PLC Software Engineer

About the Opportunity

At Skyven Technologies, we have developed a revolutionary heat pump technology to decarbonize industrial heat and move the needle on climate change. Our technologies have the potential to completely eliminate on-site CO2 emissions from industrial steam. We implement this technology through an innovative Energy-as-a-Service model that provides clean process heat to industrial facilities. We identify, fund, design, build, and install our cutting-edge, decarbonization technologies to help industrial manufacturers reach their sustainability goals, while minimizing their risk and reducing their operational expenses.

Industrial heat is responsible for roughly 20% of global CO2 emissions. That’s roughly equivalent to emissions generated by all transportation (including land, sea, and air) and is a compelling business opportunity – it will take an estimated $3.7 trillion in capital investment to decarbonize the sector by 2050. Skyven is at the forefront of this transformation and has recently been selected for a $145M investment from the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) to accelerate the deployment of our state-of-the-art Skyven Arcturus steam-generating heat pumps (SGHPs) at manufacturing facilities nationwide, revolutionizing how we address energy needs while combating climate change.

About the Role

We are looking for a skilled and driven PLC Software Engineer to support the design, development, and deployment of control software for our cutting-edge steam-generating heat pump systems. This role offers a unique opportunity to engage in true 0-to-1 software development, translating a controls narrative and PLC hardware architecture into a fully functioning, field-deployed system. You will be responsible for authoring detailed sequences of operation, writing and testing PLC code, and supporting the software throughout its lifecycle. Ideal candidates will have a strong foundation in PLC programming and a desire to deepen their expertise in Siemens S7 platforms, PID loop tuning, sensor integration, and VFD control within a dynamic engineering team.

Responsibilities

PLC Development & Software Engineering

• Design, develop, and maintain PLC software for Siemens Simatic S7 PLCs and ET 200SP distributed I/O hardware.
• Develop and maintain a version-controlled library of reusable Function Blocks (FB) and User-Defined Data Types (UDT), with basic version control tracking post-deployment.
• Contribute to a scalable software architecture for various hardware configurations within the product platform.
• Assist in creating and documenting guidelines for PLC library objects, configured code, and code documentation.

Controls and Automation

• Develop sequences of operation in collaboration with mechanical and electrical teams, identifying and addressing gaps in control narratives during the process.
• Integrate PID loops, sensors, and VFDs for continuous control applications.
• Support the development of custom automation tools to aid the team in configuring and deploying code for different heat pump setups.

Testing and Commissioning

• Assist in bench testing and limited simulation efforts, working alongside the SCADA team.
• Help write and test basic commissioning scripts and startup procedures.
• Troubleshoot and resolve PLC software bugs during commissioning and post-deployment phases.

• B.S. in Computer Science, Electrical Engineering, or related engineering discipline.
• 5-7 years of experience in software development with a focus on PLC programming.
• Proficiency in Structured Control Language (SCL) and Function Block Diagram (FBD) according to IEC 61131-3 standards.
• Experience writing and testing code for Siemens PLCs (Simatic S7, ET 200SP DIO), with some exposure to PID control, sensors with various signal types, and VFDs.
• Familiarity with industrial communication protocols (e.g., PROFINET, OPC-UA, Modbus).
• Ability to write sequences of operation and implement descriptive user-defined data types.
• Strong problem-solving skills and a willingness to learn and grow in a fast-paced environment.

Preferred

• Experience using simulation tools for PLC testing.
• Basic skills in developing automation tools/scripts (Python, etc.) for PLC configuration.
• Familiarity with commissioning test scripts for control systems.
• Knowledge of fluid systems and steam processes.
• Exposure to functional safety, safety PLCs, and SIL requirements.

• Base Salary: $75,000 - $100,000
• Stock options
• Flexible PTO
• Paid parental leave
• Medical, dental, vision
• 401k

Location

• Fully remote; we are a remote first organization
• Must live in and be authorized to work in the United States
• Some travel may be required, up to 10-15% annually