Network & Controls Engineer

Job Description:

Position Summary

The Network & Controls Engineer designs, configures, integrates, and supports the secure communication paths that connect Nextracker’s field-deployed tracker controllers, data hubs, SCADA systems, and customer networks to the Nextpower cloud environment.

This is an early-career engineering role for a hands-on problem solver who can work across network engineering, OT/SCADA connectivity, customer onboarding, systems integration, and process development. The role will support new project deployments and the operating fleet, working with Network Engineering, Controls and Software Engineering, Technical Services, Remote Monitoring, Field Services, Project teams, and customer IT/OT organizations.

The position is intended to build on the responsibilities of the Network Engineering Intern and expand them into full-time ownership of defined network, SCADA, integration, and operational improvement workstreams.

What You’ll Do

Network engineering and site connectivity

- Design and review site connectivity solutions for new and existing solar projects, including routers, switches, firewalls, VPNs, cellular gateways, leased-line connections, and related network services.
- Review customer IT/OT standards, network diagrams, IP plans, routing requirements, segmentation requirements, and firewall policies.
- Prepare clear connectivity packages for internal and customer review, including IP addressing, subnetting, required ports and protocols, routing, firewall rules, remote-access requirements, and validation steps.
- Configure and test network equipment using approved templates, standards, and change-management procedures.
- Establish and maintain reliable communication between field devices, customer networks, and Nextpower data centers.

Data hub and field-network deployment

- Configure, stage, validate, and support data hubs and related field-network equipment before shipment or deployment.
- Apply project- and customer-specific configuration, including IP addressing, routing, VLANs, firewall rules, DNS, NTP, VPN parameters, and secure remote-access settings as applicable.
- Perform software and firmware upgrades under established procedures, validate successful deployment, and document all changes.
- Support site installation and commissioning activities remotely and, when required, at customer or project locations.
- Verify that field equipment is accessible, secure, correctly configured, and ready to deliver required operational data.

OPC, SCADA, and industrial-protocol integration

- Support the integration and reliable transport of SCADA and industrial protocols between tracker controllers, data hubs, customer SCADA systems, historians, and control centers.
- Configure and troubleshoot OPC/SCADA data paths, including OPC UA and related gateway or interface components when applicable.
- Support integrations using protocols such as Modbus TCP, DNP3, IEC 61850, or other customer-required interfaces.
- Validate data-point availability, naming, quality, timestamps, update rates, scaling, alarms, and control paths after installation or configuration changes.
- Assist with SCADA point lists, interface requirements, network-port matrices, test scripts, commissioning checklists, and integration closeout documentation.
- Work with Controls, Software, Product, and Technical Services teams to distinguish network, protocol, device, application, and data-quality issues.
- Help define repeatable architecture patterns for connecting Nextracker equipment to customer SCADA and historian environments.

Customer onboarding and technical support

- Work with customers, EPCs, SCADA providers, project teams, and senior engineers to establish and verify connectivity from project sites to the Nextpower environment.
- Lead defined portions of customer connectivity calls, technical reviews, remote troubleshooting sessions, and commissioning activities.
- Explain network requirements, required customer actions, validation tests, and open issues in a clear, professional, service-oriented manner.
- Troubleshoot TCP/IP networks, VPN tunnels, firewalls, routing, switching, DNS, NAT, packet loss, latency, port access, and device communication.
- Gather logs and evidence, run diagnostic commands and tests, document findings, and maintain clear ticket updates through resolution.
- Communicate impact, status, risks, ownership, next steps, and expected timing to internal stakeholders and customers.

Cybersecurity, access control, and change management

- Apply secure-by-default practices to network and OT connectivity, including least-privilege access, restricted ports, network segmentation, approved remote-access methods, jump hosts, MFA where applicable, and secure credential handling.
- Support cybersecurity upgrade programs across the installed fleet and help identify risks or configuration gaps.
- Follow approved change-management practices, including documented scope, approvals, maintenance windows, implementation steps, validation, back-out plans, and closeout records.
- Escalate suspected security events, vulnerabilities, or material operational risks through defined procedures.
- Contribute to alignment with company cybersecurity requirements and applicable power-industry practices, including NERC CIP or comparable frameworks where applicable.

