Automation Engineer

Special Projects Engineer - Tracker Control Systems

Job Description

The Special Projects Engineer plans and executes wind-stow and other tracker control enhancement projects across an operating fleet of plants. In this role, you act as the technical bridge between engineering teams, field operations, and customers to ensure advanced tracker control strategies are deployed safely, correctly, and with clear communication. This position suits an early-career engineer with an Electrical or Electronics & Communications background who wants to grow into a Technical Services Engineer-type role working directly with real plants, industrial control systems, and operational technologies.

Responsibilities

• Build and maintain a deployment pipeline for Dynamic Wind Stow, Staged Stow, and related tracker safety updates across the operating fleet.
• Review fleet data and site characteristics in collaboration with Technical Services and Project Engineering to identify and prioritize eligible sites for control enhancements.
• Evaluate site-specific conditions such as layout, terrain, meteorological data, and grid constraints to recommend appropriate wind-stow parameters and operating limits.
• Prepare clear configuration packages, including setpoints, thresholds, and logic notes, for review and implementation by internal and external stakeholders.
• Coordinate and lead technical review calls with customers, owners, and operators to explain proposed enhancements and answer technical questions.
• Communicate expected benefits of control updates, including safety improvements, performance impacts, risk reduction, and any temporary operational constraints during deployment.
• Obtain customer approvals, sign-offs, and required documentation prior to implementing configuration or control-logic changes.
• Coordinate remote network access and connectivity requirements with customer IT/OT teams and internal stakeholders to enable secure remote deployment.
• Execute remote configuration, software updates, and control-logic changes on operating tracker systems in accordance with established procedures.
• Follow defined change-management practices, including pre-deployment checks, back-out plans, maintenance windows, and comprehensive change logging.

Essential Skills

• 1-2 years of experience in Electrical Engineering, Electronics & Communications, Controls, or a closely related field, including internships and co-op roles.
• Bachelor's degree in Electrical Engineering, Electronics & Communications, Mechatronics, or a closely related discipline is preferred.
• Strong interest in control systems and industrial or plant environments, such as renewables, power, or other operational technology and industrial control system settings.
• Exposure to SCADA systems and industrial communication protocols such as Modbus, OPC-UA, or similar protocols including DNP3 and IEC-based standards.
• Ability to read and interpret engineering requirements, including one-line diagrams, control descriptions, and logic diagrams, and translate them into clear explanations for customers.

Work Environment

You work in a technically focused environment that bridges engineering offices, operational control rooms, and customer-facing settings. Much of the work involves remote interaction with operating plants using SCADA systems, historian tools, and industrial communication protocols such as Modbus, OPC-UA, DNP3, and IEC-based standards. You collaborate closely with engineering, operations, IT/OT, and customer-support teams, frequently participating in virtual meetings and technical review calls with external customers and operators. The role emphasizes secure remote access, structured change management, and adherence to power-industry cybersecurity and compliance practices. Work hours typically align with standard business schedules, with some flexibility required to align with maintenance windows and customer availability for remote deployments.

Job Type & Location

This is a Permanent position based out of Nashville, TN.

Pay and Benefits

The pay range for this position is $35.00 - $40.00/hr.

Eligibility requirements apply to some benefits and may depend on your job classification and length of employment. Benefits are subject to change and may be subject to specific elections, plan, or program terms. If eligible, the benefits available for this temporary role may include the following:

• Medical, dental & vision
• Critical Illness, Accident, and Hospital
• 401(k) Retirement Plan - Pre-tax and Roth post-tax contributions available
• Life Insurance (Voluntary Life & AD&D for the employee and dependents)
• Short and long-term disability
• Health Spending Account (HSA)
• Transportation benefits
• Employee Assistance Program
• Time Off/Leave (PTO, Vacation or Sick Leave)

Workplace Type

This is a fully onsite position in Nashville,TN.

Application Deadline

This position is anticipated to close on Jul 21, 2026.

About Actalent

Actalent is a global leader in engineering and sciences services and talent solutions. We help visionary companies advance their engineering and science initiatives through access to specialized experts who drive scale, innovation and speed to market. With a network of almost 20,000 consultants and 5,000 clients across the U.S., Canada, Asia and Europe, Actalent serves many of the Fortune 500. We are proud to be an Engineering News-Record (ENR) Top 500 Design Firm for our engineering design services and a ClearlyRated Best of Staffing winner for both client and talent service.

The company is an equal opportunity employer and will consider all applications without regard to race, sex, age, color, religion, national origin, veteran status, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity, genetic information or any characteristic protected by law.

If you would like to request a reasonable accommodation, such as the modification or adjustment of the job application process or interviewing process due to a disability, please email actalentaccommodation@actalentservices.com for other accommodation options.

San Francisco Fair Chance Ordinance: Pursuant to the San Francisco Fair Chance Ordinance, for all positions located in the city and county of San Francisco, we will consider for employment qualified applicants with arrest and conviction records.

Massachusetts Lie Detector: It is unlawful in Massachusetts to require or administer a lie detector test as a condition of employment or continued employment. An employer who violates this law shall be subject to criminal penalties and civil liability.

Use of Artificial Intelligence (AI): We may use Artificial Intelligence (AI) to support parts of our hiring process, including sourcing, screening, and evaluating candidates. AI helps assess applications and qualifications, but final decisions are made by our hiring team. By applying, you acknowledge and agree that your application may be reviewed using AI tools.