Control Software Principal Engineer

GE Vernova; Stafford; On-site; GBP 60,000 - 80,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading global energy company in the United Kingdom is seeking a Consulting Engineer specialized in HVDC control and protection algorithms. The role involves acting as a technical authority, contributing to standardization efforts, and leading R&D programs. Ideal candidates should have experience in real-time control systems, a relevant degree, and a comprehensive understanding of HVDC technologies. This full-time position offers a robust career path within a dynamic engineering environment.

Qualifications

• Deep technical understanding of real-time flexible control systems.
• Proven experience in an engineering capacity.
• Excellent understanding of VSC and LCC-HVDC.

Responsibilities

• Serve as a recognized technical authority in HVDC solutions.
• Drive standardization efforts and represent the company in professional bodies.
• Support development of a strategic HVDC technology roadmap.
• Oversee R&D programs and ensure successful project delivery.

Skills

Continuous Integration

Docker

Jenkins

Python

System Design

Agile

C/C++

Go

Systems Engineering

Software Development

Java

Distributed Systems

Education

Degree in control solutions or related field

Job description

Job Description Summary

The energy transition drives an unprecedented growth in demand for and generation of electricity. To accommodate this growth the capacity of the transmission system is projected to grow three‑fold. High voltage direct current (HVDC) transmission systems will play a key role in connecting remote and offshore renewables, interconnecting energy markets, and reinforcing AC grids. Converter stations are required to convert AC to DC and vice versa. The brain of such converter stations are the control and protection systems which, among other things, ensure efficient, safe, and reliable operation of the power electronic valves and peripheral equipment. GE Vernovas Grid Systems Integration business line offers control and protection solutions for both voltage‑sourced converter (VSC) as well as line‑commutated converter (LCC) HVDC valve technologies to meet the transmission planning needs of utilities, system operators, developers, and industrial clients worldwide. The control & protection algorithms are key to enabling the HVDC transmission systems’ functionality, capabilities, and performance.

GE Vernovas HVDC team requires Principal Engineers who act as technical consultants ensuring customer confidence, reviewing and enhancing design practices, acting as a gate‑keeper for technical reviews, applying lessons learned, leading complex state‑of‑the‑art technology improvements, engaging with quality reviews and cost optimization exercises both within their specialist domain and across other domains.

GE Vernova is currently looking for an experienced technical specialist to join us as Consulting Engineer for HVDC control & protection algorithms.

Job Description

Key Responsibilities:

• Serve as a recognized technical authority in HVDC Control & Protection algorithms solutions both internally and externally and act as technical advisor to Senior leadership levels and support to Consulting Engineers.
• Actively contribute to and drive both internal and external standardization coordinate working group activities and proactively represent GE Vernova in IEC/CIGRE and similar professional bodies task forces and industry committees.
• Stay abreast of collect and internally communicate state‑of‑the‑art technology developments in HVDC control & protection algorithms and applications.
• Support Internal Stakeholders and Consulting Engineer to develop and maintain a strategic HVDC Control & Protection Algorithms technology roadmap.
• Suggest areas for technological advancement and recommend approaches/programs to pursue.
• Participate Patent Evaluation Board (PEB) to protect technology that gives the business a competitive advantage as well as protecting the intellectual property rights of the company.
• Oversee various R&D programmes from conception through to industrialisation integrating new technology smoothly into production and ensuring successful project delivery.
• Chair and act as technical authority in technology and product development gate reviews.
• Collaborate and promote technology synergies across GE Vernova businesses of Power Conversion Systems, Grid Automation and Power Technology utilizing shared expertise and resources.
• Lead/support project teams addressing identified project challenges in focused technical areas.
• Support project technical tendering and delivery in the introduction of new solutions.
• Support the quality teams on major quality issues and act as technical authority in root cause analysis processes.
• Act as technical authority in competence management.
• Act as a knowledge ambassador providing technical education to external universities.
• Consult with and support the Chief Engineers Office in executing the office’s technical objectives to implement best practice technologies and methods.
• Provide technical consultation on product problems throughout the business including supplier and field support and perform technical rescues when needed.
• Actively mentor and coach identified high‑potential Engineering talents within one’s business lines.
• Chair Design reviews for individual components sub‑assemblies and key engineering deliverables at tendering and contract execution stages. Support Consulting Engineers in governance and trainings to reinforce proper execution of design review guidelines.

Qualifications/Requirements

The position requires a deep technical understanding of the technologies and design techniques required to develop, manufacture and maintain high‑availability real‑time flexible control systems.

The successful candidate will deeply understand the intricacies of communication and computing platform technologies and techniques and how to translate this into an effective value proposition to GE Vernovas customers. This requires a strong foundation in both research and development and project engineering having demonstrated significant technical depth and recognition as a domain expert across large‑scale high‑reliability high‑performance real‑time control systems and able to apply state‑of‑the‑art technology to resolve complex technical challenges.

• Degree or higher education equivalent in a topic related to the development of control solutions ideally with an application focus to power electronic systems.
• Proven experience in an engineering capacity.
• Excellent overall technical understanding of VSC and LCC‑HVDC with deep understanding of the topics identified below:

• Control algorithm principles and high‑level control system functional definition.
• Control algorithm implementation.
• Control software architecture.
• Harmonic stability.
• Interaction studies.
• Multi‑terminal system control.
• Grid forming control.
• Multi‑vendor control interoperability.
• Control system performance verification & validation.

• Overview of standardization initiatives for HVDC control algorithms in international bodies such as IEEE, IEC and CIGRE.
• Understanding of typical relevant regulatory frameworks, grid codes and standards.
• Familiarity with patent evaluation application and management.
• Open to business travel.

Desired Characteristics

• Strong oral and written communication skills.
• Strong interpersonal and leadership skills.
• Leadership to pursue correct engineering process in adverse conditions.
• Able to interface and communicate effectively with all levels of the organization.
• Considered an industry expert and thought leader in the HVDC control & protection algorithms discipline.

Additional Information

Relocation Assistance Provided: No

Required Experience: Staff IC

Key Skills: Continuous Integration, Docker, Jenkins, Python, System Design, Agile, C/C++, Go, Systems Engineering, Software Development, Java, Distributed Systems

Employment Type: Full‑Time

Vacancy: 1