Power Electronics Controls Designer

Schneider Electric • Richmond, VA

6d • Remote

About The Position

Join Schneider Electric's Solar & Storage business as a Senior Energy Optimization & Controls Engineer. In this role, you'll develop advanced controls, forecasting, and optimization solutions for solar PV, battery energy storage systems (BESS), EV charging infrastructure, microgrids, and distributed energy resources (DERs). You'll design intelligent energy management and control strategies deployed across embedded controllers, edge devices, and cloud-connected platforms to maximize renewable energy utilization, reduce energy costs, improve grid interaction, and enhance overall system performance. You'll also contribute to future product strategy by evaluating emerging technologies in AI, electrification, DERs, and grid modernization.

Requirements

• Master's or PhD in Electrical Engineering, Mechatronics, Controls, Energy Systems, or a related field.
• At least 5 years of industry experience in controls, optimization, energy management systems, DERs, or power electronics products.
• Strong background in control system design, modeling, simulation, and optimization, including controller tuning, system identification, supervisory controls, and Model Predictive Control (MPC).
• Experience with energy management and control platforms such as EMS, HEMS, DERMS, microgrids, inverter controls, DER controllers, or EV charging solutions.
• Proficiency with MATLAB/Simulink, Python, C/C++, embedded Linux, containerized environments, and modern software development workflows.
• Understanding of solar PV, BESS, EV charging systems, microgrids, DERs, grid-interactive power converters, and energy optimization applications.
• Experience with forecasting, machine learning, AI, or advanced analytics applied to solar generation, load demand, EV charging, or electricity pricing.
• Familiarity with grid integration standards and protocols, including IEEE 1547, IEEE 2030.5, SunSpec, OpenADR, and OCPP, along with strong communication, collaboration, and technical leadership skills.

Nice To Haves

• HEMS, DERMS, VPPs, or utility-scale DER orchestration.
• Grid-Forming and Grid-Following controls.
• HIL, CIL, or Digital Twin validation environments.
• AI applications for forecasting, optimization, anomaly detection, or DER management.
• Publications, patents, or industry presentations related to energy systems, controls, or optimization.

Responsibilities

• Define and develop advanced control, forecasting, and energy optimization strategies for solar, storage, EV charging, and microgrid applications.
• Design and implement Energy Management System (EMS) algorithms for DER coordination at device, site, and fleet levels.
• Develop optimization solutions for: Energy arbitrage, Demand response, Demand charge reduction, Time-of-use optimization, Managed EV charging, Grid services and VPP applications.
• Develop forecasting models for solar production, load demand, EV charging, and electricity prices.
• Apply advanced control and optimization techniques including Model Predictive Control (MPC), scheduling, dispatch, and rule-based control.
• Use MATLAB, Simulink, and Python to model and simulate energy systems, power converters, loads, generation sources, and DER assets.
• Design, deploy, and maintain applications on embedded Linux and cloud-connected platforms using Docker, Podman, or similar technologies.
• Develop and validate embedded control software using model-based design methodologies.
• Evaluate emerging technologies including AI, machine learning, digital twins, DERMS, VPPs, demand flexibility, and grid-edge solutions.
• Develop requirements, test plans, verification procedures, and validation reports.
• Support HIL, CIL, Digital Twin, certification, and field validation activities.
• Collaborate closely with product management, firmware, software, systems, cloud, compliance, and power electronics teams.

Benefits

• insurance coverage for health, inclusive of medical, dental, vision, basic life, accident, and disability insurance
• Wellness Wallet (reimbursement for medical / wellbeing expenses)
• telemedicine program
• 13 paid holidays annually
• up to 19 days paid time off in first year
• paid family leaves
• parental and care leave
• Recharge Break (savings plan for a future paid leave of absence)
• employee assistant program with mental, family, and legal counselling
• flexible work arrangements
• base salary
• incentive plans
• employee share ownership plan
• retirement plan with employer pension match
• ongoing performance and development conversations
• Senior Talent Program
• global career opportunities
• access to our Schneider Career Hub for new positions, projects, and mentors
• learning platforms like Coursera
• project opportunities on the Schneider Career Hub
• smart ways to collaborate
• recognition program (including service anniversary)
• sharing your voice in our engagement survey
• volunteer leave
• programs through the Schneider Electric Foundation
• initiatives that support youth education

What This Job Offers

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