Microgrid Controller Development Firmware Engineer - Morrisville/Raleigh, NC

Delta Electronics Americas; Morrisville (NC); On-site; USD 120,000 - 180,000; Full time

Job summary

Delta Electronics Americas is seeking a senior engineer to own the design and in-house development of real-time control software for the Microgrid Controller (MGC). You will coordinate droop/grid-forming/dispatch logic across PCS, BESS, PV and genset assets using deterministic, bounded 1 ms loop timing.

Responsibilities include protecting coordination, control-tuning of power-electronics loops, deterministic comms (IEC 61850, Modbus, DNP3, PTP), HIL validation, and supporting certification

Qualifications

• B.S. or M.S. in Electrical Engineering, Power Electronics, Controls, or Computer Engineering (or equivalent).
• Strong grasp of power-electronics control and inverter dynamics.
• RTOS-based real-time embedded software in C/C++ with bounded WCET and deterministic scheduling.
• Experience with industry controllers/IEDs and power-system protocols (IEC 61850, Modbus, DNP3, PTP).
• Model-based design and HIL (MATLAB/Simulink, Typhoon HIL/OPAL-RT/RTDS) and Python test automation.
• Ability to read SLDs, protection settings, and write clear specs and test plans.

Responsibilities

• Develop the MGC real-time control application on a deterministic RTOS/RT-Linux target.
• Implement secondary control and protection coordination with tight timing budgets.
• Design and tune control loops for PCS/BESS interfacing and grid-forming resources.
• Configure and program industry controllers and middleware with IEC 61850 GOOSE/MMS/SV.
• Verify functions on HIL platforms (Typhoon HIL, OPAL-RT, RTDS) for grid-tied and islanded modes.
• Support certification and provide release evidence with design/test documentation.

Skills

Power-electronics control

Real-time embedded software

C/C++ programming

Deterministic scheduling

Technical writing

Education

B.S. or M.S. in Electrical Engineering or related field

Tools

RTOS (FreeRTOS/SafeRTOS/ThreadX)

PREEMPT_RT Linux

MATLAB/Simulink

PLECS / Typhoon HIL / OPAL-RT / RTDS

Python

Azure DevOps

Git mono-repo workflows

IEC 61850 (GOOSE/MMS)

Modbus / DNP3 / PTP

Job description

Delta, founded in 1971, is a global provider of power and thermal management solutions. Its mission statement, "To provide innovative, clean and energy-efficient solutions for a better tomorrow," focuses on addressing key environmental issues such as global climate change. As an energy-saving solutions provider with core competencies in power electronics and automation, Delta's business categories include Power Electronics, Mobility, Automation, and Infrastructure.

At Delta, we’re leading the energy transition with innovative solutions in solar inverters, energy storage systems, and EV charging infrastructure. Our technologies are helping utilities, businesses, and communities decarbonize and build resilient, intelligent energy ecosystems. Join us in creating a cleaner, smarter energy future.

Role Summary

You will own the design and in-house development of the real-time control software that runs on the Microgrid Controller (MGC). This role sits at the intersection of power-electronics control theory and deterministic embedded software, building the droop / grid-forming / grid-following, dispatch, mode-transition, and protection logic that coordinates PCS, BESS, PV, and genset assets. You will bring hands‑on knowledge of industry‑grade controllers and translate control laws into safe, bounded, real‑time code verified on HIL.

Key Responsibilities

• Develop the MGC real-time control application on a deterministic RTOS/RT-Linux target — droop/VSG, PLL, GFM/GFL reference generation, P/Q dispatch, and bumpless mode transitions within ≤ 1 ms loops
• Implement secondary control (P-f and Q-V droop, virtual inertia, SOC-aware allocation, ramp-rate limiting, black-start sequencing, resynchronization) at the 1–100 ms layer
• Build protection coordination logic (50/51, 27/59, 81/81R, anti-islanding, interlock state machine, GOOSE fast trip/block) with hardware trip paths executing in ≤ 20 µs
• Design and tune power-electronics control loops interfacing to PCS/BESS unit controllers; validate stability, ride-through (LVRT/HVRT), and grid-fault behavior
• Configure and program industry controllers
• Implement deterministic comms and middleware — IEC 61850 GOOSE/MMS/SV, Modbus TCP, DNP3, PTP (IEEE 1588), lock‑free IPC (DDS / shared-memory SPSC queues), with no dynamic allocation on the RT path
• Verify all functions on HIL (Typhoon HIL, OPAL-RT, RTDS, dSPACE) for grid‑tied, islanded, black‑start, failover, and fault‑injection scenarios
• Support certification and release evidence — UL 1741 SB, IEEE 1547, IEC 61850 conformance, IEC 62443 / NERC CIP — with clear design and test documentation.

Minimum Qualifications

• B.S. or M.S. in Electrical Engineering, Power Electronics, Controls, or Computer Engineering (or equivalent experience)
• Strong grasp of power-electronics control — inverter current/voltage loops, PLL, droop, grid-forming/grid-following, and inverter‑based‑resource dynamics
• Hands‑on real‑time embedded software in C/C++ on RTOS (FreeRTOS/SafeRTOS/ThreadX) or PREEMPT_RT Linux, with bounded WCET, ISR, and deterministic scheduling discipline
• Practical experience with industry controllers / IEDs
• Working knowledge of power-system protocols: IEC 61850 (GOOSE/MMS), Modbus, DNP3, and PTP time synchronization
• Experience with model‑based design and HIL (MATLAB/Simulink, PLECS, Typhoon HIL / OPAL-RT / RTDS) and test automation in Python
• Ability to read SLDs, I/O lists, protection settings, control narratives, and register maps; clear technical writing for specs, test plans, and release evidence

Preferred Qualifications

• Microgrid / BESS plant controller, PPC, or grid-forming inverter control development
• Familiarity with Azure DevOps, Git mono‑repo workflows, CI/CD, and formal change control / release gates

Benefit at Delta Electronics Americas

Life at Delta

EEO Statement

Delta Electronics Americas is an Equal Opportunity Employer and is committed to compliance with all applicable federal, state, and local laws. Delta Electronics America is committed to fostering a diverse, inclusive, and respectful workplace. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, age, marital status, national origin, disability, veteran status, or any other protected characteristic.