Grid Tech I

Duke Energy Corporation; Charlotte (NC); On-site; USD 90,000 - 120,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Relocation assistance

Job summary

Duke Energy Corporation's Grid Tech role, in the DGOC within the Distribution Control Center, oversees safety and reliable operation of distributed energy resources (DER) such as solar, BESS and microgrids across Duke Energy regions. The team monitors, operates and troubleshoots DER assets, maintains daily logs, and responds to alarms to protect asset health and performance.

Under limited supervision the role schedules energy storage charge levels, coordinates with DEOM and trading groups, and

Qualifications

• High School Diploma or GED required.
• Bachelor’s degree or 4-year technical degree preferred.
• At least 3 years related work experience desired.
• Ability to work independently and in a team; strong interpersonal skills.

Responsibilities

• Monitor DER assets real-time performance, availability and health.
• Maintain detailed logs and provide immediate notifications for unusual activity.
• Schedule energy storage charge levels and coordinate with operations for asset integrity.
• Direct DCC personnel and interface with Energy Trading groups for DER planning.
• Ensure EH&S compliance and prepare asset operation reports.
• Support after-hours operations and respond to incidents as needed.

Skills

Analytical thinking

Communication skills

On-call availability

Team collaboration

Education

High School Diploma or GED

Bachelor’s or 4-year technical degree

Job description

Position Summary

This Grid Tech role is within the Distributed Energy Operations Center (DGOC) group of PGO’s Distribution Control Center (DCC). This job is responsible for safety, oversight, and reliable operations of Duke Energy regulated distribution-connected Distributed Energy Resources (DER) assets (including Battery Energy Storage System (BESS), solar, and microgrid facilities). DER facilities are located throughout the Duke Energy regions. The DGOC team monitors, operates, and troubleshoots potential issues or alarms of DER facilities. Duties include maintaining daily logs of DER asset events, providing immediate actions and/or verbal notifications of unusual activities to the appropriate personnel, preparing asset operations reports, and monitoring real-time power output, performance, and health of DER assets. This role is also responsible for maintaining availability levels for each DER asset and following DER use directives from entities (e.g., PGO’s DCCs, Transmission Operator, Power Marketer, etc.). Under limited supervision, this position schedules and coordinates the energy storage charge levels to maintain asset integrity and performance, as well as performs a variety of administrative duties, and is being responsible for EH&S and other relevant compliances. This position works closely with the Distributed Energy Operations and Maintenance (DEOM) team and plays a critical role in ensuring compliance and work activities are completed to meet company goals.

Responsibilities

Operational Monitoring and Planning

• Maintain detailed knowledge of PGO’s distribution, grid-connected generating and energy storage units (DER assets) operating characteristics at all times, including availability, energy yield, and performance efficiency, etc. to effectively utilize units to fullest potential.
• Maintain daily logs of system events, providing immediate verbal notifications of unusual activities to the appropriate personnel, overseeing the safe and reliable operations of PGO’s solar and energy storage connected assets.
• Monitor real-time power output, performance, and efficiency of each DER facility. Responsible for maintaining availability levels at each DER site as well as following
• curtailment directives from entities (e.g., Distribution Control Center, Transmission EMC, Power Marketing, etc.).
• Direct Distribution Control Center (DCC) personnel to provide working interface with Duke’s Operation Centers for all DER system alarms and system operation plans and actions.
• Direct Energy Trading Group personnel — Provide direct working interface with Duke’s Energy Trading group for planning and operations of DER systems into the MISO and PJM ancillary service markets. Under limited supervision, schedules, and coordinates adjustments to the daily, weekly, monthly energy storage facility primary business use.
• Afterhours work is required.
• Support Compliance Assurance and Reporting.
• Continue the maturity development of all energy storage protocols relating to maintenance, scheduling, Emergency Action Plans, and notifications.
• Troubleshoot GEMS system alarms and initiate site response for facility interrogation.
• Enter RCA’s as needed, plus management of corrective actions to facilities.
• Evaluate all monitored facility data for facility health and performance management. Perform site operations trend analysis from GEMS monitoring system data.
• Develop proper system reporting metrics and reports for specific stakeholder groups.
• Initiate health and performance mitigation actions for all DER assets as required.
• Continually validate EH&S compliance.
• Interpersonal communication skills and the ability to work both independently and within a team is required.
• Engage teammates in process of real-time operations and assure reporting proficiency.
• Assist teammates in the growth and development of skills and abilities which will enhance both their present job skills and their future value to Duke Energy.

Required/Basic Qualifications

• High School Diploma or GED

Additional Preferred Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree or a four (4) year technical degree
• In addition to desired degree, 3 years related work experience
• Ability to work both independently and in a team environment.
• Good interpersonal and communication skills
• Advanced knowledge of Duke Energy’s distribution system
• Detailed knowledge of Power Systems, including Transmission, Distribution, Load Control
• Voltage Control, Frequency Control, Power Quality
• Knowledge of energy storage and solar systems
• Knowledge of control systems for monitoring and operations
• Additional years of DER asset dispatching experience
• Experience in developing procedures or work processes

Working Conditions

• Onsite Mobility Classification — Work will be performed at a company facility. On-site employees are also required to live within a reasonable daily commute to their assigned work location, not greater than 50 miles one way.
• Performs work in a control room environment; required to observe work in all areas of Distributed Energy facilities which are operating 24 hours a day, 365 days a year
• Significant hours monitoring control screen dashboards and system data research.
• There is potential exposure to high stress situations and requirement to be available for emergency response as required by the needs of service.

Specific Requirements

• Must be able to serve on call duties after hours.
• This role could transition to a rotating shift schedule in the future.

Travel Requirements

Relocation Assistance Provided (as applicable)

No

Represented/Union Position

No

Visa Sponsored Position

No. This is not a Visa Sponsored Position. This role requires the ability to work lawfully in the U.S. without employment-based immigration sponsorship, now or in the future.

Please note that in order to be considered for this position, you must possess all of the basic/required qualifications.