Our Story: Australian Control Engineering
The Australian Control Engineering story began in Perth in 2014. Today, ACE delivers SCADA and control systems for water, energy, transport and industrial infrastructure.
Engineering Smart Utilities
"Our clients' success is how we measure our own. We bring expertise and genuine care to every challenge, delivering on time, on budget, and to the highest standard, because when our clients thrive, so do we."
— Jordan Zhao, Founder & Managing DirectorUtility SCADA and Control Systems
Supervisory control and data acquisition (SCADA) helps operators monitor and control essential infrastructure. It connects field equipment with the information people need to run their assets.
ACE focuses on this operational layer: control logic, communications and system integration. Explore our utility SCADA engineering services.
"ACE exists to solve our clients' toughest data visualisation and operational challenges, with solutions built to last."
— Jordan Zhao, Founder & Managing DirectorWhy This Matters Now
Australia’s shift towards renewable energy brings new demands for control and monitoring. Solar farms, batteries and substations need systems that work together.
ACE supports this work through clean energy control systems and SCADA integration.
Meanwhile, water utilities manage ageing equipment across large regions. Transport and industrial operators also need clear operational data and maintainable controls.
Where It Began
Jordan Zhao built ACE around a commitment to careful engineering and client service.
In 2004, Jordan arrived in Western Australia with a degree in Electronics and Communication Engineering.
He studied for a Master of Electrical Engineering at Curtin University in Western Australia, completing the degree in 2006. His thesis explored control strategies for reverse osmosis desalination within a renewable energy system.
This research featured in the 2006 publication Supervisory reverse osmosis desalination in an existing renewable energy system. It brought together PLC and SCADA control, instrumentation and energy efficiency.
Explore Jordan’s other publications, listed under Yu Zhao, for more of his research work.
In 2007, Yu Zhao received a Mondialogo Engineering Award. Mondialogo, an initiative by Daimler and UNESCO, organised the award. His team’s proposal was Development of Sustainable Power and Water Supply for Remote Areas and Disaster Response and Reconstruction in Indonesia. It was one of ten award-winning proposals selected from 92 entries, demonstrating the value of intercultural teamwork in engineering.
The 10-Year Apprenticeship
Jordan designed control panels for research drilling at CSIRO. At Schneider Electric, he engineered SCADA networks and radio communications. He then spent seven years at ABB, leading factory tests, site commissioning and project delivery.
These roles shaped his approach to design, testing and support across the project lifecycle.
"I study the world's best methodologies to solve problems others can't."
In 2014, Jordan earned Chartered Engineer status with Engineers Australia. ABB closed its WA SCADA engineering operation that year.
Jordan founded Australian Control Engineering in December 2014, with quality as a central principle.
Not quantity, quality. Take any job, big or small, and deliver excellence every time.
Australian Control Engineering Story: Key Milestones
The Australian Control Engineering story has grown through utility projects, repeat clients and a broader engineering team. These milestones trace that development.
To be the engineering intelligence behind the infrastructure that sustains communities
Making water safer, energy cleaner, and essential services more reliable for every Australian.
For Our Industry
Our vendor-neutral approach helps us work with the systems each client needs. Design, testing and documentation remain central to our delivery.
For Our Communities
Water, energy and transport systems support daily life. We keep the people who operate and depend on those systems in mind.
For the Next Generation
ACE works with universities to connect research with utility operations. We also create opportunities for engineers to develop practical skills.
How We Work
Each project adds to our team’s knowledge. We use that experience to improve how we design, test and support control systems.
Our culture centres on ownership, teamwork and attention to detail.
"Take ownership of our work with strong attention to detail. Work as a team and be fanatical about our clients’ success. This is the foundation of ACE culture."
Learn more about working with ACE and our approach to project delivery.
Excellence Requires Collaboration
ACE works with technology suppliers and university partners to connect engineering tools, research and field applications. Our projects span current and legacy control platforms.
Work With ACE
Our work spans water, energy, transport and industrial infrastructure. Browse our case studies to see the scope of individual projects.
If You're a Client
Discuss your SCADA, communications or control system requirements with our team.
If You're an Engineer
Explore engineering roles supporting essential infrastructure and practical project delivery.
If You're a Partner
Contact us about opportunities to collaborate on utility engineering and research.
Engineering Smart Utilities