Controls & Automation Engineer -- NOA-20 Pilot (Anaerobic Digestion)
Job Description
About the Role
We are hiring a Controls & Automation Engineer to own, program, commission, and operate the NOA-20 pilot anaerobic digester system.
This is not a support role.
You are responsible for taking an uncommissioned pilot system and delivering stable, continuously operating infrastructure. You will own the controls stack end-to-end—from first power-on through live biological operation—and prepare the system for replication at municipal scale.
If you are looking to design in theory and hand off execution, this is not the role.
If you want system ownership and real-world impact, read on.
General Purpose of Job (Non-Negotiable)
The Controls & Automation Engineer is responsible for programming, commissioning, and operating the NOA-20 pilot anaerobic digester, including all control logic, sensors, safety systems, and remote monitoring required for stable biological operation. This role owns the full pilot controls lifecycle and prepares the system for municipal replication.
Essential Duties and Responsibilities
You will:
Program and commission the NOA-20 pilot control system (PLC, sensors, actuators, heaters, mixers, gas handling)
Define and implement operating logic for startup, steady-state operation, shutdown, and fault recovery
Tune and maintain control parameters to support stable anaerobic digestion during pilot operation
Integrate and validate the full sensor suite (temperature, pressure, gas flow, gas composition, liquid levels)
Implement safety interlocks and automatic shutdown conditions for pilot-specific risk scenarios
Establish remote monitoring, alerting, and data logging
Troubleshoot and resolve live system issues during commissioning and operation
Document control logic, changes, and pilot performance data
Prepare the controls architecture for replication into future units
You are the pilot operator of record for controls and automation.
Required Qualifications
Experience commissioning and operating real-world control systems (industrial, energy, process, or similar)
Hands-on PLC programming experience
Comfort working on live systems during early-stage testing and iteration
Demonstrated ability to take hardware from uncommissioned to stable operation
Strong troubleshooting instincts under real operating conditions
Willingness to support on-site work during critical pilot windows
Preferred Experience
Process control for biological, thermal, chemical, or energy systems
Sensor integration and data logging systems
Remote monitoring and alerting implementations
Early-stage pilots, prototypes, or first-of-kind systems
Safety-critical or infrastructure-grade systems
Additional Information (Read Carefully)
This role is directly responsible for the success of the NOA-20 pilot system. Performance in this role determines readiness for municipal deployment and system replication.
This is production-critical infrastructure, not an R&D sandbox.
Compensation
Competitive salary or contract rate (based on experience)
Pilot-based milestone compensation may be available
Equity consideration for the right operator
How to Apply
Apply with:
Resume highlighting commissioned systems you personally operated
Brief note describing a system you took from startup to stable operation
Candidates who hesitate when told they will program and run the pilot will not be considered.