Full-Time

Lead Controls Engineer

Upwing Energy

Upwing Energy

51-200 employees

Subsurface magnetic gas-compression systems for recovery

No salary listed

Norwalk, CA, USA

In Person

On-site in Cerritos, California; minimal travel.

Bachelor's, Master's

Category
Electrical Engineering (1)
Required Skills
TCP/IP
Python
C/C++

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Requirements
  • Bachelor's or Master's degree in Controls or Electrical Engineering
  • 5+ years of experience in motor controls engineering or industrial automation
  • Strong knowledge of control theory and control algorithms
  • Understanding of Allen Bradley PLC systems and programming
  • Experience with control communication protocols, e.g. CAN, MODBUS, TCP/IP
  • Proficient in one or more modern computer programming languages, e.g. C/C++/Python
  • Excellent problem-solving skills and attention to detail
  • Excellent written and verbal communication skills
  • Experience with application and setup of programmable logic controllers (PLC)
Responsibilities
  • Architect, write, and debug PLC code with an emphasis on generating code that is organized, structured, documented, maintainable, and reusable
  • Work with cross-functional teams to integrate control algorithms into existing systems
  • Collaborate with electrical engineers to ensure compatibility between control algorithms and hardware
  • Design, simulate and test control algorithms for electric motors and variable speed drives
  • Develop and maintain technical documentation for the variable speed drive and system interface designs
  • Analyze motor and system performance data and make recommendations for improvements
  • Coordinate with the supplier of our variable speed drive via technical specifications and engineering coordination meetings
  • Stay up to date with emerging trends and technologies in the field of motor and system controls
Desired Qualifications
  • Must have the initiative to take ownership and drive results
  • Must have fundamental curiosity as to how things work
  • Drive to constantly learn new things and apply them to development and improvement of analysis methods
  • Determination to investigate and understand root cause of problems
  • Ability to communicate problems, analysis and results clearly to a general engineering audience of various specializations
  • Be open to new ideas and input from others in a collegial, team environment
  • Strong organizational skills
  • High integrity, commitment and honesty
  • Readiness to do whatever task is necessary to move the product/team/company forward

Upwing Energy provides downhole gas compression systems for the oil and gas industry. It designs and sells subsurface compressors that sit in the well and boost gas production by drawing gas closer to the perforations. The main product, the SCS 425, uses a magnetically levitated permanent magnet motor to drive a high-speed compressor downhole. Torque is transmitted from the motor to the compressor through a magnetic coupling instead of a traditional rotating shaft, so there are no rotary seals or pressure chambers in the transfer path. Electric parts are hermetically sealed to prevent common ESP failures. The system is built to handle harsh downhole environments and is serviced through sales, maintenance contracts, and technology licensing. Compared with conventional downhole pumps, Upwing Energy emphasizes reliability under extreme conditions and leveraging magnetic technologies from its parent company, Calnetix Technologies, to improve gas drawdown and recoverable reserves.

Company Size

51-200

Company Stage

Late Stage VC

Total Funding

$32.1M

Headquarters

Cerritos, California

Founded

2016

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Simplify Jobs

Simplify's Take

What believers are saying

  • May 2026 Canacol agreement gives Upwing a fresh South American commercialization path.
  • March 2026 ISO 9001 certification signals production maturity and lowers buyer qualification friction.
  • January 2026 MENA and Central Asia leadership expansion supports faster international sales execution.

What critics are saying

  • PitchBook still shows only a 2022 Series C; funding visibility stays thin in 2026.
  • Commercial scaling depends on offshore and Latin American pilots, not broad field adoption.
  • If well-performance disappoints, operators revert to conventional compressors and Upwing becomes a niche supplier.

What makes Upwing Energy unique

  • Upwing’s magnetically levitated downhole compressor eliminates seals, a shaft, and pressure chambers.
  • June 2026 ISO 14068-1 carbon-neutral certification strengthens its climate branding for gas operators.
  • Patents and Calnetix heritage give Upwing proprietary high-speed motor and magnetic-bearings expertise.

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Benefits

Remote Work Options

Growth & Insights and Company News

Headcount

6 month growth

-1%

1 year growth

0%

2 year growth

0%
Upwing Energy
Jun 23rd, 2026
Upwing Energy achieves ISO 14068-1:2023 Carbon Neutrality certification.

