Controls Engineer III - Microgrid Design

Controls Engineer III, Microgrid & Power Controls

Location: Remote, US (EST or CST time zones) with occasional site visits | Type: Full-Time | Travel: 25% | Citizenship: US citizenship required

About the Company

The company specializes in building intelligence. It designs, builds, operates, and maintains cyber-physical solutions for mission-critical facilities, secure environments, complex infrastructure, and global enterprises. Its work covers electrical, electronic security, telecommunications, life safety, automation and controls, audiovisual, and IT systems. It delivers secure, resilient, and innovative power and technology solutions through engineering expertise and smart systems integration.

The company's people care about engineering innovation that improves lives and creates meaningful change. Its core values are agility, expertise, and trust, and it supports a collaborative, forward-thinking work environment. It is committed to developing the next generation of technical leaders in the electrical, engineering, and cybersecurity industries.

Role Overview

The company is growing its microgrid capability and is hiring a Controls Engineer to design and deliver PLC-based control systems for microgrids on high-profile federal and mission-critical projects. Microgrid control is shifting toward PLC-based platforms, and this engineer will help shape the company's approach and design standards in a fast-growing area.

The Controls Engineer will design, develop, install, and maintain equipment that monitors and controls power systems, distributed energy resources, and processes. They will be a technical expert in PLCs, SCADA, power controls, and real-time grid management, and will use these skills to solve customers' most complex challenges.

Key Responsibilities

Microgrid Controls

• Designs and programs PLC-based microgrid control logic, including islanding, resynchronization, black start, seamless transfer, and load shedding
• Develops control and dispatch strategies across generators, battery energy storage systems (BESS), solar PV, and building loads
• Integrates generator and paralleling controls, switchgear, inverters, and power plant controllers into a unified control system
• Interfaces microgrid controls with utility systems, SCADA, and energy management or DERMS platforms

Design / Engineering

• Creates design documents for small projects and supports larger programs, including:
• Narrative design documents and control sequences
• Requirements analysis
• Subsystem designs (CAD, panels, layouts, wiring, SCADA screens, hardware, communications)
• Specifications
• QA/QC and technical reviews of designs
• Procedures and fixtures for integrated systems factory testing, plus internal and external comment resolution

Programming

• Leads programming and configuration teams on complex automation, microgrid, and SCADA applications
• Programs, configures, and troubleshoots PLCs, RTUs, and HMI systems using protocols such as DNP3, Modbus, SEL Fast Messaging, or Mirrored Bits

Testing / Troubleshooting / Deployment / Commissioning

• Writes testing and commissioning procedures and test reports
• Develops test fixtures and simulation devices, including microgrid scenario and islanding simulations
• Performs factory and field testing (FAT/SAT)
• Commissions deployed systems during site visits

Maintenance

• Troubleshoots service calls for operators of existing and legacy systems
• Performs hardware and software upgrades and replacements on existing systems

Managerial Responsibilities

Estimates

• Carries out client site surveys, inspections, and tours as needed
• Prepares cost estimates and supporting documents for small projects
• Helps senior engineers prepare bid and proposal cost estimates and supporting documents
• Evaluates and prices change orders

Personnel Management

• Assigns technical tasks to entry-level engineers and coordinates their work
• Assigns tasks to technical staff and coordinates their work

Qualifications

Required

• US citizenship
• 5+ years of controls engineering experience in power, energy, or utility applications
• Hands-on PLC programming experience, ideally Allen-Bradley ControlLogix, Siemens, or SEL RTAC
• Microgrid, distributed energy, or BESS control design experience
• Experience with utility and power protocols such as DNP3 and Modbus
• Experience with control system startup, configuration, calibration, testing, and troubleshooting
• Ability to read electrical and control schematics and plans

Preferred

• Experience with islanding, black start, load shedding, or generator and BESS dispatch logic
• Generator and paralleling controls experience (e.g., Woodward, DEIF, ComAp)
• Switchgear, EPMS, or power controls experience
• Real-time grid management experience with SCADA, ADMS, DERMS, or EMS
• Experience with one or more of these platforms: Inductive Automation Ignition, Schneider Electric EcoStruxure, Siemens Spectrum Power, GE Vernova, ABB MicroSCADA, OSI Monarch, OSIsoft PI System, or similar
• Solution architecture experience
• CAD/CAE software (AutoCAD, EPLAN) and computer networking knowledge

Professional Skills

• Creative, analytical approach to solving problems
• Proven ability to build a collaborative team environment
• Comfortable working remotely and independently in an emerging, evolving field
• Strong leadership, written and verbal communication, and interpersonal skills

Education / Experience

• Master's degree in electrical engineering, automation engineering, or a related field, plus 3+ years of experience, or
• Bachelor's degree in electrical engineering, automation engineering, or a related field, plus 5+ years of experience

Benefits

The company offers a strong benefits package, including:

• Competitive salary
• Medical, dental, vision, life, and disability insurance
• Paid time off
• Tuition reimbursement
• 401(k) retirement plan
• Military Reserve pay offset
• Paid maternity leave