Director, Electrical BoP Engineering

RWE; Chicago (IL); On-site; USD 200,000 - 230,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical

Dental

Vision

Life Insurance

Short-Term Disability

Long-Term Disability

401(k) match

Flexible Spending Accounts

EAP

Education Assistance

Parental Leave

Paid time off

Holidays

Short-term incentives

Job summary

RWE Americas, LLC is seeking a strategic Director Electrical BOP Engineering to lead the team responsible for high‑voltage BOP infrastructure across renewable assets. You will set multiyear fleet reliability strategies, oversee NERC/FERC compliance, and partner with Operations, Asset Management, and Development to translate technical risk into business decisions.

This office‑based role with travel requires an owner‑operator mindset, 11+ years in electrical roles, and PE preferred.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's or Master's in Electrical Engineering or equivalent HV experience.
• PE license preferred.
• 11+ years in electrical operations, asset management, or design; 3+ in leadership.
• HV/EHV and grid interconnection experience.
• Knowledge of NFPA 70E, IEEE 1584, NEC, NESC, OSHA.
• Understanding of protective device coordination and relay settings.
• Familiar with NERC standards.
• Experience with PSSE/PSLF/PSCAD/TSAT/ETAP is a plus.
• Strong leadership, policy setting, and strategic direction.
• Translate electrical risk into business decisions.

Responsibilities

• Define engineering vision, standards, and goals across the fleet.
• Shape multiyear substation upgrade and reliability plans.
• Oversee NERC/FERC audit prep and evidence reviews.
• Define org structure and career paths for Electrical BOP.
• Represent engineering to executive leadership and partners.
• Evaluate adoption of new tools and testing technologies.
• Assess risk and integration for acquired sites.
• Define sign-off thresholds and restoration support.
• Lead RCAs and major failure recovery efforts.
• Manage OEMs and testing contractors; set specs and QC guidelines.

Skills

HV power systems

Executive leadership

Cross-functional leadership

NERC/FERC compliance

AI & automation

Stakeholder communication

Power system modeling

Education

Electrical Engineering degree

PE certification (preferred)

Tools

PSSE

PSLF

PSCAD

TSAT

ETAP

Job description

RWE Americas, LLC
To start as soon as possible, full time, permanent
Functional area: Engineering
Remuneration: Exempt

DirectorElectrical BOP Engineering, Operations, supports RWE America's renewable generation assets by managing the team focusing specifically on balance of plant (BOP) equipment and systems. The Electrical BOP team provides engineering expertise for a wide range of BOP components, such as transformers, cables, dynamic and static reactive power devices, substations, relays, breakers, and power plant controllers. By collaborating closely with teams in Operations, Asset Management, Compliance, and Development/Construction, the Electrical BOP team helps ensure that current and future generating assets consistently operate at their best.

We are seeking a strategic engineering leader with deep expertise in high-voltage infrastructure and utility-scale electrical Balance of Plant (BOP) architecture. The ideal candidate combines authoritative technical expertise with strong executive presence—equally skilled at setting multiyear fleet reliability strategies, navigating complex NERC/FERC compliance landscapes, and building high-performing engineering teams. You bring a strong owner-operator mindset, excel at cross-functional alignment across field operations and development, and thrive at translating technical electrical risk into actionable business decisions.

Role Responsibilities:

• Define engineering vision, standards, and goals across the renewable generation fleet. Translate business objectives into technical action
• Shape multiyear investment plans for substation upgrades, reliability enhancements, and compliance readiness
• Oversee NERC/FERC audit preparedness and evidence reviews. Establish frameworks for continuous improvement and documentation rigor
• Define the org structure, span of control, and career pathing for the Electrical BOP function. Sponsor key talent and hiring efforts
• Represent engineering to executive leadership. Align initiatives with Asset Management, Field Operations, and Compliance
• Evaluate and champion adoption of new engineering tools, modeling platforms, or controls testing technologies
• Assess electrical risk and integration effort for acquired sites. Standardize onboarding of models, settings, and testing procedures
• Define thresholds for technical sign-off, model review, and restoration support across the engineering team
• Lead technical forensic investigations, Root Cause Analyses (RCAs), and major failure recovery efforts for critical fleet assets (e.g., main power transformers, HV breakers, dynamic VAR systems)
• Oversee technical relationships with major equipment OEMs, engineering consultants, and testing contractors; establish standardized technical specifications and quality control guidelines for fleet repairs and retrofits

Job Requirements and Experiences:

• Bachelor of Science or Master’s degree in Electrical Engineering (EE) required (or equivalent deep experience in high-voltage power systems engineering)
• Professional Engineer (PE) preferred
• A minimum of 11 years of professional experience in electrical operations, asset management, or design (3+ years leading a team and/or function)
• HV/EHV & Grid Interconnection Experience
• Detailed knowledge of power generation and distribution equipment, transformers, switchgear, transmission feeders, substations, and renewable energy
• Knowledge of Codes and Standards: NFPA 70E, IEEE 1584, NEC, NESC, OSHA regulations
• Strong understanding of protective device coordination and relay settings
• Familiarity with the North American Electric Reliability Corporation (NERC) standards
• Familiarity with industry modeling software such as PSSE, PSLF, PSCAD, TSAT, and ETAP (a plus)
• Serves as functional leader and internal expert
• Establishes engineering policy and technical direction aligned with strategic goals.
• Leads resolution of complex, ambiguous problems with long-term impacts
• Balances competing priorities
• Partners with senior leadership and external parties
• Communicates vision and status of engineering initiatives
• Strong interpersonal skills, with ability to manage customer relationships
• Proven experience utilizing AI and other automation skills to optimize and organize work practices
• Proven ability to empathize, build relationships, and effectively communicate with people from a diverse set of backgrounds
• Is detail-oriented, has strong business acumen, and a sound understanding of business concepts

Work Environment:

This position is an office-based role with some travel and visits to other RWE Americas offices and field locations. The employee must be able to sit, walk, or stand for long durations of time.

Applicants must be legally authorized to work in the United States. RWE Americas is unable to sponsor or take over sponsorship of employment visas at this time.

Pay range:

The annual base salary range for this position in California or New York is $210,000- $230,000. The listed salary range represents our good faith estimate for this position and represents the range for new hire salaries across all U.S locations. Please note that the salary information is a general guideline only.

Benefits offered:

Medical, Dental, Vision, Life Insurance, Short-Term Disability, Long-Term Disability, 401(k) match, Flexible Spending Accounts, EAP, Education Assistance, Parental Leave, Paid time off, and Holidays. Eligible employees also participate in short-term incentives, in addition to salary.

All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, religion, national origin, disability, veteran status, or other legally protected status.

RWE Americas, a subsidiary of RWE, is a US-based energy company that is helping to meet the growing demand for energy across the United States. Backed by RWE’s 125-year global legacy of managing diverse power assets, RWE Americas operates approximately 13 GW of power projects across 27 states. With a talented workforce of 2,000 employees, RWE Americas develops, constructs and operates wind, solar and battery storage projects, along with natural gas-powered generation, that safely deliver affordable, reliable electricity to our customers. Committed to responsible development, RWE Americas invests in local and rural communities, creating jobs and partnering with stakeholders to support and strengthen the places where we live and work. Learn more about how RWE Americas is generating impact at americas.rwe.com.

At RWE Americas, we foster a culture defined by our Essential Behaviors - Have Courage, Create Impact and Actively Collaborate. We encourage bold thinking and continuous learning, and we value ownership, resilience and inclusion in everything we do. When you join us, you become part of a team that supports your development, respects your contributions and celebrates shared success. This is a place where you can grow your career and make a meaningful difference.