Senior Power Controls & Grid Planning Engineer
$134,546–$205,557 year
HybridChicago, Illinois, United States
Job Summary
Conduct engineering design reviews and technical due diligence for large, isolated power systems integrating gas turbines, BESS, and reciprocating engines with dynamic loads. Provide independent technical oversight of plant control philosophies, validating integration between GT controls, SCADA, and coordination strategies for frequency response, voltage control, and black start scenarios. Review and challenge dynamic studies, control narratives, and protection philosophies to ensure stable, resilient, and compliant operation under steady-state, transient, and islanded conditions. Lead cross-disciplinary teams in translating complex control interactions into clear recommendations for owner and lender stakeholders. Support project development and conceptual design while overseeing automation workflows to reduce rework and deliver cost-effective designs.
Required Qualifications
- Bachelor's degree in Electrical Engineering
- 12+ years' experience in power generation controls, grid integration, or utility-scale plant systems
- Demonstrated experience with islanded or isolated grids
- Strong understanding of dynamic performance studies (transient stability, EMT, frequency response)
- Familiarity with gas turbine control systems (e.g., Mark VIe or equivalent) and BESS plant/energy management systems, power plant controllers
- Experience reviewing EPC deliverables, grid code compliance documentation, and performance guarantees
- Knowledge of protection coordination and system-level control architecture
- Strong communication skills for engagement with developers, OEMs, lenders, and regulatory bodies
- Experience in development support and conceptual design of thermal power projects
- Experience with Simple cycle gas turbines
- Experience with Combined cycle projects
- Experience with Coal fired generation
- Experience with Reciprocating engines (RICE)
- In-office work 3 days per week
- Travel within the United States as well as internationally
Desired Qualifications
- Master's degree in electrical engineering
- Experience in technical due diligence and owner's engineering design reviews of thermal power projects
- General understanding of power station operations and performance reviews
- General understanding of process design at electric power generation facilities
- Contract development experience
- Reliability modeling experience
- Experience overseeing engineers who program or script (e.g., Python, MATLAB, advanced Excel) to automate engineering tasks
- Additional learning, such as a minor, certificate, or other experience in Computer Science, Artificial Intelligence, Software Engineering, or related fields
Hiring someone like this?
Get your role in front of qualified candidates on Sorce.