Director of Power Systems Engineering - Microgrids

Nscale

8d • $200,000 - $285,000 • Hybrid

About The Position

Nscale is seeking a Director of Power Systems Engineering – Microgrids to serve as the senior technical authority for microgrid design within Nscale Energy and Power. This role will focus on developing behind-the-meter and islanded microgrid generation assets for AI infrastructure. The position involves working with industry partners on large-scale projects, leading design development, driving protection and controls strategy, and overseeing hardware-in-the-loop and commissioning programs. The role reports to the SVP Technology (Power) and will be responsible for building and leading the power systems engineering function.

Requirements

• Bachelor's degree in Electrical Engineering or related discipline.
• 15+ years of experience in power systems engineering, with deep expertise in generation, protection and controls, and dynamic power system performance.
• Demonstrated experience with behind-the-meter or islanded power generation systems.
• Deep experience with modeling tools such as ETAP, PSSE, PSCAD, EMTP-RV, RSCAD/RTDS, and/or OPAL-RT.
• Hands-on experience implementing HIL testing programs.
• Working knowledge of IEEE 1547, IEEE C37 protection series, IEEE 2030.7/2030.8 microgrid standards, and NERC CIP.
• Demonstrated ability to manage the technical execution of third-party design firms and suppliers.
• Willingness to travel and support project sites (e.g., Mason County, West Virginia), Nscale offices (e.g., Houston, Texas), and supplier offices.

Nice To Haves

• PE license (Electrical) preferred.

Responsibilities

• Own the power systems basis of design and technology selection across generation, energy storage, medium- and low-voltage distribution, protection, and controls.
• Define topology, redundancy, and sectionalizing strategy for a fully islanded microgrid serving hyperscale AI workloads with significant transient characteristics.
• Lead key studies for block sizing, BESS sizing and placement, grid interconnection strategy, and NERC CIP.
• Drive technical alignment between suppliers, EPCs, and owner's engineering teams.
• Own the protection philosophy, coordination, and settings strategy across generator, energy storage, transformer, bus, and feeder zones.
• Lead the technical relationship with controls suppliers for systems from generator controls to microgrid-level controllers.
• Direct protection coordination, arc flash, and short-circuit studies.
• Define controls hierarchy, droop and load-sharing schemes, black-start sequencing, and transient response strategy for GPU load transients.
• Select the optimal energy storage/load smoothing solution for the application (BESS, UPS, capacitor integration, etc.).
• Own the technical interface with the energy storage system OEM.
• Drive dynamic performance studies for load smoothing, ramp-rate management, and contingency response.
• Define the dispatch and energy management strategy that balances reliability, heat rate, and operations/maintenance costs.
• Own the HIL testing program from system model development through integrated controller testing.
• Define commissioning test plans, acceptance criteria, and the path from HIL through factory acceptance, site acceptance, and integrated systems testing.
• Partner with the O&M organization on operating procedures, switching orders, and operator training derived from the validated model.
• Lead technical resolution of issues uncovered in commissioning and early operations.
• Serve as the senior power systems technical voice with hyperscale customers, providing technical assurance on availability, resilience, and architecture.
• Represent Nscale in technical reviews with regulators and utilities where applicable.
• Build and lead a high-performing team of power systems engineers, including hiring, mentoring, performance management, and career development.
• Partner cross-functionally with Mechanical Engineering, Construction, Commissioning, Operations, Procurement, and Permitting.
• Capture lessons learned from commissioning and early operations to improve power systems design, protection settings, and controls strategy across the portfolio.

Benefits

• Competitive base salary with annual reviews
• Performance bonus and long-term incentive eligibility
• Comprehensive medical, dental, and vision coverage
• 401(k) retirement plan with company match
• Generous PTO plus US federal holidays
• A career-defining opportunity to be an early member of one of the fastest-growing AI infrastructure companies in the world
• A human-first approach: We treat you as humans first. Our flexible workplace trusts Nscalers to deliver, giving you the autonomy needed to get the job done.
• The chance to push boundaries on cutting-edge AI infrastructure — these data centers aren't just storage for your spam emails, they're changing the industry, and the world, as we've known it.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Director