Engineer II

Nextracker Spain, S.L.; Valencia; On-site; EUR 45,000 - 65,000; Full time

Job summary

Nextpower seeks an engineer to build PSCAD EMT models of inverters and plants, port control code from Typhoon HIL to PSCAD, and automate testing with reproducible validation reports. You will define interfaces, implement grid-support functionalities, and integrate validation workflows into CI/CD pipelines.

The role requires 1–3+ years in EMT simulation, strong power electronics knowledge, and experience with PSCAD, Python, and C.

Qualifications

• BSc/MSc in Electronic, Electrical, Industrial or Telecommunications Engineering.
• 1–3+ years in EMT simulation, model development or validation tooling.
• Power electronics: three-phase inverters, PWM/SVPWM, LCL filters.
• Converter control: dq transformation, PLL, current and voltage loops, PI tuning.
• C programming: pointers, structs, building and linking libraries.
• Python: NumPy, SciPy, pandas, Matplotlib; automation-oriented scripting.
• Signal processing: FFT, digital filters, phasors, resampling.

Responsibilities

• Build and maintain PSCAD models of the inverter and plant: power stage, LCL filter, transformer, grid equivalent and protections.
• Port control from HIL to PSCAD: adapt C control code into libraries or interfaces.
• Define model-control interface and troubleshoot compilation and DLL loading.
• Implement grid-support functions: LVRT/HVRT, Volt-VAr, Freq-Watt, ROCOF, GFL and GFM modes.
• Develop automated PSCAD test suites and perform parametric sweeps.
• Post-process results and compare against grid-code criteria.
• Automate PSCAD vs. HIL and PSS/E vs. PSCAD validation with reports.
• Integrate workflow into GitLab CI/CD and version libraries.

Skills

EMT simulation

PSCAD modeling

Python scripting

C programming

Control theory

Signal processing

FFT

Education

BSc/MSc in Electronic/Electrical/Industrial/Telecommunications Engineering

Tools

PSCAD/EMTDC

GCC/MinGW, MSVC

Typhoon HIL/TyphoonTest

Python (NumPy/SciPy/Pandas)

MATLAB/Simulink

PSS/E psspy

GitLab CI/CD

Visual Studio/VS Code

Job description

Build the inverter's EMT models in PSCAD from the actual control code running on HIL, and automate their testing and validation, so that every model delivered to customers matches the certified firmware and ships with a reproducible validation report.

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES

• Build and maintain PSCAD models of the inverter and plant: power stage (2-level and 3-level NPC/ANPC), LCL filter, transformer, grid equivalent (SCR, X/R) and protections.
• Port the control from the HIL environment to PSCAD: adapt the C control code (Typhoon HIL S-HIL) into a .lib/.dll linked through Blackbox components or the Fortran/C interface.
• Define the model-control interface (I/O, parameters, sampling time, interpolation, multirate) and troubleshoot compilation, linking and DLL-loading issues.
• Implement grid-support functions: LVRT/HVRT, P/Q control, Volt-VAr, Freq-Watt, ROCOF, GFL and GFM modes.
• Develop automated PSCAD test suites (voltage dips and swells, phase and frequency jumps, ROCOF, SCR sensitivity, setpoint changes, control modes) using Python, multiple runs and parametric sweeps.
• Post-process results: signal extraction, performance metrics (response time, overshoot, steady-state error, reactive current injection), filtering and comparison against grid-code criteria.
• Automate PSCAD vs. HIL and PSS®E vs. PSCAD validation: time alignment, resampling, tolerance bands and fitting KPIs, with automatically generated reports (plots and pass/fail tables).
• Integrate the workflow into GitLab CI/CD: library builds, test execution and regression runs on every model change.
• Maintain libraries, schematics, centralised parameters and model versioning (REV A.1, A.2, B.1…); write user guides and support customers.

REQUIREMENTS

• BSc/MSc in Electronic, Electrical, Industrial or Telecommunications Engineering.
• 1–3+ years in EMT simulation, model development or validation tooling (junior candidates with a strong PSCAD-based master's thesis are also welcome).
• Power electronics: three-phase inverters, PWM/SVPWM modulation, LCL filters.
• Converter control: dq transformation, PLL, current and voltage loops, PI tuning.
• C programming: pointers, structs, building and linking static and dynamic libraries.
• Python: NumPy, SciPy, pandas, Matplotlib; automation-oriented scripting.
• Signal processing: FFT, digital filters, phasors and symmetrical components, resampling.

NICE TO HAVE

• Experience with OEM models for interconnection studies.
• PSCAD automation API (mhi.pscad) or Typhoon HIL test automation (TyphoonTest IDE, pytest).
• Grid codes and test procedures: IEEE 1547-2018 / 1547.1, UL 1741 SB, NERC, Spanish P.O. 12.2 / NTS.
• Grid-forming control: droop, VSM, virtual inertia, black start.
• PSS®E (UDM, generic WECC models: REGC/REEC/REPC; psspy).
• GitLab CI/CD, build scripting (.bat/PowerShell) and basic Fortran.

TOOLS

• PSCAD/EMTDC 5.x + mhi.pscad (advanced): EMT modelling, Blackbox components, library linking, scripted execution.
• C – GCC/MinGW, MSVC (advanced): control code, .lib/.dll generation.
• Python – NumPy, SciPy, pandas, Matplotlib (advanced): automation, post-processing, reporting.
• Typhoon HIL + TyphoonTest IDE (intermediate): control source and reference testing.
• Visual Studio / VS Code (intermediate): building, debugging, build tasks.
• Git / GitLab CI/CD (intermediate): version control and regression pipelines.
• MATLAB/Simulink (intermediate): control design and signal analysis.
• PSS®E - psspy (desirable): RMS vs. EMT correlation.

At Nextpower, we are driving the global energy transition with an integrated clean energy technology platform that combines intelligent structural, electrical, and digital solutions for utility-scale power plants. Our comprehensive portfolio enables faster project delivery, higher performance, and greater reliability, helping our customers capture the full value of solar power. Our talented worldwide teams are redefining how solar power plants are designed, built, and operated every day with smart technology, data-driven insights, and advanced automation. Together, we're building the foundation for the world's next generation of clean energy infrastructure.

At Nextpower, we are driving the global energy transition with an integrated clean energy technology platform that combines intelligent structural, electrical, and digital solutions for utility-scale power plants. Our comprehensive portfolio enables faster project delivery, higher performance, and greater reliability, helping our customers capture the full value of solar power. Our talented worldwide teams are redefining how solar power plants are designed, built, and operated every day with smart technology, data-driven insights, and advanced automation. Together, we're building the foundation for the world's next generation of clean energy infrastructure.