, and lifecycle support of field instrumentation and industrial communication protocols, including Modbus RTU/ASCII, Modbus TCP, and DNP3. You will own the end-to-end telemetry chain—from met station sensors and data loggers to SCADA/EMS points—ensuring accurate, reliable, secure, and standards-compliant data exchange for real-time control, performance analytics, and regulatory reporting.
You’ll collaborate closely with SCADA, controls, performance engineering, EPCs, and O&M partners to deliver highly available plant data systems that scale.
What You’ll Do
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Design & Specification
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Define instrumentation architecture for met stations (irradiance, ambient temp, module temp, wind, barometric pressure), grid interconnection points, and balance-of-plant systems.
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Author bill of materials (BOM), wiring diagrams, loop sheets, panel layouts, and instrument datasheets per project standards.
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Select sensors, transducers, loggers, gateways, and protective devices aligned with IEC/IEEE/NEMA and utility requirements.
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Protocol Integration
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Configure and map points for Modbus RTU/TCP, DNP3 (secure/authenticated where applicable), and vendor-specific interfaces.
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Develop point lists, registers, scaling, units, deadbands, and exception reporting to SCADA/EMS/Historian systems.
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Implement time synchronization (NTP/IRIG-B), event logging, and sequence-of-events (SOE) requirements.
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Commissioning & Validation
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Plan and execute FAT/SAT for met stations and plant instrumentation; perform end-to-end signal checks (sensor → controller → gateway → SCADA).
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Create and run test scripts for protocol polling, quality flags, and fallback logic; verify data accuracy against handheld calibrators and reference instruments.
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Troubleshoot field issues (noise, grounding, shielding, RS-485 biasing/termination, baud rate/link-layer settings, device IDs, master/slave roles).
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Reliability, Cybersecurity & Compliance
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Apply best practices for failover, redundancy, and health monitoring (watchdogs, heartbeats, CRC validation).
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Support secure configurations (role-based access, encrypted transport for TCP variants, DNP3 Secure Authentication, network segmentation/VLANs).
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Ensure compliance with utility interconnection, RTO/ISO telemetry specifications, and relevant standards (e.g., IEEE, IEC, NERC CIP collaboration with IT/OT teams).
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Operational Excellence
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Build dashboards and alarming for sensor drift, data gaps, calibration due dates, and instrument health KPIs.
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Author SOPs, calibration procedures, and maintenance schedules; train field techs and O&M teams.
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Provide root-cause analysis for data anomalies impacting performance models and production guarantees.
Qualifications
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5+ years hands-on experience in utility-scale solar (100 MW+ projects preferred), focusing on plant instrumentation and SCADA/OT integration.
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Proven expertise with Modbus RTU/ASCII, Modbus TCP, and DNP3 (points mapping, scaling, polling strategies, exception reporting, time sync).
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Strong knowledge of meteorological station instrumentation (pyranometers, reference cells, anemometers, temp probes, pressure sensors), data loggers, and gateways.
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Proficiency with RS-485 physical layer (termination, biasing, shielding), industrial Ethernet, and serial-to-TCP conversions.
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Ability to read and produce P&IDs, single-line diagrams, wiring/loop sheets, and panel layouts (AutoCAD or equivalent).
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Experience commissioning instrumentation in the field, including calibration, verification, and troubleshooting.
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Familiarity with SCADA/Historian systems (e.g., Ignition, Wonderware/AVEVA, PI, ClearSCADA) and OT networking fundamentals.
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Excellent documentation, communication, and cross-functional collaboration skills.
Preferred Qualifications
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Experience with DNP3 Secure Authentication, TLS-enabled gateways, and OT security best practices; exposure to NERC CIP environments.
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Background with IEC 61850, MQTT, or OPC-UA integrations.
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Knowledge of power plant controls (PCS/PPC), inverter telemetry, capacitor/reactor banks, switchgear, and protection relays (SEL, GE, ABB).
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Familiarity with performance analytics (PR calculations, data QA/QC, sensor uncertainty, shading & soiling analysis).
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Hands-on experience with FAT/SAT processes and test plan development.
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Experience working with EPCs, utilities, and ISOs/RTOs on telemetry and compliance packages.
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Bachelor’s degree in electrical engineering, Instrumentation/Controls, or related discipline (advanced degree a plus).
Tools & Technologies
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Protocol analyzers (Modbus/DNP3), serial sniffers, and network analyzers.
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Calibration tools for irradiance, temperature, and wind sensors; traceable standards.
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AutoCAD or equivalent for drawings; EPLAN/ETAP exposure is a plus.
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SCADA/Historian clients; scripting for test automation (Python, PowerShell, or similar).
Key Outcomes (First 12 Months)
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Commission multiple met stations with fully validated telemetry (quality flags, accurate scaling, synchronized timestamps).
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Deliver complete point lists and interface control documents (ICDs) for Modbus/DNP3 across inverters, meters, reclosers, and met stations.
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Establish instrumentation health monitoring and calibration program reducing data gaps by ≥ 50%.
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Improve data quality feeding performance models and regulatory reporting, cutting QA/QC rework by ≥ 30%.
Travel
~15–30% to project sites, vendors, and FAT/SAT locations (domestic/international as needed).
Benefits
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Generous time off and holiday policy
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Remote flexibility
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Flexible time off
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Comprehensive benefits package
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Career progression
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401k match
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Stock options
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Home office set up allowance
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And much more!
