Senior Staff Instrumentation and Controls Engineer
Crusoe · Denver · $190,000–$215,000 (stated in the posting)
Crusoe is on a mission to accelerate the abundance of energy and intelligence. As the only vertically integrated AI infrastructure company built from the ground up, we own and operate each layer of the stack — from electrons to tokens — to power the world's most ambitious AI workloads. When you join Crusoe, you join a team that is building the future, faster.
We're in the midst of the greatest industrial revolution of our time. The demand for AI compute is boundless, and power is a bottleneck. We're solving that — with an energy-first approach that makes AI infrastructure better for the world and faster for the people innovating with AI.
We're looking for problem-solving, opportunity-finding teammates with a sense of urgency, who believe in the scale of our ambition and thrive on a path not fully paved — people who want to grow their careers alongside a team of experts across energy, manufacturing, data center construction, and cloud services.
If you want to do the most meaningful work of your career, help our customers and partners advance their AI strategies, and be part of a high-performing team that believes in each other, come build with us at Crusoe.
About This Role:
Crusoe is building the world's favorite AI-first cloud infrastructure company, pioneering vertically integrated, purpose-built AI infrastructure solutions trusted by Fortune 500 companies. As a Senior Staff Instrumentation and Controls Engineer, you'll independently lead end-to-end I&C vendor oversight for Crusoe's most complex, multi-system Power Generation programs, serving as the primary technical owner from design through operational handoff.
You'll oversee the entire project lifecycle for power generation controls, from initial design and installation to optimization, Factory Acceptance Testing (FAT), Site Acceptance Testing (SAT), commissioning, and initial operations support. Your expertise in instrumentation, controls systems, data analysis, and energy optimization will be vital in delivering scalable and sustainable solutions that ensure the reliable and efficient operation of our facilities, accelerating abundance of energy and intelligence.
This is a full-time position.
Role Scope: This position functions as Owner’s Engineer for assigned programs. Professional Engineer (PE) licensure is desired but not required.
What You’ll Be Working On:
Technical Problem-Solving: Provide high-level expertise, strategic direction and technical support and knowledge for complex problem-solving related to the design and operation of Crusoe Power Generation Plant control systems.
System Integration: Provide Owner's Engineer oversight of the systems integrator's work, coordinating with electrical and mechanical engineering teams to ensure control systems are seamlessly integrated with other critical plant systems.
Installation Oversight: Oversee the installation of control systems, ensuring they meet precise design specifications and adhere to stringent industry standards.
System Testing and Coordination: Oversee comprehensive testing of control systems to verify correct and safe operation, including Factory Acceptance Testing (FAT) and Site Acceptance Testing (SAT).
Commissioning Leadership: Lead the commissioning process, working hand-in-hand with the project team to bring power plants online, efficiently troubleshoot issues, and ensure smooth startup operations.
Operational Support: Provide essential technical support during the initial operation phase, directing resolution of any control system-related issues that may arise.
Training & Documentation: Oversee the training of operations staff on the effective use of control systems and oversee development of clear, comprehensive documentation, training materials, and operational procedures.
Safety & Regulatory Compliance: Ensure that all control systems strictly comply with relevant safety standards and regulations, promoting a secure operational environment.
Fail-Safe & Redundancy Implementation: Review and enforce fail-safe and redundancy design requirements across vendor deliverables, ensuring proactive prevention of accidents and reliability of plant operations.
Quality Assurance Leadership: Drive continuous improvement by establishing and rigorously enforcing Crusoe Instrumentation & Controls standards across all projects, ensuring maximum operational integrity and reliability.
Project Planning & Resource Allocation: Actively participate in project planning, scheduling, and strategic resource allocation for all control systems-related tasks.
Technology Advancement: Stay continuously updated on the latest technologies and advancements in control systems and power generation, applying new insights to our operations.
Mentorship & Development: Train and develop junior I&C engineers, building technical judgment and vendor-oversight capability across the team.
Standards Development: Lead the creation of engineering design, construction, and commissioning standards for vendors, establishing repeatable frameworks that raise deliverable quality and consistency across programs.
