Principal Engineer, SCADA Engineering (BESS)

Invenergy•Washington, DC

8d•$155,000 - $180,000•Onsite

About The Position

The Principal Engineer position will be part of the Construction team, with responsibility to serve as a senior technical leader responsible for engineering, procurement support, integration, and commissioning of SCADA systems and associated communications infrastructure across Invenergy generation projects, with primary focus on Battery Energy Storage Systems (BESS) and supporting coverage for solar and other technologies as needed. This role is accountable for defining and documenting control strategies and data interfaces between substation devices, generation resources, data centers, remote operation centers, and external entities, and for driving reliable data connectivity and control readiness from design, commissioning, and turnover. Invenergy’s fleet includes standalone and co located or hybrid applications, and this role will help ensure consistent SCADA and controls integration standards across BESS, solar, wind, and hybrid sites.

Requirements

BS in Electrical Engineering, Computer Engineering, or related degree.
8 + years of relevant experience with power generation SCADA and power plant control systems.
Demonstrated experience delivering BESS focused SCADA and controls integration through commissioning and turnover, with ability to support solar and wind projects as needed.
Ability to coordinate and manage multiple concurrent projects.
Strong oral and written communication skills and strong interpersonal skills.
Up to 25 % travel required.
Must have a valid driver’s license and be legally authorized to operate a motor vehicle.
Eligible to work in the United States without the need for employer visa sponsorship now or in the future.

Nice To Haves

Master’s in Engineering preferred.
Working knowledge of NERC compliance requirements.
Prior installation, commissioning, and site construction experience in renewable power generation.
Advanced knowledge and programming of EMS, BMS, SCADA, HMI, PLC, RTU platforms.
Familiarity with industrial communication protocols such as OPC, CANBUS, DNP3, and Modbus.
Experience integrating SCADA and controls with Tier 1 BESS suppliers (e.g., Tesla, Fluence) and navigating vendor interface requirements through design, commissioning, and turnover.

Responsibilities

Technical leadership and architecture (BESS primary): Own SCADA and controls integration approach for BESS projects from concept through commissioning, including interface definitions, network architecture, time synchronization, and data models.
Define and document control and data interfaces between BESS subsystems and site SCADA, PPC, substation systems, revenue metering, and remote operations connectivity.
Lead technical reviews of vendor submittments and drawings, including communications architecture, point mapping, cybersecurity alignment, and commissioning procedures.
Provide escalation level troubleshooting for complex integration issues involving protocols, network performance, data quality, and control interlocks during construction and commissioning.
Solar and other technologies support (secondary scope): Provide technical support for solar and other technologies SCADA scope as needed, including standard interface definitions, data mapping, and commissioning readiness for plant SCADA across wind, solar, and or BESS.
Support projects with hybrid integration needs by ensuring SCADA requirements and deliverables align for standalone and co located PV and BESS applications.
Specifications, scope, and procurement support: Develop specifications and scope of work for EMS, BMS, SCADA, power plant controller, RTU, and IT and OT equipment networks and implementation.
Provide requirements needed to procure telecom services and field communications solutions.
Support bid evaluations and supplier selection by providing clear technical requirements and contract exhibit language for SCADA and controls integration.
Support negotiation of Energy Storage Agreements (ESA) by defining and defending SCADA and controls requirements and serving as the technical interface with BESS suppliers and integrators.
Perform factory and equipment inspection, including witnessing factory acceptance tests for hardware and software.
Project execution and commissioning support: Coordinate with cross functional teams to ensure SCADA deliverables align with overall project requirements and critical path schedules.
Track design schedules, communicate status and risks, and ensure critical dates are met on time.
Monitor construction progress remotely and via on site visits, support resolution of field issues, attend in person meetings with stakeholders, and provide on-site programming and field support during commissioning when required.
Support operational plans to energize, commission, and turn over projects while adhering to NERC and other grid reliability requirements.
Coordinate with independent engineers and project partners to effectively navigate technical due diligence for SCADA and controls scope.
Support Controls Hardware-in-the-Loop (CHIL) testing with suppliers in addition to establishing Invenergy CHIL lab.
Continuous improvement and technical mentorship: Mentor engineers and managers by driving standards, lessons learned, and repeatable execution playbooks that improve commissioning quality and long-term operational reliability.
Maintain up to date knowledge of industry technology through training sessions and conferences.
Take on additional responsibilities as assigned by the manager, supporting team and project objectives.