[Hiring] Microgrid Controls Engineer @AES

Role Description

AES US Renewables & Power is seeking a Microgrid Controls Engineer to design, develop, test, implement, and commission microgrid control solutions integrating natural-gas generation, battery energy storage systems, solar generation, utility interconnections, and site electrical loads. The role delivers safe and reliable automation, HMI, SCADA, protection, communications, and control-system solutions from design through field startup and turnover.

• Design and implement microgrid control solutions integrating natural-gas generators, CCGT or SCGT assets where applicable, BESS, solar PV, utility service, switchgear, and site loads.
• Develop, modify, test, and deploy software for automation controllers, programmable logic controllers, human-machine interfaces, SCADA systems, and data concentrators.
• Develop control philosophies, sequences of operation, functional descriptions, state diagrams, alarm strategies, operating modes, and test procedures.
• Program controls using appropriate methods such as ladder logic, structured text, function block diagrams, and CODESYS-compatible environments.
• Implement operating modes such as grid-connected operation, islanding, resynchronization, load shedding, generator dispatch, BESS charge and discharge, black start, and transition management.
• Review customer, project, utility, engineering, and equipment-vendor specifications and translate requirements into executable control designs.
• Select control-system components and prepare bills of materials, technical specifications, and project submittals.
• Provide sketches, markups, I/O requirements, network architecture, and technical direction to electrical designers and engineering partners.
• Review distributed energy resource, generator, BESS, switchgear, relay, and equipment-vendor submittals and coordinate control and communications interfaces.
• Configure and integrate industrial communications using protocols such as Modbus, DNP3, and IEC 61850.
• Coordinate multifunction protection relays, power monitoring systems, automation controllers, SCADA, HMIs, plant controls, and industrial networks.
• Participate in design reviews and customer meetings to confirm project requirements, resolve interfaces, and review submittals.
• Prepare and execute factory acceptance testing, integrated system testing, site acceptance testing, field startup, and commissioning procedures.
• Troubleshoot software, communications, controls, network, protection, and equipment-integration issues in factory and field environments.
• Coordinate with Project Management, Electrical Engineering, I&C, Protection and Control, BESS, Generator OEMs, Operations, Cybersecurity, and external vendors to meet schedule, budget, quality, and safety requirements.
• Maintain software configuration, backups, source files, test records, redlines, as-built documentation, and turnover materials.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in electrical engineering, controls engineering, computer engineering, or a related field.
• Typically 4 to 8 years of experience in power-distribution controls, industrial automation, microgrids, SCADA, power-system control applications, or a related field.
• Understanding of electric power systems, microgrid operations, distributed energy resources, natural-gas generators, BESS, and solar PV.
• Experience programming automation controllers or PLCs using ladder logic, structured text, function block diagrams, or CODESYS is preferred.
• Knowledge of low- and medium-voltage switchgear, protection relays, power monitoring, control systems, and electrical distribution equipment.
• Knowledge of industrial communications protocols such as Modbus, DNP3, and IEC 61850.
• Experience with HMIs, SCADA platforms, industrial networks, data concentrators, and multifunction protection-relay controls.
• Experience with Ignition Perspective or comparable HMI and SCADA platforms is preferred.
• Experience preparing sequences of operation, control drawings, submittals, test procedures, and bills of materials.
• Field experience with electrical distribution systems, factory testing, startup, commissioning, troubleshooting, and electrical safe-work practices.
• Ability to communicate technical topics clearly to internal teams, customers, vendors, and other stakeholders.
• Professional Engineer licensure is preferred.

Requirements

• Coordinate with Project Management, Electrical Engineering, I&C, Protection and Control, BESS, Generator OEMs, Operations, Cybersecurity, and external vendors to meet schedule, budget, quality, and safety requirements.

Benefits

• Medical, dental, and vision coverage
• Life insurance
• 401(k) eligibility
• Paid time off (including vacation, sick leave time, and parental leave)