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Senior Controls Engineer
On-site, Branford, CT (must be willing to relocate to the Bridgeport/Stamford area within one year of the start date)
About Oxylus Energy
Oxylus Energy is a climate-tech company building solutions that can scale. Our breakthrough electrochemical technology converts carbon dioxide into carbon-neutral fuels and chemicals, reducing the world's dependence on fossil fuels. We are a team of scientists, engineers, and problem solvers working to make that future real.
 Job brief
As Senior Controls Engineer, you will lead the electronics, sensing, controls, and automation strategy across Oxylus’ electrolyzer test stations and balance of stack. You will define the controls architecture and standards we build on, and you will own the integration of our electrolyzer stack with the unit operations around it, such as CO₂ supply and conditioning, gas separation, and water and thermal management, as we scale from lab test stations to pilot-scale systems.
You will remain hands-on: designing, building, commissioning, and troubleshooting systems in the lab. You will also set technical direction, lead safety reviews, and mentor other engineers. Our systems run long experiments with pressurized and hazardous gases, including CO, so reliable automation and robust safety design are central to this role. You will work closely with our electrochemists, materials scientists, mechanical engineers, and leadership to make sure our controls infrastructure keeps pace with our technology.
What You Will Do
Define and own the controls architecture, hardware standards, and software practices across all test stations and balance-of-stack systems.
Lead the design, build, and commissioning of electronics, instrumentation, control panels, and automation, from lab stations to pilot-scale systems.
Lead the integration of the electrolyzer stack with upstream and downstream unit operations, including control strategy, process interlocks, and system-level data acquisition.
Specify and integrate instrumentation, including mass flow controllers, pressure transducers, back-pressure regulators, thermocouples, gas detectors, pumps, valves, and high-current DC power supplies.
Develop and review control software and logic using PLCs, microcontrollers, Python, or similar platforms, including control loops for flow, pressure, temperature, and current.
Own the design of safety systems, including interlocks, alarms, emergency shutdowns, and gas detection, and lead hazard analyses such as HAZOP or What-If reviews.
Build scalable data acquisition and logging systems that produce consistent, high-quality data and integrate with our cloud data infrastructure.
Enable unattended, long-duration operation through automated test sequences, fault handling, and remote monitoring.
Manage vendors, integrators, and electrical contractors, and ensure compliance with applicable electrical and safety codes.
Mentor junior engineers and technicians, review their designs and code, and help grow the controls function as the team expands.
Present technical plans, risks, and results to the engineering team and leadership.
Who You Are
A degree in Electrical Eng, Mechanical Eng, Chemical Eng, Mechatronics or a related field, with one of the following:
B.S. with 7+ years of relevant experience.
M.S. with 5+ years of relevant experience.
Ph.D. with 2+ years of relevant experience.
A track record of leading the design, build, and commissioning of control and automation systems from concept through operation.
Deep hands-on experience with electrical design, panel building, and wiring.
Strong programming experience with PLCs, microcontrollers, Python, or similar control and data acquisition platforms.
Experience with industrial instrumentation and communication protocols such as Modbus, OPC UA, or Ethernet/IP.
Experience designing safety systems for pressurized, flammable, or toxic gas processes.
Ability to create and review electrical schematics and P&IDs.
Experience mentoring engineers or leading small technical teams.
Highly attentive to detail, with strong problem-solving and organizational skills.
Excellent written, verbal, and presentation skills.
Nice to Have
Experience automating electrolyzer, fuel cell, or battery test systems, or scaling them to pilot plants.
Experience integrating potentiostats or high-current DC power supplies.
Familiarity with electrical and safety standards such as NFPA 70 (NEC), NFPA 79, UL 508A, or IEC 61511 (functional safety).
Experience with SCADA or HMI development, and with cloud data pipelines.
Experience with process control in chemical or gas-handling plants.
Salary
USD 115,000 – 135,000 per year base salary commensurate with experience, education, and skills.
Benefits
Competitive salary.
Medical, dental, and vision coverage
Paid sick days and vacation
401k match
A diverse and inclusive work environment
Equal opportunity
We believe the distinct contributions of each person fuel our success. To keep our products and culture inclusive of all viewpoints and experiences, Oxylus Energy does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, national origin, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, age, marital status, veteran status, disability, or any other characteristic protected by law.
