Senior Electrical Engineer - Microgrid Controls & Automation Architecture

Ameresco • Dallas, TX

22h • $154,200 - $223,200

About The Position

Ameresco is seeking a Senior Electrical Engineer to lead development and integration of control systems for utility-scale generation, distributed energy resources, battery energy storage systems, renewable assets, and mission-critical data center microgrids. The role defines the hierarchy and interfaces among plant distributed control systems, microgrid controllers, energy management systems, generator controls, protection systems, utility interconnections, and supervisory SCADA platforms. It combines controls and power systems expertise with technical leadership, multi-vendor integration, commissioning, and client-facing communication.

The position may be based in Dallas, Texas; Knoxville, Tennessee; or Phoenix, Arizona. Occasional travel to customer locations, project sites, vendor facilities, and commissioning activities is required. The anticipated salary range is $154,200–$223,200 per year. Compensation depends on factors including internal equity, skills, experience, education, certifications, and location. Employees receive a comprehensive benefits package, including health insurance, retirement plans, and paid time off, and may be eligible for performance incentives, bonuses, commissions, or equity, depending on the role. Applications are accepted on a rolling basis until the position is filled.

Requirements

• Bachelor's degree in Electrical Engineering or a closely related engineering discipline.
• At least 8 years of experience in power generation, utilities, industrial automation, microgrids, or distributed energy systems, including significant plant-level controls integration experience.
• Demonstrated experience developing or integrating microgrid controls architecture for grid-connected and islanded systems.
• Ability to review confidential US security information.
• Strong working knowledge of DCS, SCADA, PLC, EMS, microgrid controllers, generator controls, synchronizing systems, protective relay integration, and power management systems.
• Experience with industrial communications protocols such as IEC 61850, DNP3, Modbus TCP/IP, OPC UA, and Ethernet/IP.
• Ability to produce and review technical specifications, control narratives, logic diagrams, network architectures, and commissioning procedures.
• Systems thinking and ability to understand and communicate interactions across generation, storage, utility, protection, controls, and customer load systems.
• Clear communication skills, including ability to translate complex technical issues into actionable recommendations for engineers, project managers, executives, and customers.
• Collaborative technical leadership skills to align multidisciplinary teams, OEMs, vendors, utilities, and field personnel.
• Problem-solving and ownership skills, including driving complex technical issues to resolution while maintaining safety, reliability, cybersecurity, schedule, and commercial awareness.
• Ability to remain calm and decisive under schedule pressure, particularly during commissioning, startup, operational events, and troubleshooting.
• Strong organization and attention to detail, with the ability to manage competing priorities without sacrificing technical rigor.
• Adaptability and intellectual curiosity, including interest in emerging technologies and evolving microgrid applications.
• Mentoring ability and interest in strengthening engineering practices, developing junior staff, and contributing to reusable standards and lessons learned.
• Customer focus and comfort leading technical workshops, design reviews, risk discussions, and executive-level presentations.

Nice To Haves

• Experience with utility-scale or data center microgrids and hybrid plants integrating RICE, gas turbines, fuel cells, renewable generation, and BESS.
• Hardware-in-the-loop testing, real-time simulation, dynamic modeling, or controls validation experience.
• Knowledge of IEEE, UL, NFPA, utility interconnection, and mission-critical resiliency requirements.
• Professional Engineer licensure or the ability to obtain licensure.

Responsibilities

• Develop integrated controls and automation architectures for microgrids, distributed generation plants, and behind-the-meter power systems.
• Define interfaces among plant DCS, microgrid controllers, EMS, SCADA, generator controls, BESS controls, protection relays, and utility systems.
• Prepare control philosophies, functional specifications, sequence-of-operations documents, cause-and-effect matrices, and communications architecture diagrams.
• Develop operating strategies for islanding, synchronization and resynchronization, black start, load following, generation dispatch, reserve management, voltage and frequency control, and fast load shedding.
• Lead multi-vendor controls integration and coordinate technical requirements with generation OEMs, BESS suppliers, microgrid controller vendors, protection engineers, utilities, EPC teams, and customers.
• Review vendor submittals and support factory acceptance testing, site acceptance testing, commissioning, performance testing, and operational troubleshooting.
• Incorporate secure control system architecture and applicable cybersecurity requirements, including ISA/IEC 62443 and NERC CIP where applicable.
• Support power system studies and ensure control strategies align with protection, short-circuit, dynamic stability, grounding, and utility interconnection requirements.
• Perform other duties as required.

Benefits

• Health insurance
• Retirement plans
• Paid time off
• Performance incentives, bonuses, commissions, or equity may be available depending on the role
• Insurance, investment, and incentive plans

What This Job Offers

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