Principal Engineer

Qualus is a leading pure-play power solutions firm at the forefront of power infrastructure transformation. They are seeking a Principal Engineer to support their Resource Integration Advisory group, focusing on NERC reliability standards compliance modeling and studies for generation, storage, and transmission assets across North America.

Responsibilities:

• Lead and perform power system modeling and validation studies to support compliance with NERC standards, including:
• MOD-025 / MOD-026 / MOD-027: Generator excitation, governor, and plant control model verification
• MOD-032: Development, verification, and submission of steady-state, dynamics, and short circuit models and associated data
• PRC-019: Coordination of generating unit or inverter-based resource controls and protection
• PRC-024: Generator frequency and voltage ride-through
• PRC-025 / PRC-026: Generator relay loadability and stability
• Develop, review, and validate steady-state, dynamic, short-circuit, and electromagnetic transient models for synchronous generators, inverter-based resources (IBR), and associated controls
• Perform generator model validation testing using disturbance data, staged testing results, and simulation benchmarking
• Perform protection-related studies to support relay coordination, equipment duty, and PRC compliance
• Review and prepare technical documentation, compliance reports, and model submittals for utilities, ISOs/RTOs, and regulatory audits
• Provide technical leadership and peer review for junior engineers on NERC modeling, study methods, and best practices
• Interface directly with clients to explain compliance requirements, study results, and mitigation recommendations

Requirements:

• BS Degree in Electrical Engineering
• 8+ years of power system planning, protection, or compliance experience in North America
• Strong working knowledge of NERC reliability standards, particularly MOD-025/026/027/032 and PRC-019/024/025/026
• Extensive experience with PSSE, PSLF, and/or TSAT for steady-state and dynamic modeling and studies
• Experience developing and validating generator, excitation system, governor, plant controller, and IBR models
• Knowledge of short-circuit and protection studies, including relay loadability and coordination concepts
• Ability to interpret field data, relay settings, and test results for model validation and compliance assessments
• Experience with Python or similar scripting tools for automation of studies and data processing
• Strong technical writing and verbal communication skills, particularly for compliance documentation
• MS or PhD in Power Systems
• Experience with ASPEN OneLiner and/or SIEMENS CAPE for short-circuit and protection-related modeling and analysis
• Familiarity with EMT modeling using PSCAD for protection, control interaction, or IBR-focused studies