Microgrid Controls Engineer, Energy Storage

Redwood Materials; San Francisco (CA); On-site; USD 145,200 - 255,000; Full time

Job summary

Redwood Materials in San Francisco, CA is seeking a highly skilled engineer to lead microgrid and BESS plant controller development. You will design, implement, and validate control algorithms across GFL and GFM modes, collaborating with cross-functional teams to ensure reliable grid integration for utility-scale projects.

Expertise in PSCAD and MATLAB/Simulink is required, with hands-on experience in HIL validation (RTDS/Typhoon HIL) and field deployment.

Qualifications

• MS or PhD in Electrical Engineering, Power Systems, or Controls Engineering.
• 3–6 years of hands-on experience designing microgrid/BESS plant controllers.
• Experience taking control designs from Simulink to real-time site controller.
• Experience with HIL validation using RTDS or Typhoon HIL.
• Knowledge of GFL and GFM inverter concepts.

Responsibilities

• Design, develop, and deploy microgrid and BESS plant controllers from concept to field deployment.
• Architect site controller for GFL/GFM inverters and Vref/Fref commands.
• Implement P/Q and V/F control and droop strategies with multi-asset coordination.
• Integrate BESS with solar, gensets, loads for utility-scale and data center applications.
• Develop simulations in PSCAD/MATLAB and validate with HIL and field testing.
• Translate designs into production specs and support commissioning.
• Collaborate with controls, power systems, firmware, and software teams to define validation scenarios.

Skills

Microgrid control design

BESS plant controllers

PSCAD

MATLAB/Simulink

RTDS Typhoon HIL

C++/Rust

Grid-forming control

Grid-following control

Education

MS or PhD in Electrical Engineering, Power Systems, or Controls Engineering

Tools

PSCAD

MATLAB/Simulink

RTDS

Typhoon HIL

C/C++

Rust

Job description

Overview

About Redwood Materials

Redwood is localizing a global battery supply chain that seamlessly integrates recovery, reuse, and recycling — keeping critical minerals in circulation and driving the energy transition. Founded in 2017, we’re delivering low-cost and large-scale energy storage and producing battery materials in the U.S. for the first time, all from batteries we already have.

Responsibilities

• Design, develop, and implement plant-level microgrid control algorithms for BESS operating in both grid-following (GFL) and grid-forming (GFM) modes, from concept through validated deployment.
• Design and architect the site controller to manage GFL inverters in direct P/Q, power factor, and voltage/frequency droop modes, and to process Vref and Fref commands to the GFM inverter.
• Implement active and reactive power control (P/Q), voltage and frequency control (V/F), and droop-based control strategies to coordinate generating assets operating as GFL with BESS as GFM master.
• Design control systems that integrate BESS with other assets including solar PV, gensets, and loads for applications spanning utility-scale power plants, off-grid and islanded microgrids, and data center power.
• Develop and modify control algorithms in PSCAD and/or MATLAB/Simulink, and verify performance through simulation and HIL environments including RTDS and/or Typhoon HIL.
• Verify MGC behavior under normal operating conditions and abnormal system events, including fault scenarios, mode transitions, and disturbances, using simulation, HIL, and field testing.
• Develop simulations and workflows to test and troubleshoot BESS site controller behavior prior to and during field deployment.
• Translate validated control designs into clear implementation specifications for production software teams, and support integration and commissioning activities as needed.
• Collaborate with controls, power systems, firmware, and software engineers to define control behaviors, validation scenarios, test cases, and performance requirements driven by customer and grid needs.

Qualifications

• MS or PhD in Electrical Engineering, Power Systems, or Controls Engineering.
• 3 to 6 years of hands-on experience designing and implementing microgrid or BESS plant controllers, with direct experience taking control designs from Simulink into a real-time site controller platform.
• Strong foundation in control systems, including linear control theory, PI controllers, low-pass filtering, limiters, and anti-windup techniques.
• Solid understanding of GFL and GFM inverter concepts, including frequency and voltage droop for both inverters and synchronous generators.
• Clear understanding of what a plant or site controller does for BESS in both grid-connected and islanded modes.
• Demonstrated experience with HIL validation using RTDS and/or Typhoon HIL.
• Practical experience with islanded microgrid operation including black start, resynchronization, and mode transitions.
• Practical understanding of P/Q control and energy management, including SoC-based charge and discharge constraints.
• Familiarity with microgrid protection concepts and the ability to reason about fault behavior across different operating modes.
• Experience supporting commissioning, troubleshooting, or operational validation of BESS or power systems in a lab or field environment.
• Familiarity with utility interconnection requirements and grid operations is a plus.
• Proficiency in Rust and/or C++ for real-time or embedded control applications is a plus.
• Comfortable collaborating across disciplines and communicating clearly with power systems, firmware, software, and field engineering teams.

Compensation

In accordance with California pay transparency laws, the salary range for this position is listed below. Actual compensation may vary based on a variety of factors, including experience, education, and skills.

California Pay Range: $145,200 — $255,000 USD

Additional Information

The position is full-time. Compensation will be commensurate with experience.

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