Upwing Energy achieves ISO 14068-1:2023 Carbon Neutrality certification. CERRITOS, CA - June 23, 2026 - Upwing Energy, gas tech innovator and service company, today announced it has been independently certified as a carbon neutral organization in accordance with ISO 14068-1:2023, Climate Change Management - Transition to Net Zero - Part 1: Carbon Neutrality. The certification, awarded by DEKRA Certification, Inc,, an accredited third-party verification body, positions Upwing as a recognized leader in responsible climate action within the oil and gas equipment and services sector. The certification covers Upwing Energy's global operations and facilities and confirms that the company's greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions have been comprehensively quantified, reduced and offset in full compliance with the requirements of the ISO 14068-1 standard. Published in November 2023 by the International Organization for Standardization (ISO), ISO 14068-1 is the internationally recognized successor to PAS 2060 and establishes a rigorous, science-aligned framework for demonstrating carbon neutrality. The standard requires organizations to quantify all material GHG emissions across Scopes 1, 2 and 3; implement and maintain a documented carbon reduction pathway aligned with science-based targets; continually reduce emissions until only residual amounts remain; offset all emissions with verified, high-quality carbon credits and undergo independent third-party verification to confirm conformance to the standard. By attaining this certification, Upwing Energy has further solidified its position as a responsible energy innovator dedicated to minimizing environmental impact and contributing to a sustainable future. The company's Subsurface Compressor System(TM)(SCS) is a first-of-its-kind, electrically driven compression system that boosts the production and recoverability of existing natural gas wells. The SCS eliminates methane leaks associated with traditional compressors and creates access to previously inaccessible gas, materially reducing the need to drill new wells while meeting energy demand. Upwing Energy's achievement reflects the company's broader vision to lead the energy sector toward more sustainable practices while delivering reliable and secure energy to power its modern daily lives. "We are honored to be recognized for our efforts in promoting environmental stewardship across our value chain," said Kuo-Chiang Chen, Chief Strategy and Sustainability Officer at Upwing Energy. "Achieving ISO 14068-1:2023 certification underscores our ongoing initiatives to reduce emissions, increase energy efficiency and support our clients in meeting their climate objectives." About DEKRA Founded in 1925, DEKRA is one of the world's leading expert organizations in safety, security and sustainability. With more than 48,000 employees in around 60 countries, DEKRA is committed to ensuring safety on the road, at work, and at home. In North America, DEKRA provides automotive, industrial, and regulatory services, including product testing, certification, inspection, audits, and sustainability solutions. For more information, visit https://www.dekra.Upwing Energy group About Upwing Energy Upwing Energy is the leading energy tech innovator and service company for responsibly sourced natural gas. Upwing provides a comprehensive integrated End2End (E2E) service, leveraging innovative subsurface compression technology to help natural gas companies of all sizes boost the production and recoverability of natural gas from existing wells while lowering emissions intensity. The company was formed in 2015 as an innovative offshoot of Calnetix Technologies, a recognized industry leader in high-speed systems, supplying high-speed permanent magnet motors and generators, magnetic bearings and variable speed drives (VSDs) over the past two decades to a wide variety of industries throughout the world.

PR Newswire
Aug 20th, 2025
Upwing Energy to Exhibit at SPE's 2025 Electric Submersible Pumps Symposium

Upwing Energy, a gas tech innovator and service company, will be exhibiting at the SPE Gulf Coast Section Electric Submersible Pumps Symposium and will be displaying its downhole gas compressor technology for improved natural gas well performance.

PR Newswire
Jun 11th, 2024
Upwing Energy Collaborates With Equinor To Qualify Subsurface Compressor System(Tm) (Scs) For Offshore Deployment

"This collaboration will provide an advanced testing ground simulating real-world offshore conditions, prime the SCS for wider commercial deployment and significantly scale its impact," said Herman Artinian, CEO at Upwing Energy

Yahoo Finance
Feb 27th, 2024
Chile Turns to Equinor-Backed Firm to Boost Natural Gas Output

Enap signed a deal with Upwing Energy to install compressors deep in wells at its onshore operations in the Magallanes Basin, the two firms said Tuesday.

Yahoo Finance
Feb 27th, 2024
Chile Turns to Equinor-Backed Firm to Boost Natural Gas Output

Enap signed a deal with Upwing Energy to install compressors deep in wells at its onshore operations in the Magallanes Basin, the two firms said Tuesday.