AES US Renewables & Power is seeking a
Principal Engineer, Advanced System Controls who will be a
senior individual-contributor and technical-authority role responsible for defining, developing, validating, and deploying sophisticated control solutions for integrated energy systems. This role brings together renewable generation, energy storage, fuel cells, synchronous generators, utility interconnections, plant-level controllers, and co-located mission-critical loads into a coherent, secure, testable, and operable system architecture.
This position leads the technical definition of control philosophies, operating modes, control-authority boundaries, multi-resource dispatch logic, sequence-of-operations requirements, model-based validation, laboratory testing, and field integration. The Principal Engineer works across equipment suppliers, power plant control vendors, and real-time simulation laboratories. This role will interface significantly with AES project engineering, grid integration, generator modeling, SCADA, protection and control, and commissioning teams to turn first-of-kind concepts into executable designs and proven operating systems.
Success requires deep expertise in utility-scale off-grid microgrid and grid-connected systems, islanded steady-state control, grid-forming and grid-following behavior, power system integration with colocated loads (such as data centers), flexible interconnection, microgrid transitions, and the interactions among fast power-electronic controls and slower rotating-generation controls. The role is expected to exercise independent technical judgment, set the direction and vision for colocated load and generation system controls, guide other engineers and external partners, and resolve architecture and validation issues that do not have established precedents.
Key Responsibilities
Integrated System Controls and Architecture
- Own and lead development of integrated controls architectures for multi-resource power systems combining solar PV, battery energy storage, fuel cells, synchronous generation, utility sources, switchgear, protection systems, and co-located critical customer loads
- Develop control philosophies, functional design specifications, control-authority matrices, operating-mode definitions, sequence-of-events narratives, permissives, interlocks, fallback modes, and fail-safe behaviors
- Define the hierarchy and coordination among device controls, inverter controls, generator governors and excitation systems, power plant controllers (PPC), microgrid controllers, energy-management systems, SCADA, protection relays, and customer or utility interfaces
- Lead design of operating modes and transitions including grid-connected operation, islanded operation, planned and unplanned islanding, energization, synchronization, resynchronization, and system black start
- Support technical reviews with AES' SCADA Engineering team of controls drawings, network and communications diagrams, I/O lists, and interface-control documents
Data Center Controls Integration
- Develop controls architecture to integrate data center loads with utility-scale generation and battery energy storage systems. Define control authority and real-time interfaces between the data center and plant controls
- Develop advanced load-following and dispatch algorithms for rapid data center load changes. Coordinate fast BESS response with slower generation resources while maintaining system reserves
- Develop operating sequences for grid-connected operation, islanding, load rejection, black start, restoration, and data center load pickup. Define stable frequency and voltage control during these transitions
- Lead integrated validation of data center and generation controls through EMT studies, real-time controls testing, and site commissioning
Advanced Dispatch and Flexible Interconnection Applications
- Develop advanced multi-resource dispatch strategies that coordinate battery energy storage, synchronous generation, fuel cells, and renewable generation. Account for resource availability, operating reserves, equipment limits, and interconnection constraints
- Develop EMS control strategies for energy balancing, BESS state-of-charge management, reserve management, . Define control authority between the EMS, PPC, load-smoothing controllers, and resource-level controls
- Lead development and validation of advanced control algorithms with technology partners. Apply predictive, feedforward, feedback, droop-based, and optimization-based methods for load following, load smoothing, and coordinated resource dispatch
- Develop controls for flexible interconnection applications. Support export and import limits, dynamic operating envelopes, ramp-rate control, curtailment, and congestion-responsive dispatch algorithms, among others in coordination with PPC vendors
Model-Based Engineering and EMT Technical Leadership
- Define controls-related EMT study requirements with grid integration and modeling engineers. Identify the operating scenarios, contingencies, control interactions, and sensitivities that require validation
- Review PSCAD models, study methodologies, and EMT results for technical credibility and consistency with the intended control architecture. Identify control interactions, limiting behavior, unstable operating regions, and model deficiencies
- Guide the progression of EMT studies based on observed system behavior. Recommend follow-on simulations, parameter sensitivities, tuning studies, or model corrections needed to resolve technical questions
- Ensure alignment between control requirements, EMT models, laboratory validation, vendor testing, and field implementation. Use modeling results to guide controls design and commissioning decisions
Laboratory, Vendor, and Integrated System Testing
- Lead integrated controls validation at vendor facilities and AES laboratories using CHIL, PHIL, and other real-time test platforms. Define test plans and acceptance criteria for system-level control performance
- Lead testing across resource controllers, PPC, EMS, SCADA, protection, and microgrid controls. Validate operating modes, system transitions, failure scenarios, communications loss, and recovery behavior
- Define instrumentation and high-speed data acquisition requirements for controls testing. Use synchronized recordings, controller logs, oscillography, and sequence-of-events data to evaluate system behavior and control interactions
- Drive test findings through technical resolution. Ensure identified issues result in corrected control logic, updated settings, validated models, and clear prerequisites for site commissioning
Technical Authority and Cross-Functional Leadership
- Serve as a principal technical advisor and design-review authority for complex control architectures, first-of-kind applications, vendor proposals, software releases, and major technical deviations
- Lead multidisciplinary technical reviews and facilitate decisions across controls, electrical, protection, generator modeling,and commissioningstakeholders
- Mentor engineers in controls architecture, sequence development, test design, data interpretation, field integration, and disciplined technical decision-making without requiring direct supervisory responsibility
- Communicate complex issues clearly to technical, project, customer, and executive audiences
- Monitor relevant technology developments and support evaluation of emerging control architectures, microgrid controllers, grid-forming platforms, dispatch approaches, communications architectures, and real-time validation methods
Skills and Qualifications
- Masters degree in controls engineering, power systems engineering, energy systems, electrical engineering, or a related field. PhD preferred
- Typically 8 to 12 years of experience in utility scale power systems controls, microgrids, utility-scale generation, energy storage, or advanced control applications. Demonstrated experience in system controls integration with colocated loads and utility scale generation and energy storage projects strongly preferred
- Deep understanding of grid-connected and islanded power systems, microgrid controls, grid-forming controls, synchronous generation, BESS, and renewable generation
- Experience developing control architectures, control philosophies, sequences of operation, operating modes, and advanced system-control algorithms
- Experience with EMS, PPC, microgrid controllers, SCADA, and resource-level controls for integrated multi-resource power systems
- Strong knowledge of multi-resource dispatch, BESS state-of-charge management, load following, load smoothing, reserve management, and flexible interconnection controls.
- Working knowledge of PSCAD and EMT analysis, with particular experience reviewing models and simulation results for control interactions and system performance
- Experience developing and leading CHIL, PHIL, factory, laboratory, and integrated system testing for complex power-system controls.
- Knowledge of industrial communications, controls drawings, high-speed data acquisition, and protocols such as Modbus, DNP3, and IEC 61850.
- Field experience with system integration, commissioning, controls troubleshooting, and first-of-kind power systems involving multiple OEMs and technology partners.
