---
title: 'Controls Engineer, Sustaining at Formenergy'
canonical: 'https://feeny.ai/job/controls-engineer-sustaining-formenergy-weirton-7a5vccxpxpw2'
type: 'job'
last_seen: '2026-09-04'
---

# Controls Engineer, Sustaining at Formenergy

- **Company:** [Formenergy](https://feeny.ai/companies/formenergy)
- **Location:** Weirton, WV
- **Employment:** full-time
- **Work type:** onsite
- **Posted:** 2026-09-01
- **Last confirmed live:** 2026-09-04
- **Apply:** https://jobs.ashbyhq.com/formenergy/20d5333a-cf42-40d6-8392-f9f9b003149b

## Job description

Are you ready to build America’s energy future? Form Energy is an American manufacturing and energy technology company. We’re revolutionizing energy storage with cost-effective, multi-day technology designed to keep the electric grid secure and reliable, even during extended periods of stress. By strengthening the electric system and reimagining what’s possible, we’re giving clean energy a whole new form!

In recent years, Form Energy has earned a number of accolades, including being named by TIME as a “Best Invention”, MIT Technology Review as a “Top Climate Tech Company To Watch”, and Fast Company as “One of the Next Big Things In Tech”. We are making rapid progress on our mission of delivering energy storage for a better world, and our team is growing just as rapidly to meet demand. We have signed contracts with leading electric utilities across the United States and production of our iron-air batteries is underway at our first high-volume manufacturing facility in West Virginia.

Working for Form Energy is more than just a job, it’s a chance to be part of something extraordinary. And now - right as we significantly scale up battery manufacturing -  might be the most exciting moment in the company’s history to join. We are assembling a team of highly talented and driven individuals across the country. Driven by our core values of humanity, excellence, and creativity, our team is determined to deliver on our mission and transform the energy landscape for the better.

Feeling energized to make a meaningful impact on the world? Then keep reading - you’ve come to the right place.

## ROLE DESCRIPTION

We are looking for an experienced Sustaining Controls Engineer to join the Operations Team. In this role, you will be the technical backbone of our manufacturing operations, responsible for the stability, maintenance, and continuous improvement of the novel equipment used to manufacture Form Energy’s Iron-Air battery.

Reporting to the Sustaining Controls Engineering Associate Manager, you will serve as the primary engineering escalation point for our Sustaining Automation Technicians. You will own the lifecycle of deployed systems, diagnosing complex controls and electrical issues, driving root-cause analysis, and independently executing PLC, HMI, and MES software improvements. You will work closely with both the Operations teams and the Manufacturing Control and Execution Systems teams to ensure maximum equipment uptime, throughput, and safety at Form Factory 1.

Relocation assistance is available.

## WHAT YOU'LL DO:

- Production Escalation & Support: Serve as the primary engineering escalation point for Sustaining Automation Technicians to resolve complex electrical, controls, and OT network issues.
- Continuous Improvement: Independently identify, design, and execute PLC, HMI, and SCADA software changes to optimize existing equipment, improve throughput, and eliminate recurring downtime events.
- Systems Integration & Troubleshooting: Troubleshoot and optimize MES data transactions within PLC programs, ensuring accurate product tracking and data handshakes.
- Mentorship: Provide technical guidance, training, and mentorship to Automation Technicians on the factory floor.
- On-Call Rotation: Participate in rotating on-call responsibilities for off-hour escalations from the Automation Technicians at the factory.
- Vendor & Project Management: Work directly with equipment vendors and internal teams on equipment retrofits, upgrades, and resolving long-term technical debt.
- Safety & Compliance: Ensure all plant automated equipment functions safely and correctly, strictly following Safety and Environmental policies.

## WHAT YOU'LL BRING:

- Experience: 6+ years of hands-on experience as an engineer working on industrial control systems in a manufacturing environment.
- Communication: Strong technical communication skills, both written and verbal, with the ability to translate complex engineering issues for operations teams.
- PLC Programming and Troubleshooting
- Siemens TIA-Portal (Required, execute independently)
- Rockwell Studio 5000 (Required, execute independently)
- Beckhoff TwinCat (Nice to Have)
- SCADA/HMI Systems
- Ignition Perspective (Required, with minimal supervision)
- Siemens WinCC & Rockwell FTView ME (Required, with minimal supervision)
- Robotics & Vision (Troubleshooting Focus)
- FANUC, Epson, Kawasaki (Nice to Have)
- Keyence and Cognex Barcode Scanners & Inspection (Required, basic knowledge/troubleshooting)
- MES Integration
- PLC Product Tracking & Handshake/Data Programming (Required, execute independently)
- Ignition Integration for Data (Required, with minimal supervision)
- Electrical & Safety
- Review/Redline/Read Electrical Schematics (Required, execute independently)
- Siemens ProfiSafe, Rockwell CIP Safety, and Hardwired Safety Systems (Required, execute independently)
- OT Network & Data
- Configure & Troubleshoot Managed Network Switches (Required, execute independently)
- iba & Octoplant (Required, execute independently)
- Problem-solving: Exceptional attention to detail in root-cause analysis, testing, and documenting procedures.
- Education: Bachelor's Degree in Electrical/Controls/Mechatronics Engineering or equivalent practical experience.

## WHERE YOU'LL WORK:

This role is based at Form Factory 1 in Weirton, WV—an easy commute from the city of Pittsburgh, PA. This 550,000-square-foot facility is our hub for high-volume battery production and a leader in the new era of American energy manufacturing. Relocation assistance is available.

