RTDS Engineer

Terabase Energy•Woodland, CA

4d•$140,000 - $170,000•Remote

About The Position

Terabase Energy is seeking an RTDS Engineer to support the delivery of real-time Hardware-in-the-Loop simulation solutions for utility-scale solar, BESS, and hybrid renewable energy projects. This role will be primarily responsible for developing, configuring, validating, and maintaining project-specific RTDS and RSCAD models used for plant controller, SCADA, EMS, inverter, and substation control validation. The RTDS Engineer will work closely with Controls Engineering, SCADA Engineering, Project Engineering, Modeling & Validation, Commissioning, and customer-facing teams to ensure HIL simulations are ready for internal testing, FAT, customer witness testing, and field issue replication. The ideal candidate has 5+ years of hands-on experience with PSCAD, RSCAD, RTDS modeling, and HIL setup for project-specific power plant validation.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree in Electrical Engineering, Power Systems, Controls Engineering, or a related technical field.
5+ years of experience with PSCAD, RSCAD, RTDS, or real-time power system simulation.
Hands-on experience setting up Hardware-in-the-Loop environments for project-specific validation.
Strong understanding of power systems, inverter-based resources, utility-scale solar, BESS, hybrid plants, and plant-level controls.
Experience developing and validating PSCAD and RSCAD models.
Experience integrating physical controllers, RTACs, relays, gateways, SCADA systems, or network devices into simulation environments.
Familiarity with PPC, EMS, SCADA, inverter controls, substation automation, and plant controller validation.
Experience with industrial communication protocols such as DNP3, Modbus TCP, IEC 61850, OPC UA, or similar protocols.
Ability to read and interpret electrical one-lines, network diagrams, control narratives, points lists, equipment data sheets, and interconnection requirements.
Strong troubleshooting skills across models, controls, communication networks, and physical hardware.
Strong documentation, communication, and cross-functional collaboration skills.

Nice To Haves

Master’s degree in Electrical Engineering, Power Systems, or Controls Engineering.
Experience with RTDS NovaCor, RSCAD FX, GTNET, GTFPGA, or similar RTDS hardware/software platforms.
Experience with OPAL-RT, Typhoon HIL, Speedgoat, or other real-time simulation platforms.
Experience with SEL RTACs, SEL relays, SEL-3555, Schweitzer controllers, Ignition SCADA, or similar control platforms.
Experience with IEEE 2800, NERC, ERCOT, CAISO, PJM, or other utility interconnection and grid compliance requirements.
Experience with inverter OEM and BESS OEM models.
Experience creating automated HIL test scripts, reusable test libraries, and validation templates.
Experience supporting FAT, SAT, commissioning, or field troubleshooting for renewable energy projects.
Experience with Python, MATLAB/Simulink, scripting, or test automation tools.

Responsibilities

Develop and configure project-specific RTDS and RSCAD models for utility-scale solar, BESS, and hybrid power plants.
Translate electrical one-lines, control narratives, interconnection requirements, equipment data, and project specifications into real-time simulation models.
Build and validate plant-level models for active power, reactive power, voltage control, frequency response, ramp-rate control, curtailment, and grid support functions.
Develop and maintain reusable RSCAD model libraries, templates, and project standards.
Develop, review, and validate PSCAD models to support project-specific studies, controls validation, and grid compliance requirements.
Support model alignment between PSCAD and RTDS/RSCAD environments.
Work with inverter OEMs, BESS OEMs, and internal engineering teams to validate control behavior and model assumptions.
Support testing related to inverter-based resource performance, plant controller behavior, and interconnection compliance.
Set up project-specific Hardware-in-the-Loop environments using RTDS and physical control hardware.
Integrate PPCs, EMS controllers, RTACs, relays, gateways, SCADA servers, network switches, firewalls, and communication interfaces into the HIL environment.
Configure I/O mapping, signal routing, protocol interfaces, and controller communication paths.
Support FAT, eFAT, customer witness testing, internal validation, and project readiness reviews.
Ensure HIL environments are delivered on schedule to support project milestones.
Develop and execute HIL test plans, procedures, acceptance criteria, and validation reports.
Validate controls performance under normal operating conditions, grid disturbances, curtailment scenarios, plant trips, communication failures, and recovery events.
Troubleshoot model, controller, communication, network, and simulation issues during HIL setup and testing.
Replicate field issues in the HIL environment to support commissioning, root-cause analysis, and corrective actions.
Document test results, model assumptions, issue logs, lessons learned, and final validation outcomes.
Partner with Controls Engineering, SCADA Engineering, Project Engineering, Commissioning, IT/OT, and Product teams to align HIL setup with project needs.
Support customer-facing technical discussions related to HIL testing, plant controller validation, and model behavior.
Work with vendors and OEMs to obtain model data, controller interfaces, firmware details, and communication requirements.
Contribute to Terabase’s standard HIL delivery process, test automation roadmap, and quality improvement initiatives.