Principal Private Grid Architecture and Controls Engineer

Electric Power Engineers • Austin, TX

13d • Remote

About The Position

We are designing the grid of the future! EPE is looking to recruit a Principal Private Grid Architecture and Controls Engineer to join our growing Energy Resources team. In this role, you will work closely with senior leadership to support our growth strategy and provide subject matter expertise both internally through coaching and developing staff, as well as externally to our clients.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree in Electrical Engineering, Control Systems Engineering, or a related discipline; advanced degree preferred.
• Minimum 10 years of experience in power system controls, Private Grids, and power generation.
• Demonstrated experience designing and commissioning utility-scale Private Grid control systems.
• Strong understanding of synchronous generators, inverter-based resources (IBRs), and BESS.
• Expertise in dynamic system behavior, stability analysis, and control system design.
• Experience with industrial control platforms, PLCs, SCADA systems, and Energy Management Systems (EMS).
• Excellent technical communication skills and the ability to operate independently in a senior client-facing role.

Nice To Haves

• Professional Engineer (P.E. or P.Eng.) license preferred.
• Experience supporting hyperscale or AI data center power infrastructure, including campuses exceeding 100 MW of critical load, is preferred.
• Experience integrating gas engines, gas turbines, CHP/CCHP systems, and utility-scale BESS is preferred.
• Knowledge of IEEE 1547, IEC 61850, IEC 61131, NERC reliability standards, and utility grid codes is preferred.
• Experience with grid-forming inverter control strategies and resilient Private Grid architectures is a plus.
• Experience with real-time simulation and HIL platforms (RTDS, OPAL-RT) and digital twins is a plus.
• Automation experience is a plus.
• Active participation in industry task forces and/or working groups (IEEE, ESIG, or similar) is a plus.

Responsibilities

• Lead the design and development of advanced Private Grid control systems for hyperscale and AI data center campuses.
• Define the control philosophy for grid-connected, islanded, black-start, and resynchronization operating modes, enabling seamless transitions while maintaining mission-critical reliability.
• Develop coordinated control strategies spanning utility interconnection, on-site gas engine and gas turbine generation, CHP/CCHP, Battery Energy Storage Systems (BESS), renewable resources, and UPS/critical power infrastructure.
• Design hierarchical control architectures, including plant-level controllers, power plant controllers (PPC), energy management systems (EMS), and supervisory control systems.
• Develop algorithms for active and reactive power control, frequency and voltage regulation, load sharing, generator and economic dispatch, spinning reserve management, peak shaving, demand response, and grid-support services.
• Define control strategies for grid-forming and grid-following inverter operation.
• Lead integration of generator governors, excitation systems, protection systems, and plant control systems.
• Ensure stable Private Grid operation during utility disturbances, large load steps, AI workload fluctuations, generator trips, BESS transitions, islanding events, black-start sequences, and utility reconnection.
• Develop control schemes that minimize voltage and frequency deviations while maintaining uninterrupted power to critical IT loads.
• Coordinate control integration among generator OEMs, BESS suppliers, UPS manufacturers, switchgear vendors, SCADA/EMS providers, and EPC contractors.
• Develop communication architectures using IEC 61850, Modbus TCP/IP, DNP3, and other industrial protocols.
• Validate control performance through hardware-in-the-loop (HIL) testing, factory acceptance testing (FAT), site acceptance testing (SAT), and commissioning.
• Serve as EPE’s subject matter expert for Private Grid control systems and establish engineering standards, design guidelines, and control philosophies.
• Mentor senior engineers and provide technical leadership across multidisciplinary teams.
• Review engineering deliverables and provide technical directions.
• Stay up to date with emerging technologies, market innovations, and best practices to enhance EPE’s offerings and capabilities.
• Support business development activities

Benefits

• Comprehensive health and wellness benefits including medical, dental, and vision with 100% premium coverage for you
• Generous PTO and paid holidays
• MyShare Employee Ownership Program
• Work with industry leaders
• 401K, up to a 4% match (100% vested from day 1)

What This Job Offers

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