#LI-Onsite

## #LI-JM2

Humanity is a cornerstone of Form Energy’s culture, and we make sure our compensation and benefits reflect that. Form Energy offers competitive salaries, stock options, and a holistic benefits package to ensure all employees have what they need to thrive while working here.

When it comes to you and your family’s health, we cover 100% of medical, dental, and vision premiums for full-time employees - and 80% of healthcare premiums for dependents. This starts from day one. We also offer at least 12 weeks of paid leave for new parents (up to 20 weeks for birthing parents), and generous vacation policies to give employees time to recharge when needed.

To build America’s energy future, we need everyone at the table. We are proud to be an equal opportunity employer, and encourage candidates from all backgrounds to apply to our open jobs.

If you may require reasonable accommodations to participate in our interview process, please contact accommodations@formenergy.com. Requests for accommodations will be treated with discretion.

Form Energy is committed to maintaining the privacy of our applicants. Please be aware that we will never solicit sensitive personal information such as Social Security numbers or bank account details during the recruiting or hiring process.

## About Formenergy

## Core Business
- **Primary industry**: Energy storage / Clean energy technology / Battery manufacturing
- **Target customers**: Electric utilities, grid operators, large-scale energy developers, and industrial energy users (B2B, enterprise)
- **Mission/purpose**: To reshape the global electric system by creating a new class of low-cost, multi-day energy storage systems that strengthen the grid and enable a sustainable energy future.

## Products & Services
- **Iron-Air Battery System**: A proprietary battery that stores energy for up to 100 hours at a fraction of the cost of lithium-ion. Designed for grid-scale applications to firm renewable energy and replace peaker plants. [formenergy.com](https://formenergy.com/)
- **Formware™**: An advanced software tool that helps utilities and grid operators model the value of multi-day energy storage in their portfolios. [formenergy.com/about](https://formenergy.com/about/)

## Market Standing
- **Valuation**: Not publicly disclosed
- **Key Metric**: Total funding raised > $1.2 billion (as of Series F in 2024)
- **Notable Investors/Partners**: T. Rowe Price (led Series F), Breakthrough Energy Ventures, Prelude Ventures, The Engine, TPG Rise, Coatue Management, ArcelorMittal’s XCarb fund, Eni Next, Capricorn Investment Group. [formenergy.com/about](https://formenergy.com/about/)
- **Growth Signals**:
  - Commercial pipeline exceeds 750 MW / 75 GWh under agreement.
  - Announced 300 MW / 30 GWh project with Xcel Energy to power a Google data center in Minnesota.
  - Selected by U.S. DOE for an 85 MW / 8,500 MWh project in Maine – the largest energy storage project by energy capacity announced globally at the time.
  - First international deployment: 10 MW / 1,000 MWh system with FutureEnergy Ireland.
  - Strategic supply agreement with Crusoe (AI data center company) for 12 GWh of iron-air batteries.
  - Manufacturing facility (Form Factory 1) in Weirton, WV – 550,000 sq ft, employing ~400 people, now in trial production. [formenergy.com/about](https://formenergy.com/about/)

## Competitive Advantages
- **Technology moat**: Iron-air chemistry is fundamentally low-cost (using abundant materials) and safe (no thermal runaway, passed UL9540A).
- **Duration leadership**: 100-hour storage fills a critical gap between short-duration lithium-ion and seasonal storage, enabling true 24/7 renewable power.
- **Manufacturing scale**: First high-volume factory built on a former steel mill site in the U.S., leveraging domestic supply chains and skilled labor.
- **Proven field performance**: Over 34,700 sub-scale cells, 6,200 full-scale cells, 170 modules, and 10+ grid-connected systems tested. [formenergy.com/about](https://formenergy.com/about/)

## Strategic Focus
- Rapidly scaling manufacturing at Form Factory 1 and expanding commercial deployments with major utilities.
- Entering new international markets (Ireland, and exploring others).
- Supporting the energy needs of AI data centers and other high-demand loads through long-duration storage.
- Continuing R&D to improve cell performance and reduce costs further. [formenergy.com/about](https://formenergy.com/about/)

## Why Work Here
- **Culture**: Driven by core values of Humanity, Excellence, and Creativity. Emphasis on inclusion, empathy, pragmatic optimism, and tackling hard challenges.
- **Locations**: R&D in Somerville, MA; engineering in Berkeley, CA; manufacturing in Weirton, WV; remote/hybrid options available for some roles.
- **Benefits**:
  - 100% of medical, dental, and vision premiums covered for employees; 80% for dependents.
  - Health insurance starts day one.
  - Up to 12 weeks paid parental leave (more for birth parents).
  - Stock options granted to all employees.
  - Company-sponsored 401k.
  - Annual professional development budget.
  - Employee Resource Program (financial/legal guidance).
  - Mental health counseling services.
  - Life insurance, short- and long-term disability.
- **Team size**: Nearly 1,000 employees as of early 2025, with plans to grow. [formenergy.com/careers](https://formenergy.com/careers/)
- **Awards**: Recognized as a Breakthrough Energy company; multiple industry accolades for innovation.

## Sources
1. [formenergy.com](https://formenergy.com/)
2. [formenergy.com/about](https://formenergy.com/about/)
3. [formenergy.com/careers](https://formenergy.com/careers/)
4. [linkedin.com](https://www.linkedin.com/company/form-energy)
5. [crunchbase.com](https://www.crunchbase.com/organization/form-energy)

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