Controls & Automation Engineer -- NOA-20 Pilot (Anaerobic Digestion)
stargasso groupHolyoke, MA
Controls & Automation Engineer -- NOA-20 Pilot (Anaerobic Digestion)
stargasso groupHolyoke, MA
9 days ago
Occupations
Mechatronics EngineersWater and Wastewater Treatment Plant and System OperatorsElectrical EngineersIndustries
Engineering ServicesSewage Treatment FacilitiesOther Nonhazardous Waste Treatment and DisposalAbout the role
Job Description:
Job Description About the RoleWe are hiring a Controls & Automation Engineer to own, program, commission, and operate the NOA-20 pilot anaerobic digester system.
This is not a support role.
You are responsible for taking an uncommissioned pilot system and delivering stable, continuously operating infrastructure. You will own the controls stack end-to-end-from first power-on through live biological operation-and prepare the system for replication at municipal scale.
If you are looking to design in theory and hand off execution, this is not the role.
If you want system ownership and real-world impact, read on.
General Purpose of Job (Non-Negotiable):
The Controls & Automation Engineer is responsible for programming, commissioning, and operating the NOA-20 pilot anaerobic digester, including all control logic, sensors, safety systems, and remote monitoring required for stable biological operation. This role owns the full pilot controls lifecycle and prepares the system for municipal replication.
Essential Duties and Responsibilities: You will:
- Program and commission the NOA-20 pilot control system (PLC, sensors, actuators, heaters, mixers, gas handling)
- Define and implement operating logic for startup, steady-state operation, shutdown, and fault recovery
- Tune and maintain control parameters to support stable anaerobic digestion during pilot operation
- Integrate and validate the full sensor suite (temperature, pressure, gas flow, gas composition, liquid levels)
- Implement safety interlocks and automatic shutdown conditions for pilot-specific risk scenarios
- Establish remote monitoring, alerting, and data logging
- Troubleshoot and resolve live system issues during commissioning and operation
- Document control logic, changes, and pilot performance data
- Prepare the controls architecture for replication into future units
- You are the pilot operator of record for controls and automation.
Required Qualifications:
- Experience commissioning and operating real-world control systems (industrial, energy, process, or similar)
- Hands-on PLC programming experience
- Comfort working on live systems during early-stage testing and iteration
- Demonstrated ability to take hardware from uncommissioned to stable operation
- Strong troubleshooting instincts under real operating conditions
- Willingness to support on-site work during critical pilot windows
- Preferred Experience
- Process control for biological, thermal, chemical, or energy systems
- Sensor integration and data logging systems
- Remote monitoring and alerting implementations
- Early-stage pilots, prototypes, or first-of-kind systems
- Safety-critical or infrastructure-grade systems
Additional Information:
- (Read Carefully)
- This role is directly responsible for the success of the NOA-20 pilot system. Performance in this role determines readiness for municipal deployment and system replication.
- This is production-critical infrastructure, not an R&D sandbox.
Compensation
Competitive salary or contract rate (based on experience)
Pilot-based milestone compensation may be available
Equity consideration for the right operator
How to Apply: Apply with:
- Resume highlighting commissioned systems you personally operated
- Brief note describing a system you took from startup to stable operation
- Candidates who hesitate when told they will program and run the pilot will not be considered.
Company Description:
N.O.E. (Nature-Origin Energy Infrastructure) designs and operates modular systems that convert organic waste into reliable local energy. We build decentralized infrastructure for cities, farms, and industrial sites-turning waste into power where it's produced. Our systems are engineered for safety, regulatory acceptance, and real-world deployment.
Company Description:
N.O.E. (Nature-Origin Energy Infrastructure) designs and operates modular systems that convert organic waste into reliable local energy. We build decentralized infrastructure for cities, farms, and industrial sites-turning waste into power where it's produced. Our systems are engineered for safety, regulatory acceptance, and real-world deployment.
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JOB OVERVIEW
Experience level
Senior
Location
Holyoke, MA
Occupation
Mechatronics Engineers
Industry
Engineering Services
Posted
9 days ago
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