Lead Controls Systems Engineer – Power Systems Research and Prototyping

Job Title: Lead Controls Systems Engineer – Power Systems Research and Prototyping

Location: Columbia, SC

What We Do:

Integer Technologies is an applied research and product development company founded by scientists and engineers with a passion for protecting freedom with innovation. We perform R&D on next-generation systems and technologies for the Department of Defense and other U.S. Government agencies. We are hardware and software developers with experience transforming research into fieldable technology. Our core portfolio of research includes projects in power & energy systems, unmanned systems (with an emphasis on maritime systems), digital engineering, cyber security, and advanced manufacturing. Our mission is to create a safer world by translating scientific discoveries into reliable products that address urgent national security needs… at the speed of relevance.

Company Benefits

• Base salaries which exceed local & national industry averages.
• Year-end performance-based bonuses.
• 401(k) with company matching that vest immediately.
• Integer fully covers medical, prescription, vision, and dental insurance costs for the employee and dependents. Meaning Integer standard plan pays 100% of health insurance premiums for your entire family from a well-known national insurer, saving its employee's thousands of dollars annually.
• Relocation assistance available.
• Paid vacation, sick leave, and holidays.
• Paid bereavement and parental leave.
• Hybrid schedule: Mondays and Fridays are optional to work from home or in the office.

Company Perks:

• Startup culture with the stability of a large company. Integer's business plan has years of time phased contracted work, alleviating the would-be risk from a traditional small company.
• Direct access to company leadership, prioritization of people over process, and a stellar team with a shared desire for personal and professional growth.
• Friendly atmosphere where people enjoy not only their work and what they're creating but enjoy helping each other as well.
• Bottomless Coffee, Espressos, and Ping Pong

About this Role:

1. Lead the design and development of scalable PLC-based control systems and automation architectures for defense maritime power system applications, ensuring adaptability to evolving mission requirements.
2. Ensure all control system solutions meet defense-grade reliability, safety, and cybersecurity standards through rigorous validation against frameworks.
3. Mentor engineering teams in control systems best practices, fostering technical excellence and continuous improvement in design methodologies.
4. Oversee seamless integration of control systems into complex defense platforms, guaranteeing interoperability with mechanical, electrical, and software subsystems.
5. Champion adoption of digital twin models and advanced simulation tools to accelerate R&D, mitigate risks, and validate operational performance.

Primary Responsibilities:

• Design and develop PLC systems, automation systems, special protection systems, controls logic, and controls programming using industry-standard tools for power systems (e.g., generation, distribution, conversion, energy storage).
• Lead cross-functional integration of control systems into defense platforms, collaborating with mechanical, electrical, and software teams to resolve interoperability challenges.
• Develop and execute comprehensive test plans (e.g., simulation, hardware-in-loop (HIL), unit test, hardware validation) to verify system performance under operational conditions.
• Conduct rigorous design/code reviews and mentor junior engineers to uphold best practices in safety-critical system development.
• Maintain meticulous documentation of design processes, test results, and system configurations to ensure compliance with operational requirements.
• Research emerging technologies (e.g., AI-driven predictive maintenance, advanced PLC architectures, OT security) to enhance system capabilities and address mission evolution.
• Serve as the technical liaison between engineering teams and defense customers to translate operational needs into actionable system specifications.

Required Qualifications:

• Must be a U.S. Citizen with the ability to obtain and maintain a DoW Secret Clearance (eligibility for Top Secret is a plus).
• Bachelor's degree in Electrical Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Software Engineering, Computer Science or a closely related technical discipline.
• 5+ years of professional experience developing and deploying controls and automation solutions.
• 3+ years of professional experience developing controls solutions for electrical power systems, including generators, motors, batteries, power electronics, and switchgear.
• Proficiency with industrial communication protocols (e.g., Modbus, OPC UA, TCP/IP, CANbus, PROFINET, EtherCAT) and gateways (e.g., Anybus)
• Proficiency with middleware applications for data distribution (e.g., OAS, ROS2)
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills; ability to produce clear technical reports and give concise briefings to internal, military and commercial stakeholders.

Additional Desired Qualifications:

• Master's or PhD in relevant engineering or computer science discipline.
• Familiarity with AI/ML frameworks, advanced anomaly detection, cyber-security best practices, and agentic controls.
• Experience with real-time simulation platforms (OpalRT, Speedgoat, Typhoon) and hardware in the loop (HIL) simulation.
• Experience integrating machinery autonomy systems or autonomous controls.
• Knowledge of modeling electrical plant controls and virtualized testing.
• Deep technical knowledge of control and automation architectures with demonstrated experience applying industry best practices for achieving deployed solutions.
• Proficiency in at least one general programming language (e.g., Python, C/C++, Java).