Technical Lead, Grid Modernization

WSP•Topeka, KS

5d•$130,000 - $180,000•Hybrid

About The Position

WSP is seeking a Technical Lead, Grid Modernization to provide technical direction for utility, generation, microgrid, and data center power infrastructure projects within the Grid Modernization practice. This role leads control system requirements, architecture, design reviews, integration, and testing to help clients deliver reliable and coordinated operational systems. The Technical Lead works with clients, project managers, discipline leads, equipment suppliers, and system integrators across Energy Management Systems (EMS), Advanced Distribution Management Systems (ADMS), Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition (SCADA), Distributed Control Systems (DCS), Programmable Logic Controllers (PLCs), Remote Terminal Units (RTUs), and plant or microgrid controllers. Assignments reflect the individual's areas of expertise and the needs of each project.

Requirements

Bachelor's degree in electrical engineering, Controls Engineering, Automation Engineering, Computer Engineering, or a related field, or equivalent relevant experience.
Typically 10+ years of relevant control systems experience in utilities, power generation, industrial energy, microgrids, or critical power infrastructure, including demonstrated technical leadership of complex projects.
Demonstrated expertise in one or more of the following: EMS, SCADA, DCS, PLC/RTU systems, DMS, ADMS, DERMS, Plant and microgrid control systems
Experience developing requirements, architectures, specifications, and interfaces, and reviewing vendor designs and integration deliverables.
Experience with control system testing, commissioning, troubleshooting, or operational acceptance, including understanding of redundancy and failure-response design.
Ability to lead multidisciplinary technical work, communicate effectively with clients and vendors, mentor colleagues, and manage technical risks and competing priorities.

Nice To Haves

Experience coordinating generation, BESS, UPS, plant controllers, and large or rapidly changing loads, including data center applications.
Experience with grid-connected and islanded systems, operating transitions, restoration sequences, and coordination with protection and power system studies.
Familiarity with relevant industrial and utility communication protocols, OT network architecture, cybersecurity requirements, NERC standards, and requirements management practices.
Consulting, Owner's Engineer, technical procurement, proposal development, or independent design review experience.
Professional Engineer (PE) license or another relevant technical credential.

Responsibilities

Lead development of control philosophies, functional requirements, system architectures, specifications, interface definitions, and acceptance criteria.
Define operating modes, control hierarchy, command authority, setpoint ownership, and system boundaries with clients and equipment suppliers.
Lead technical reviews and resolve design issues within delegated authority; document decisions and escalate unresolved risks to the project manager and practice leader.
Coordinate with electrical, protection, communications, OT cybersecurity, and power system studies teams to align control designs and validate assumptions.
Define interfaces and coordinated operating requirements among generators, battery energy storage systems (BESS), uninterruptible power supplies (UPS), plant controllers, and data center load controls.
Address grid-connected and islanded operation, transitions, restoration, and resynchronization where included in project scope, in coordination with equipment and study specialists.
Lead development and review of signal lists, data flows, communication requirements, alarms, event records, time synchronization, redundancy, and failure-response requirements.
Own the technical completeness, consistency, and quality of assigned control system deliverables; arrange independent reviews under applicable project quality procedures.
Review vendor and integrator designs for alignment with approved requirements, interfaces, and contractual scope; track technical comments and deviations to resolution.
Maintain requirements traceability and technical issue logs. Assess proposed changes and provide scope, schedule, cost, and risk impacts to the project manager.
Develop or review factory acceptance, site acceptance, and integrated system test plans. Support commissioning, defect resolution, acceptance recommendations, and operational handover within contracted scope.
Apply project safety and quality requirements and coordinate applicable client, cybersecurity, and regulatory requirements with the responsible specialists.
Serve as a technical point of contact for assigned engagements, leading workshops and explaining design decisions, alternatives, and tradeoffs.
Support proposals, technical scopes of work, estimates, staffing assumptions, and delivery approaches in coordination with practice and project leaders.
Evaluate vendor capabilities and technical alternatives while maintaining independent, client-focused recommendations.
Mentor technical staff, guide assigned project work, and develop reusable specifications, design methods, test procedures, and lessons learned.
Provide workload forecasts and progress updates, manage assigned effort against agreed budgets, and flag delivery constraints early.