Microgrid Controls Engineer: Automation, SCADA & BESS

AES Corporation; Arlington (VA); On-site; USD 145,000 - 181,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical, dental, and vision coverage

401(k) eligibility

Paid time off

Job summary

AES US Renewables & Power is seeking a Microgrid Controls Engineer to design, develop, test, implement, and commission microgrid control solutions. You will integrate natural-gas generation, BESS, solar, and site loads, delivering reliable automation, HMI, SCADA, protection, and communications from design through field startup.

Responsibilities include developing control philosophies, programming PLCs, validating interfaces, and coordinating with vendors and internal teams to meet schedule and

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in electrical engineering, controls engineering, computer engineering, or a related field.
• 4–8 years of experience in power-distribution controls, industrial automation, microgrids, SCADA, or related field.
• Understanding of electric power systems, microgrid operations, distributed energy resources, natural-gas generators, BESS, and solar PV.
• Experience programming automation controllers or PLCs using ladder logic, structured text, function block diagrams, or CODESYS is preferred.
• Knowledge of switchgear, protection relays, power monitoring, control systems, and electrical distribution equipment.
• Experience with industrial communications protocols such as Modbus, DNP3, and IEC 61850.
• Experience with Ignition Perspective or comparable HMI/SCADA platforms is preferred.
• Experience preparing sequences of operation, control drawings, submittals, test procedures, and bills of materials.
• Field experience with electrical distribution systems, startup, commissioning, and testing.

Responsibilities

• Design and implement microgrid control solutions integrating generators, BESS, solar, and site loads.
• Develop, modify, test, and deploy software for automation controllers, HMIs, SCADA, and data concentrators.
• Create control philosophies, sequences of operation, state diagrams, alarm strategies, and test procedures.
• Program controls using ladder logic, structured text, function block diagrams, and CODESYS environments.
• Coordinate with project teams to meet schedule, budget, and safety requirements.
• Prepare BOMs, technical specs, and submittals; provide direction to electrical designers.
• Participate in design reviews and customer meetings to confirm requirements and interfaces.
• Execute factory acceptance testing, site testing, and commissioning procedures.
• Troubleshoot software, communications, and control-system issues in factory and field.

Skills

Power-distribution controls

Microgrid operations

Ladder logic

Structured text

Function block diagrams

Industrial networks

SCADA software

Communication protocols

Team communication

Troubleshooting

Education

Bachelor's degree in electrical engineering

Tools

Ignition Perspective

CODESYS

PLC programming

SCADA platforms

Modbus

Job description

AES US Renewables & Power is seeking a Microgrid Controls Engineer to design, develop, test, implement, and commission microgrid control solutions. You will integrate natural-gas generation, BESS, solar, and site loads, delivering reliable automation, HMI, SCADA, protection, and communications from design through field startup.

Responsibilities include developing control philosophies, programming PLCs, validating interfaces, and coordinating with vendors and internal teams to meet schedule and