Systems integration and process development

- Translate recurring technical work into standard operating procedures, configuration templates, checklists, test plans, runbooks, and knowledge-base content.
- Identify repeatable opportunities to improve onboarding, configuration, monitoring, testing, ticket triage, and fleet support.
- Help develop lightweight scripts, tools, dashboards, or automation to reduce manual work and improve configuration quality.
- Partner with Product and Engineering to identify software, hardware, monitoring, and interface improvements based on field experience and recurring issues.
- Support testing of new products, firmware, data-hub releases, network designs, and integration approaches before production deployment.
- Capture lessons learned and convert them into practical standards, templates, and training material.

Documentation and operational discipline

- Maintain accurate network diagrams, configuration records, IP plans, port matrices, SCADA point lists, test results, deployment records, and change history.
- Keep customer and project information current in the company’s ticketing, documentation, and engineering systems.
- Produce concise technical updates and reports that distinguish confirmed facts, working hypotheses, and unresolved items.
- Participate in operational reviews and continuous-improvement activities for fleet connectivity and data quality.
- Work independently on well-defined assignments while seeking guidance for complex, high-risk, or customer-impacting changes.

Minimum Qualifications

- Bachelor’s degree in Computer Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Electronics and Communications, Computer Science, Information Systems, Network Engineering, or a related technical field; equivalent practical experience may be considered.
- Approximately 1–3 years of relevant experience, including internships, co-ops, laboratory work, or other hands-on experience in network engineering, OT/SCADA, systems integration, controls, or technical operations.
- Foundational working knowledge of IP addressing and subnetting, TCP/IP, routing, switching, VLANs, DHCP, DNS, NAT, VPNs, firewalls, and common network troubleshooting methods.
- Demonstrated ability to configure, test, or troubleshoot network devices or services in a production, laboratory, academic, or home-lab environment.
- Working knowledge of Linux or network-device command-line interfaces.
- Ability to read network diagrams and technical requirements and convert them into configuration, testing, and documentation tasks.
- Strong analytical and problem-solving skills, with careful attention to configuration accuracy, evidence, and documentation.
- Clear written and verbal communication skills and the ability to work effectively with technical and non-technical stakeholders.
- Ability to manage multiple assignments, meet deadlines, and escalate risks or blockers early.

Preferred Qualifications

- Experience with OPC UA, OPC DA, Modbus TCP, DNP3, IEC 61850, MQTT, or other industrial communication protocols.
- Experience with SCADA, historians, PLCs, RTUs, NCUs, data hubs, industrial gateways, or renewable-energy control systems.
- Experience configuring or troubleshooting routers, switches, firewalls, VPNs, cellular gateways, Linux systems, or virtualized services.
- Familiarity with packet captures and protocol-analysis tools such as Wireshark.
- Experience with Python, PowerShell, shell scripting, REST APIs, SQL, Git, or infrastructure/configuration automation.
- Familiarity with NERC CIP, NIST cybersecurity concepts, OT security, or other critical-infrastructure cybersecurity practices.
- Experience with customer onboarding, remote commissioning, field support, ticketing systems, or technical service operations.
- Experience creating SOPs, runbooks, network diagrams, test plans, configuration templates, or process documentation.
- Exposure to utility-scale solar, solar trackers, BESS, power-plant controls, or other distributed industrial systems.

Core Competencies

- Secure network engineering
- OT/SCADA and industrial-protocol integration
- Structured troubleshooting and root-cause analysis
- Customer and stakeholder communication
- Systems thinking and cross-functional collaboration
- Documentation and configuration discipline
- Process development and continuous improvement
- Ownership, curiosity, and willingness to learn

At Nextpower, we are driving the global energy transition with an integrated clean energy technology platform that combines intelligent structural, electrical, and digital solutions for utility-scale power plants. Our comprehensive portfolio enables faster project delivery, higher performance, and greater reliability, helping our customers capture the full value of solar power. Our talented worldwide teams are redefining how solar power plants are designed, built, and operated every day with smart technology, data-driven insights, and advanced automation. Together, we’re building the foundation for the world’s next generation of clean energy infrastructure.

Nextpower is an equal opportunity employer. We celebrate diversity and are committed to creating an inclusive environment for all employees.

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