SCADA Technician - Solar Energy Career, $80K-$110K in Columbus
Career & Market Insight
This is a solid mid-level field engineering role in the growing utility-scale solar and clean energy sector. SCADA technicians with hands-on commissioning experience are in strong demand as the US continues to rapidly expand renewable energy infrastructure.
Compensation context: The $80,000–$110,000 range is competitive for a field-based SCADA/instrumentation technician in the US, particularly given the 40–60% travel requirement. Senior field technicians at comparable companies typically earn $85,000–$120,000, so the range aligns well with market rates.
Skills you'll develop:
- Industrial networking protocols (Modbus-TCP, DNP3, IEC 61850) — highly transferable to utilities, oil & gas, and manufacturing sectors
- SCADA platform experience (especially Ignition, which is an increasingly dominant platform)
- FAT/commissioning documentation — a valued skill for senior field engineer roles
- PLC/RTAC programming exposure, opening doors to automation engineering career paths
Green flags: Stock options suggest startup-stage growth potential. The benefits package (401k match, flexible PTO, career progression language) signals a maturing company investing in retention. Terabase Energy is a venture-backed solar automation company, meaning meaningful equity upside is possible.
Red flags to consider: The 40–60% travel commitment is significant and can lead to burnout over time. Candidates should clarify whether travel is clustered or continuous, and what home-base flexibility truly looks like in practice.
Overall, this is a strong career-building role for someone early-to-mid career in industrial networking or energy technology who wants field experience and exposure to the booming solar sector.
The SCADA Technician will be responsible for supporting the configuration, troubleshooting, and commissioning of instrumentation, communications, and SCADA devices during equipment production and on-site after equipment delivery, as required. The technician will support continuous improvement and operational excellence for instrumentation, communications, and SCADA-related systems and equipment to achieve zero-failure rate.
Key Responsibilities:
SCADA and MET Assembly
- Assembly/build of SCADA racks and MET Stations
- Wiring of instrumentation and rack components per design
- Supporting inventory management
- Stacking and setting up devices on the rack or MET station as needed
- Configuring network and instrumentation devices based on provided design and configuration requirements
- Reading and understanding network device manuals for device setup and configuration
Factory Acceptance Testing
- Set up FAT environment for customers and Terabase's engineering teams to conduct the FAT for the equipment
- Generate documentation related to equipment assemblies and testing outcomes
- Support troubleshooting of network issues and device connectivity issues (knowledge of Putty and Wireshark is a plus)
On-Site Commissioning and Warranty Support
- Travel to sites in different locations across the US to complete pre-commissioning and commissioning activities or warranty support activities, including but not limited to:
- Powering up SCADA, MET station, and field network equipment
- Supporting establishment of remote connectivity to the site
- Inspecting installations and completing pre-commissioning and commissioning documentation
- Troubleshooting device and network communications issues
- Helping resolve and document warranty claims
Required Skills:
- Travel 40–60% of the time
- IT Certifications (A+) and (Network+), or (Cisco CCNA), or minimum 2 years of relevant experience
- Ability to troubleshoot Network layers 1 and 2 issues effectively, including capturing and analyzing packets
- Ability to carry heavy equipment for inventory management and assembly of racks and MET stations
- Ability to follow safety standards and protocols
- Solid understanding of fiber and Ethernet technologies, protocols, and patching
- Solid understanding of Network LAN protocols: TCP/IP, LLDP, CDP, STP, ICMP, ARP, DNS, DHCP
- Ability to communicate effectively with team members
- Working knowledge of industrial protocols such as Modbus-TCP, DNP3, OPC-UA, IEC 61850, and ICCP
Nice-to-Have Skills:
- Ability to troubleshoot Network layer 3 issues effectively, including capturing and analyzing packets
- RTAC or PLC programming experience, including structured text and function blocks
- Experience in SCADA development; Ignition experience is a plus
- Experience setting up virtual machines on physical servers
- Experience working on multiple projects simultaneously
- OSHA and NFPA 70E certifications are a plus
Compensation and Benefits
This role offers a base salary of $80,000 – $110,000 (DOE).
Our salary ranges are determined by role, level, and location. Within each posted range, individual pay is determined (and may be greater or higher) dependent on work location and additional factors, including job-related skills, experience, and relevant education or training. Terabase offers competitive compensation along with a comprehensive benefits package including:
- Generous time off and holiday policy
- Remote flexibility
- Flexible time off
- Comprehensive benefits package
- Career progression
- 401k match
- Stock options
- Home office setup allowance
Terabase is an equal opportunity employer. We recruit, hire, employ, train, promote, and compensate individuals based on job-related qualifications and abilities. We strongly encourage people of all backgrounds to apply.
We do not discriminate for any reason including race, color, sex, gender, age, religion or religious creed, national origin, ancestry, citizenship, marital status, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, genetic information, physical or mental disability, military/veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by law.
We offer a welcoming and inclusive environment in service to one another, our products, the diverse consumers we represent, and the communities we call home.
Principles only. This role is not open to receiving agency candidates, and any contingent submissions will not be considered. Terabase Energy does not utilize third-party recruitment agencies. Please contact our Recruiting team at [email protected] with any staffing-related inquiries.
Frequently Asked Questions
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