Director, Generation Controls, Protection, and Automation – Power and Energy

This is a fully remote position, open to applicants in Texas.

📋 Description

• Take charge of the microgrid control architecture, which encompasses power management, generation dispatch, load sharing, frequency and voltage regulation in island mode, as well as coordinated responses to load transients and contingencies.

• Establish control philosophies and functional specifications for plant master controllers, engine governor coordination, and AVR coordination, along with grid-forming BESS controls.

• Lead dynamic performance requirements and verification processes, including control tuning, load acceptance and rejection behavior, black start protocols, resynchronization logic, and load ramp coordination.

• Supervise EMT and dynamic modeling efforts utilizing PSCAD and similar platforms.

• Oversee the protection philosophy for islanded systems, which includes relaying schemes, coordination studies, arc flash analyses, and settings management.

• Evaluate and approve protection designs, relay settings, and coordination studies provided by EPC partners, OEMs, and consultants.

• Manage controller and protection CHIL/HIL testing initiatives in collaboration with relay, BESS, and switchgear vendors.

• Establish a discipline for settings management, focusing on version control, change management, and as-left documentation.

• Take responsibility for plant automation and SCADA architecture, including control topology, substation automation, communications design, and time synchronization.

• Specify signal lists, alarm philosophy, and operator interfaces.

• Define cybersecurity requirements for OT networks related to controls and protection systems.

• Integrate automation designs with data center building management and operational data platforms.

• Guide controls and protection scope through design reviews, FAT witnessing, site functional testing, energization, and integrated systems testing.

• Assist in root cause analysis of controls, protection, and power quality incidents and drive corrective measures.

• Create engineering standards, specifications, and reference designs for microgrid controls, protection, and automation.

• Assemble and lead a small team of controls and protection engineers.

• Direct specialist consultants and firms conducting studies.

• Cultivate technical relationships with relay, controls, BESS, and switchgear OEMs.

• Collaborate with the Director of Generation Electrical Engineering on integrated power system, protection, and controls design.

• Coordinate with teams in data center operations, controls, fuel gas, mechanical, and civil disciplines.

• Articulate complex power systems issues to project leadership, commissioning teams, and executives.

⛳️ Requirements

• Over 10 years of experience in power systems controls, protection, or automation engineering.

• Extensive experience with islanded, industrial, or microgrid power systems.

• Profound expertise in protective relaying, including scheme design, coordination studies, and settings development on contemporary digital relay platforms.

• Experience with high inverter-based resource penetration and limited fault current scenarios.

• Practical experience with plant or microgrid control systems, power management systems, governor and excitation coordination, as well as grid-forming or grid-following inverter controls.

• Proficient knowledge of EMT (PSCAD or equivalent), dynamic stability, short circuit, coordination, and arc flash studies and models.

• Direct hardware-in-the-loop testing experience with RTDS or similar systems is a significant plus.

• Strong foundation in SCADA and substation automation.

• Familiarity with IEC 61850, DNP3, Modbus, and OT cybersecurity practices.

• Experience guiding controls and protection scopes through commissioning and energization on major projects.

• Capacity to lead OEMs, consultants, and EPC engineering teams.

• Experience making technically sound decisions under time constraints.

• Exposure to behind-the-meter generation, BESS, or mission-critical facilities is a strong advantage.

• Capability to develop standards, processes, and small teams in a rapidly scaling environment.

• Bachelor’s degree in Electrical Engineering or a related discipline.

• Willingness and ability to travel frequently to project sites and vendor facilities, typically 25% or more during factory testing and energization phases.

• PE license preferred.

🏝️ Benefits

• Highly competitive compensation package in the US, including bonuses and equity.

• Comprehensive medical, dental, and vision insurance coverage.

• 401(k) retirement plan with company matching.

• Generous paid time off plus US federal holidays.

• Flexible work environment with autonomy.

• Flexible paid time off options.

• Parental leave benefits.

• Participation in retirement plans.

• Annual performance reviews.