Engineering the Systems That Can’t Fail
Protection & controls for the data centers that keep the world connected — from design through commissioning.
- IEDs across three continents
- 400+
- manufacturer platforms
- 10+
- redundancy architecture
- 2(N+1)
- GOOSE in production
- IEC 61850
What is Protection & Controls Engineering?
Every data center runs on a power system — switchgear, generators, automatic transfer switches, UPS systems. The protection and controls layer sits across all of it: protective relays that detect faults and isolate failed equipment in milliseconds, controllers that manage generator dispatch and load priorities, and automation logic that coordinates transfers between power sources. When something fails, P&C engineering determines whether the facility rides through the event or loses load. When the owner’s commissioning agent runs acceptance testing, it’s this layer they’re proving.
Ziggurat delivers end-to-end P&C scope — coordination studies through site commissioning — across 10+ manufacturer platforms. As a subcontractor to AE, MEP, and EPC prime contractors on Tier III/IV data center programs, our engineers design, program, and commission the controls that turn a power distribution design into a verified, operating system.
Ziggurat Automation is a protection & controls engineering firm focused on Tier III/IV data centers. We own the P&C scope from design through commissioning as a subcontractor to AE/MEP/EPC primes — and we're building the team to deliver it.
Browse by discipline:
One Scope of Accountability
You carry protection studies, relay settings, and commissioning procedures from design intent through energization. The engineer who writes the relay logic is on-site during witness testing. No handoff gap between the design firm and the field crew — when something doesn't pass, you know the system because you built it.
Every Vendor, Every Protocol
10+ manufacturer platforms, including SEL, Woodward, CAT, ABB, EIG, Eaton, Cisco, UPS OEM — IEC 61850 GOOSE in production, PRP dual-star networks. You work across the full vendor stack, not inside one ecosystem.
Direct Impact, From Day One
Decisions happen in conversations, not approval chains. Direct access to the principal engineer. Your technical judgment shapes project outcomes — and you're shaping how a specialized P&C engineering practice scales from its founding stage into the data center market.
What You Get Here
Multi-Vendor Breadth
Work across 10+ manufacturer platforms — including SEL, Woodward, CAT, ABB, Eaton, Cisco, EIG, UPS OEM. Most firms lock you into one ecosystem. Here, you build vendor-agnostic expertise.
Full-Scope Ownership
Carry projects from coordination study through witness testing. You see your work prove itself under load — not handed off to a commissioning crew who never saw the design.
Principal Engineer Mentorship
Direct access to the principal engineer on every project. No layers of management between your technical question and the person who delivered P&C for a mission-critical program on three continents.
Practice-Building Opportunity
You're not filling a seat in an established department. You're shaping how a specialized P&C engineering practice scales from its founding stage into the data center market.
Benefits
Health & Wellness
- Medical insurance
- Dental insurance
- Vision insurance
- Life insurance
- Short & long-term disability
- Employee Assistance Program (EAP)
- Health Savings Account (HSA)
Financial
- 401(k)
Time Off
- Paid time off (PTO)
We hire based on engineering capability and judgment. Background, credentials path, and geography matter less than what you can deliver.
How We Hire
Five steps. No black box. You'll know exactly where you stand.
Screen
Resume review + 15-min intro call
Technical Review
Async work-sample review or 45-min technical call
Interview
60-min video call with founder
Exercise / Artifact Review
Take-home exercise (2–4 hrs) or artifact walkthrough (60 min)
Final Conversation
30-min call
Screen
Resume review + 15-min intro call
Technical Review
Async work-sample review or 45-min technical call
Interview
60-min video call with founder
Exercise / Artifact Review
Take-home exercise (2–4 hrs) or artifact walkthrough (60 min)
Final Conversation
30-min call
Ready to own it?
Protection & Relay Engineering
Relay settings, coordination, and automation across multi-vendor protection systems
Senior Protection & Controls Engineer — East
Senior Engineer
Compensation at Step 5
Own the full P&C scope on multi-vendor Tier III/IV data center protection systems — serving the East Coast hyperscale corridor.
See This RoleIEC 61850 / Protection Automation Engineer
ENG III
Compensation at Step 5
Own the IEC 61850 GOOSE, PRP network, and RTAC automation layer — the protocol-level engineering between protection relays and SCADA.
See This RolePower System Studies & Design
Short-circuit, coordination, arc-flash, and grounding analysis for critical power
Applications & Proposal Engineer
ENG III
Compensation at Step 5
Define P&C scope boundaries, vendor interfaces, and technical proposals — the contract-grade engineering before the project starts.
See This RoleCommissioning & Field Execution
FAT/SAT, witness testing, energization, and turnover for mission-critical facilities
Electrical Safety & Energization Lead
Principal Engineer
Compensation at Step 5
Own the safety plan for MV switchgear commissioning — approach boundaries, energization sequences, NFPA 70E compliance across concurrent energized and de-energized zones.
See This RoleIntegration & Controls
EPMS/SCADA, OT networks, cybersecurity, and controls documentation
OT Network & Cybersecurity Engineer
Senior Engineer
Compensation at Step 5
Design and harden the OT networks that carry protection traffic — PRP dual-star, IEC 62443 zone/conduit, and multi-standard cybersecurity alignment.
See This RoleProject & Deployment Management
P&C scope management across multi-phase data center programs
We're shaping project & deployment management roles. Reach out to express interest.
Not ready to apply?
Stay on our radar — we'll reach out when a role matches your background.
Let's Talk Engineering
Don't see the right role listed?
Tell us about your background — we'll find the right fit.
Or email us directly at careers@zigguratautomation.com