# Network Engineer

**Company:** [xAI](https://hotfix.jobs/companies/xai)
**Location:** Memphis, TN
**Role:** Hardware Engineering
**Experience:** 6+ years
**Skills:** Industrial Networking, Operational Technology, Managed Switches, Routers, Fiber Optics, Modbus Tcp, Dnp3, Iec 61850, Goose, Ptp, Ieee 1588, Irig-B, Iec 62443, Nerc Cip, Cisco
**Posted:** 2026-08-18

> Designs, commissions, and operates secure, redundant operational technology networks for battery energy storage and high-capacity power systems. The role requires industrial networking experience, hands-on fiber and protocol expertise, and on-site availability in Memphis with up to 25% travel.

## Job Description

## Responsibilities
- Own the operational technology network supporting storage packs, inverters, medium-voltage collection, and the plant controller.
- Design and maintain site network architecture, including topology, redundancy, switch selection and configuration, VLANs, subnets, and fleet-wide IP addressing.
- Own the fiber and copper physical plant, including single-mode and multimode runs, splice plans, patch panel layouts, labeling, OTDR acceptance testing, and pathway coordination.
- Integrate Modbus TCP, DNP3, and IEC 61850 industrial protocols, including GOOSE, and map communications among pack controllers, PCS, plant controller, and EMS.
- Implement precision time distribution using PTP under IEEE 1588 and IRIG-B for sequence-of-events and disturbance analysis.
- Manage OT cybersecurity, including IEC 62443 segmentation, firewall rules, remote access, patch and firmware management, and applicable NERC CIP evidence.
- Specify and commission industrial switches, media converters, gateways, protocol converters, terminal servers, and time sources.
- Maintain configuration backups and change management.
- Support commissioning through network validation, latency and packet-loss testing, failover testing, and pack-level communications troubleshooting.

## Requirements
- Bachelor's degree in electrical engineering, computer engineering, computer science, or a related technical discipline, or 6+ years of relevant experience in lieu of a degree.
- 3+ years of industrial, utility, or operational technology network engineering experience.
- Willingness to perform hands-on work in heat, cold, rain, tight quarters, and elevated locations.
- Willingness to work extended hours and weekends as needed for construction, energization, and operations.
- Ability to remain focused in hazardous environments while wearing appropriate PPE.
- Ability to lift up to 25 lbs. unassisted.
- Ability to provide 24/7 on-call emergency support.
- Willingness to work on-site in Memphis, TN; this is not a remote or hybrid role.
- Willingness to travel up to 25% for factory witness testing, vendor and OEM engagement, and support of other sites.
- Valid driver's license.

## Nice-to-haves
- Hands-on configuration of managed industrial switches and routers.
- Experience with Modbus TCP, DNP3, or IEC 61850.
- Hands-on fiber optic termination, testing, and troubleshooting.
- BESS, solar, or substation automation network experience.
- IEC 61850 station and process bus design, including GOOSE performance requirements.
- IEC 62443 or NERC CIP program experience.
- Experience with Cisco, Hirschmann, Moxa, RuggedCom, or comparable industrial platforms.
- Familiarity with Modbus, IEEE C37.115, IEEE C37.111, and DNP3.

## Compensation and benefits
- No salary information provided.

## Similar jobs

- [Physical Design Engineer, Forward Deployed Engineering](https://hotfix.jobs/jobs/cef5959f-072b-4294-a45d-71a7c4c235a7) - OpenAI - San Francisco, CA - $260k – $302k/yr
- [Senior Mechanical Design Engineer [Propulsion]](https://hotfix.jobs/jobs/296cf748-3d6a-4ead-aeef-5446b1549796) - Odys Aviation - Long Beach, CA
- [Senior Engineer - Dexterous End Effector Design](https://hotfix.jobs/jobs/a62ac932-f09d-46a4-9853-ed76b0f89d80) - Maven Robotics
- [Senior RF Design Engineer](https://hotfix.jobs/jobs/3b5c5e95-18ca-4322-98b2-545836737331) - Skydio - San Mateo, CA - $206k – $271k/yr
- [Senior Trim & Lighting Engineer](https://hotfix.jobs/jobs/d4ef3699-bc86-493a-987b-03e4b5592346) - Zoox - Foster City, CA - $195k – $235k/yr

**Apply:** https://hotfix.jobs/jobs/6fcde361-1b6d-4445-9afb-d4288f509268
**Canonical:** https://hotfix.jobs/jobs/6fcde361-1b6d-4445-9afb-d4288f509268