Vendor Oversight & Coordination: Lead end-to-end I&C vendor oversight for complex, multi-system programs, coordinating and aligning multiple vendors' DCS design, SCADA implementation, power control system integration, and field instrumentation scope into one coherent program architecture.
Cross-Vendor Conflict Resolution: Independently resolve cross-vendor design conflicts within assigned programs without escalation, directing vendors to the aligned technical solution.
Vendor Deliverable Review: Review vendor deliverables for engineering adequacy, directly challenging a vendor's technical basis when non-conformances or design risks are identified.
Standards Currency: Maintain current working knowledge of applicable ISA standards (e.g., ISA-5.1, ISA-18.2) and ensure project designs and vendor deliverables reflect the latest published guidance.
Technical Judgment: Evaluates complex, multi-layered I&C challenges—control system integration failures, DCS programming issues for non-standard equipment, and field instrumentation anomalies—developing well-reasoned technical solutions without waiting for perfect information, and operates effectively in novel technical environments where specifications are incomplete.
What You’ll Bring to the Team:
Educational Foundation: Bachelor’s degree in Mechanical Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Controls/Automation Engineering, or a related field, is required.
Power Systems Experience: Professional experience in a power systems environment, demonstrating practical knowledge of power generation operations.
Controls System Expertise: 20+ years of experience in control systems, electrical power management systems, controls engineering, or a closely related field.Experience with Power Plant DCS (Distributed Control Systems) or PLC-based Control Systems.
Technical Understanding: Strong understanding of mechanical systems, electrical systems, PLCs, and industrial control systems.
Collaboration Skills: Demonstrated ability to collaborate effectively across departments to meet challenging organizational goals.
Communication Proficiency: Excellent communication skills, with the ability to clearly present complex technical information to non-technical stakeholders.
Data-Driven Passion: A strong passion for leveraging data to continuously improve system performance and enhance operational efficiency.
Professional Licensure: Professional Engineer (PE) license is desired but not required. This role serves as Owner’s Engineer; Engineer of Record responsibility sits with the EPC firm.
ISA Standards Fluency: Maintains awareness of evolving industry standards and stays current as new guidance is published, ensuring vendor and project deliverables reflect the latest requirements.
Vendor & Stakeholder Relationships: Demonstrated ability to build and maintain working relationships with key equipment vendors and commissioning agents, and to directly influence project scheduling, commissioning readiness criteria, and equipment procurement decisions.
AI-Forward: Actively champions AI-enabled tools and new ways of operating, driving adoption across engineering workflows to improve efficiency and design quality.
Bonus Points:
Relevant certifications (e.g., Professional Engineer (PE), Certified Automation Professional (CAP)).
Specific experience with systems such as SEL PowerMax, SEL RTAC, Ignition SCADA, Canary Historian, GE Mark VIE Turbine Control Systems, Solar Rockwell PLC, AllenBradley PLC’s, ComAp, ESM 2 Waukesha, or similar platforms.
Benefits:
Competitive compensation and equity packages
Restricted Stock Units
Paid time off, paid holidays & leave of absence programs
Comprehensive health, dental & vision insurance
Employer contributions to HSA account
Paid parental leave
Paid life insurance, short-term and long-term disability
Professional development & tuition reimbursement
Mental health & wellness support
Commuter benefits (parking & transit)
Cell phone stipend
401(k) Retirement plan with company match up to 4% of salary
Volunteer time off
Global travel insurance & emergency assistance
Daily meals allowance
Additional perks & programs specific to location
Compensation Range
Compensation will be paid in the range of up to $190,000 -$215,000 + Bonus. Restricted Stock Units are included in all offers. Compensation to be determined by the applicant's knowledge, education, and abilities, as well as internal equity and alignment with market data. (#INDDIG)
Crusoe is an Equal Opportunity Employer. Employment decisions are made without regard to race, color, religion, disability, genetic information, pregnancy, citizenship, marital status, sex/gender, sexual preference/ orientation, gender identity, age, veteran status, national origin, or any other status protected by law or regulation.