Sr. Grid Integration Engineer
1st Avenue PowerMountain View, Canada
Full Time
Posted February 17, 2026
$120k - $205k
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Job Description
Location: Mountain View/San Jose Bay Area Team: System Engineering
Key Responsibilities
- Architect and build the Energy Management System (EMS) and Power Plant Controller (PPC) software stack that orchestrates inverters, MPPTs, battery systems, meters, and balance-of-plant equipment as a single grid-interactive plant.
- Own the plant Concept of Operations — author sequence diagrams, state machines, and control narratives that describe power flow under every operating mode (PV-only, charging, discharging, curtailment, frequency response, voltage regulation, black start, night-mode transitions, fault ride-through).
- Integrate power electronics (inverters, MPPTs, DC-DC converters), revenue and protection-class meters, BOP equipment, and PV systems into a unified software fabric using industry-standard protocols: DNP3, IEC 61850 (MMS, GOOSE, Sampled Values), Modbus TCP/RTU, SunSpec Modbus, MESA-ESS, IEEE 2030.5 (CSIP), OPC UA, and CAN .
- Develop plant-level control logic for active power dispatch, reactive power / voltage support, ramp-rate control, frequency response (PFR / AGC), autonomous curtailment, and setpoint coordination across all device classes.
- Implement and tune grid-following and grid-forming control strategies at the plant level — coordinating inverter modes, virtual inertia, droop response, and ride-through behavior between the PPC and underlying device controls.
- Build the SCADA architecture for the plant: HMI, historian, alarms, event logging, time synchronization (PTP / IRIG-B), redundancy, and cybersecurity hardening (IEC 62443, NERC CIP awareness).
- Develop control logic on SEL RTAC, Codesys (IEC 61131-3) PLCs, and model-based platforms (MATLAB / Simulink) — moving cleanly from simulation to deployable runtime code.
- Use MATLAB / Simulink for control design, model-based development, plant dynamics modeling, and tuning of EMS/PPC loops before field deployment.
- Ensure plant compliance with IEEE 1547-2018, IEEE 2800, UL 1741 SB/SC , FERC Order 2023, and applicable ISO/utility interconnection requirements through correct implementation of protection, ride-through, and grid-support functions.
- Partner closely with embedded software, power electronics, and hardware teams to define interface requirements and translate plant-level behavior into firmware and device-level requirements.
- Lead commissioning and on-site bring-up of EMS/PPC — protocol mapping verification, end-to-end signal tracing, control loop tuning, FAT/SAT, and grid-code witness testing with the utility/ISO.
- Document controls architecture, protocol maps, point lists, and operating procedures to a standard that supports independent engineering review, AHJ approval, and operator training.
Requirements
- Degree in Electrical Engineering, Controls, or equivalent experience with a focus on Power Systems, Control Theory, and software-defined controls.
- 5+ years of experience building EMS, PPC, or plant-level controls for utility-scale solar, storage, hybrid, or wind power plants.
- Deep working knowledge of utility and industrial communication protocols: DNP3, IEC 61850, Modbus TCP/RTU, SunSpec, MESA-ESS, IEEE 2030.5, OPC UA, CAN — including hands-on protocol mapping, point list design, and debugging (Wireshark, protocol analyzers, simulators).
- Hands-on experience with SEL RTAC , Codesys , and MATLAB / Simulink for model-based control development. Experience with industrial HMIs and historians (Ignition, AVEVA/Wonderware, Canary, OSIsoft PI) is a strong plus.
- Strong understanding of grid-following and grid-forming inverter control , droop response, virtual inertia, and the trade-offs between them at plant scale.
- Familiarity with IEEE 1547-2018, IEEE 2800, UL 1741 SB/SC, IEEE 519 , FERC Order 2023, and applicable NERC reliability standards.
- Proven ability to author concept of operations documents, sequence diagrams, state machines, and control narratives that engineering, operations, and external stakeholders can all build against.
- Proficiency in Python (or similar) for tooling, point list automation, and SCADA data analysis.
- Fluency with AI-assisted development — daily use of LLM coding assistants and agentic workflows to accelerate control code, test harnesses, point list generation, protocol parsing, and documentation. Working knowledge of applying ML/AI to operational data (forecasting, anomaly detection, optimization) is a strong plus.
- Strong understanding of LV/MV power plant architecture — transformers, switchgear, BOP, metering, and protection coordination at the plant level.
- Experience supporting commissioning, FAT/SAT, and grid-code witness testing in the field.
- Exceptional communication skills with the ability to translate between control engineers, power engineers, software developers, and utility/ISO counterparts.
- Self-driven, with the grit to solve ambiguous, cross-disciplinary plant-level problems in a fast-paced, clean-slate environment.
- Hands-on experience with the complete lifecycle of utility-scale renewable energy power plant development.
- Experience with industrial communication protocols such as Modbus TCP, CAN, and Ethernet.
- Proven ability to perform failure analysis (FMEA) at both system and subsystem levels.
Benefits & Perks
- Competitive Compensation Package
- Health Insurance: We offer 100% coverage of employee premiums under a Gold-level PPO plan. Dental & Vision Insurance: 50% of employee premiums are covered.
- Retirement Plan: A 401(k) plan with a 6% employer match.
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