Senior Power Controls & Grid Planning Engineer

Sargent & Lundy•Chicago, IL

2d•Hybrid

About The Position

This position is based on a hybrid work schedule and will require in-office work 3 days per week. Sargent & Lundy Consulting (SLC) works on behalf of clients to support electric power projects. We evaluate and optimize technical, commercial, environmental, and financial aspects of the projects for a variety of clients. In this role, you will help work on large, isolated power systems integrating equipment such as gas turbines, BESS, reciprocating engines, and other generating technologies with large dynamic electrical loads. We are seeking a Controls & Grid Integration Planning Engineer to support Owner’s Engineer and design teams on large, isolated power systems integrating equipment such as gas turbines, reciprocating engines, BESS, Solar PV, with large dynamic loads. The role will provide independent technical oversight of plant control philosophies, ensuring that OEM, EPC, and system integrator designs collectively deliver stable, resilient, and compliant operation under steady-state, transient, and islanded conditions. The engineer will review and challenge dynamic studies, control narratives, plant controller strategies, and protection philosophies without directly performing detailed PSS®E or PSCAD modeling. Responsibilities include validating integration between GT controls, BESS EMS/PPC systems, SCADA, and overall coordination strategies (frequency response, voltage control, inertia management, black start, load rejection, and large motor/data center step loads). The position requires strong cross-disciplinary leadership, risk identification capability, and the ability to translate complex control interactions into clear recommendations for owner and lender stakeholders. Your responsibilities will include engineering design reviews, technical due diligence, project development support, and conceptual design. Particular experience in electrical design of thermal power projects is desired. You will have the opportunity to travel within the United States as well as internationally.

Requirements

Bachelor's degree in Electrical Engineering
12+ years’ experience in power generation controls, grid integration, or utility-scale plant systems
Demonstrated experience with islanded or isolated grids
Strong understanding of dynamic performance studies (transient stability, EMT, frequency response), even if not the primary modeler
Familiarity with gas turbine control systems (e.g., Mark VIe or equivalent) and BESS plant/energy management systems, power plant controllers
Experience reviewing EPC deliverables, grid code compliance documentation, and performance guarantees
Knowledge of protection coordination and system-level control architecture
Strong communication skills for engagement with developers, OEMs, lenders, and regulatory bodies
Experience in development support and conceptual design of thermal power projects: Simple cycle gas turbines, Combined cycle projects, Coal fired generation, or Reciprocating engines (RICE)

Nice To Haves

Master's degree in electrical engineering
Experience in technical due diligence and owner’s engineering design reviews of thermal power projects
General understanding of power station operations and performance reviews
General understanding of process design at electric power generation facilities
Contract development experience
Reliability modeling experience
Minor, certificate, or other experience in Computer Science, Artificial Intelligence, Software Engineering, or related fields that enables effective oversight of automation and agentic AI-enabled engineering workflows.

Responsibilities

Provide independent technical oversight of plant control philosophies, ensuring stable, resilient, and compliant operation under various conditions.
Review and challenge dynamic studies, control narratives, plant controller strategies, and protection philosophies.
Validate integration between GT controls, BESS EMS/PPC systems, SCADA, and overall coordination strategies.
Perform engineering design reviews, technical due diligence, project development support, and conceptual design.
Lead others in using modern tools such as automation and AI to improve workflows, reduce rework, and deliver cost-effective designs.
Oversee engineers who program or script to automate engineering tasks, with review of automated outputs.