Power Systems Engineer, Microgrids

Intersect is a company focused on innovative energy solutions and modern infrastructure, recently acquired by Google to enhance its capabilities. They are seeking a Power Systems Engineer to join their Microgrid Engineering team, responsible for designing and validating high-performance microgrid control systems to support large-scale infrastructure projects.

Responsibilities:

• Model and Simulate Microgrid Dynamics
• Build and oversee the development of detailed EMT and dynamic models representing loads, supervisory controls, protection schemes, and generation assets including batteries, wind, PV, reciprocating engines, and turbines
• Identify key system parameters from design documentation, requirements, and field data to ensure models accurately reflect real-world behavior
• Validate System Stability and Performance
• Identify and simulate contingency events such as breaker trips, generator failures, and fault conditions to confirm system stability and performance
• For grid-connected systems, simulate response to grid disturbances and assess compliance with interconnection agreements, model quality standards, and ancillary market requirements
• Partner Across Engineering and Suppliers
• Collaborate with adjacent engineering teams to understand system design, control logic, communication latencies, and protection schemes, feeding simulation insights back into design decisions
• Evaluate supplier documentation and models to characterize expected behavior and operational limitations of generation and storage assetsFeeding simulation insights back into design decisionsEvaluate supplier documentation and models
• Support Testing, Optimization, and Field Validation
• Assess design options by evaluating performance tradeoffs and long-term cost impacts from a power system stability perspective
• Participate in Software-in-the-Loop (SIL) and Hardware-in-the-Loop (HIL) testing, site validation planning, and performance verification
• Support post-event analysis through field data review, model correlation, and model playback to continuously improve system fidelity

Requirements:

• M.S. or PhD in Electrical Engineering with an emphasis in power systems or control systems
• 4-8+ years of experience performing EMT and dynamic power system studies for microgrids, islanded systems, or weak-grid environments
• Hands-on experience with PSCAD or similar EMT tools; familiarity with Simulink or Modelica and real-time simulation methodologies including SIL and HIL
• Strong understanding of inverter operating modes such as grid-forming, grid-following, and droop control
• Experience modeling dynamic loads, including large and fast-changing datacenter loads, and assessing their impact on system stability
• Familiarity with modeling communication delays, control system latencies, protection scheme interactions, and fault ride-through behavior
• Knowledge of utility interconnection and market requirements, particularly within ERCOT, that will help you succeed in grid-interactive system studies
• A collaborative, detail-oriented work style with the curiosity and persistence needed to solve complex, system-level engineering challenges