Electrical Engineer I (Battery Energy Storage and Microgrid Project Development)

Duke Energy Corporation

8d•Remote

About The Position

More than a career - a chance to make a difference in people's lives. Build an exciting, rewarding career with us – help us make a difference for millions of people every day. Consider joining the Duke Energy team, where you'll find a friendly work environment, opportunities for growth and development, recognition for your work, and competitive pay and benefits. This is a virtual position, however the candidate must live within a reasonable commute to a Duke Energy facility. The Engineer I position is the entry level of the Engineering classification hierarchy. Employees in the Engineer I position solve problems in engineering areas of specialization with close supervision. An Engineer I is expected to develop skills and the ability to work with greater independence. An Engineer I is expected to have knowledge of fundamental concepts of electric power systems. This position will develop engineering and technical skills to support various Duke Energy internal groups in pursuit of self-developing battery energy storage and microgrid projects. Applicants are expected to have engineering skills related to power system modeling distribution and/or transmission electric systems and understand primarily battery energy storage systems (BESS) and microgrids but also have familiarity with other renewable technology such as solar. The ideal location for the candidate to reside is within the Duke Energy service area and within a reasonable commute to a Duke Energy facility (Charlotte, Raleigh, St. Petersburg). This position will: Provide engineering support to technical matters throughout the development process with a heavy focus on BESS and microgrid siting analysis and design, power system modeling, and integration of distributed energy technologies in Duke Energy regulated jurisdictions. Utilize knowledge of BESS and microgrid project engineering, electric generating facilities, utility interconnection requirements, inverter/plant control, metering schemes, power system steady state analysis to evaluate, identify, and mitigate commercial risks associated with proposed project designs. Provide engineering support through detailed design, construction, and commissioning of front-of-the-meter distribution connected and transmission connected energy storage projects, OR Provide the Inverter Based Resources (IBR) site model support that includes but is not limited to: IBR model preparation per project design, IBR model integration and model validation, transmission and distribution steady state analysis, EMT analysis, for all BESS sites. This position must work collaboratively with key internal business unit stakeholders, including Project Management and Construction (PMC), Supply Chain, Transmission, Distribution, IT, Generation Interconnection, and Health & Safety, among others. The position may also require working with third-party consultants, equipment vendors, system integrators, and Engineering Procurement and Construction (EPC) firms.

Requirements

Power system modeling utilizing tools such as PSSE/TARA, CYME, PSCAD and MATLAB.
Coursework in power systems analysis, power electronics, drive/converter controls, and/or fault analysis.
Must have obtained Bachelor of Science in Electrical Engineering with power system, controls or power electronics focus from an ABET accredited program no later than May 2026.
A master’s degree in engineering will be considered in lieu of the B.S. Engineering degree.

Nice To Haves

Master and/or PhD in engineering
Knowledge of generation interconnection (FERC and State)
Knowledge of power system study
Experience in the electric utility industry
Civil Engineering experience/exposure
Ability to deal with a variety of individuals from various socio-economic, cultural, and ethnic backgrounds.
Good verbal and written communications skills
Good organizational skills.
Ability to control stressful situations and multi-tasking
Ability to work with diverse teams with different backgrounds and personalities
Ability to collect and organize data, and apply procedures, read and comprehend technical drawings, graphs, maps, and other technical documents.

Responsibilities

Support greenfield and brownfield development through site screening and selection, system feasibility studies, preliminary design, cost estimates, and overall technical due diligence.
Perform power system modeling and analysis utilizing tools such as PSSE/TARA, CYME, CYMCAP, PSCAD, and MATLAB.
Perform the battery facility design, including but not limited to electrical system design, such as power and energy sizing, creating one-line diagrams, and equipment selection. Also, design the physical site layout and site access, while adhering to jurisdictional guidelines and industry best practices.
Create and submit interconnection requests for distribution and transmission connected projects and analyze study results.
Provide technical support and analysis of conductor sizing, capacity testing, reactive power studies, and system protection studies.
Work with Supply Chain on issuing Requests for Proposals (RFP) for EPC and key equipment components.
Support efforts to optimize BESS systems design and output.
Develop techno-economic models to support improvement of project return on investment.
Prepare thorough and accurate technical reports, correspondence, documentation, calculations, and design plans related to projects and analysis of increasing scope and complexity.
Stay informed of technology advancements, market trends, best practices, and relevant guidelines and standards related to energy storage technology.
Maintain equipment supplier relationships and advise Supply Chain and PMC on energy storage technology trends.