HVDC Chief Engineer

Hunter Philips Executive Search; Deutschland; On-site; EUR 120,000 - 190,000; Full time

Job summary

Hunter Philips Executive Search seeks a Chief Engineer to provide technical leadership for HVDC converter control and protection engineering. As a senior authority, you will guide system architecture, resolve complex challenges and oversee technical assurance across design, validation and commissioning.

The role requires extensive HVDC experience, senior technical authority credentials, and deep knowledge of converter control strategies, protection and power electronics.

Qualifications

• Extensive HVDC control and protection experience.
• Experience as technical authority or senior engineer.
• Strong understanding of HVDC protection and power electronics.
• Experience from specification to commissioning.
• Proficient in EMT simulation and real-time testing.

Responsibilities

• Lead HVDC converter control and protection systems, focusing on VSC tech.
• Define and review control philosophies, protection principles and system architecture.
• Oversee converter controls, DC protection, AC protection interfaces, operating sequences and interlocking.
• Coordinate interfaces among control, protection, valves, transformers and measurement systems.
• Review control performance and protection coordination across conditions.
• Guide simulation studies and real-time testing with RTDS/HiL.
• Lead root-cause analyses and corrective actions for complex issues.
• Chair technical reviews and represent the business with customers and partners.
• Mentor specialists and develop engineering standards and reusable designs.

Skills

HVDC converter control

Protection engineering

VSC technology

EMT simulation

RTDS testing

Technical leadership

Cross-functional collaboration

Education

Electrical Engineering (Power Systems)

Tools

PSCAD

RTDS

Job description

We are seeking a Chief Engineer to provide technical leadership for HVDC converter control and protection engineering. As a senior technical authority, you will guide system architecture, resolve complex engineering challenges and oversee technical assurance across design, validation and commissioning.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead the technical direction of HVDC converter control and protection systems, with a focus on VSC technology.
• Define and review control philosophies, protection principles, functional specifications and system architecture.
• Provide technical oversight of converter controls, DC protection, AC protection interfaces, operating sequences and interlocking.
• Oversee interfaces between control and protection systems, converter valves, converter transformers, measurement systems and station auxiliaries.
• Review control performance, fault responses and protection coordination across operating conditions.
• Guide simulation studies and real-time testing, including hardware-in-the-loop validation using RTDS or equivalent platforms.
• Lead investigations into complex control and protection issues, driving root-cause analysis and corrective actions.
• Chair technical reviews and represent the business in discussions with customers, suppliers and project partners.
• Mentor technical specialists and develop engineering standards, design practices and reusable solutions.

Candidate Profile

• Extensive experience in HVDC converter control and protection engineering, including substantial VSC project experience.
• Proven background as a technical authority, Chief Engineer, Principal Engineer or senior technical specialist.
• Deep understanding of converter control strategies, HVDC protection, power electronics and AC/DC system interactions.
• Experience taking control and protection systems through specification, design, implementation, validation and commissioning.
• Strong knowledge of electromagnetic transient simulation and real-time testing, using tools such as PSCAD and RTDS.
• Demonstrated ability to resolve complex technical issues and lead engineering decisions across multidisciplinary teams.
• Degree qualified in Electrical Engineering, Power Systems, Control Engineering or a related discipline.