Power Systems Engineer, Hardware in Loop

Redwood Materials; San Francisco (CA); On-site; USD 145,000 - 215,000; Full time

Job summary

Redwood Materials is seeking a highly skilled EE-focused engineer to design and validate power system and inverter control strategies, with a focus on hardware/software test environments and real-time simulation platforms.

You will build CHIL platforms, automate tests, and validate PSCAD/MATLAB models, contributing to grid-forming and grid-following operations for BESS and PV integrations. This on-site role requires advanced degree and strong analytical skills.

Qualifications

• MS or PhD in Electrical Engineering, Power Systems, or Controls.
• Experience building and supporting hardware-software test environments with hands-on debugging.
• Ability to develop test automation and control functions in Python, C, or C++.
• Strong experience with PSCAD, MATLAB/Simulink, or similar tools.
• Solid understanding of circuit behavior, control theory, and EE fundamentals.
• Practical experience with RTDS, OPAL-RT, Typhoon HIL and related real-time platforms.

Responsibilities

• Design, develop, and validate power system and inverter control strategies.
• Build and maintain CHIL test platforms integrating RTDS with controllers and relays.
• Create test plans, automate tests, analyze results, and document findings.
• Develop real-time power system models for BESS, PV, inverters, and transformers.
• Perform dynamic studies on stability, fault response, and mode transitions.
• Troubleshoot and resolve issues using first-principles analysis and simulations.
• Support validation of PSCAD/CHIL results against field performance.

Skills

Python

C

C++

Test automation

Hardware/software test env

Real-time control

Education

MS or PhD in Electrical Engineering / Power Systems / Controls

Tools

PSCAD

MATLAB/Simulink

RTDS/CHIL

OPAL-RT / Typhoon HIL

Job description

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 will include:

• Design, develop, and validate power system and inverter control strategies using RTDS/RSCAD to meet project-specific grid requirements, including grid-forming and grid-following operation, ride-through, droop control, and microgrid performance.

• Develop and maintain Controller Hardware-in-the-Loop (CHIL) test platforms integrating RTDS with inverter controllers, site controllers, protection relays, metering, and communication interfaces; create test plans, automate test execution, analyze results, and maintain clear technical documentation.

• Build and validate real-time power system models of BESS, PV, inverters, transformers, generators, loads, and balance-of-plant equipment for both grid-connected and islanded applications.

• Perform dynamic and transient studies to evaluate system stability, black start, load pickup, inverter interactions, fault response, protection performance, and transitions between operating modes.

• Identify and resolve control, modeling, communication, and hardware-in-the-loop integration issues using first-principles power system analysis, simulation results, and structured troubleshooting.

• Support validation and benchmarking of PSCAD, PSS/E, and other offline simulation models against RTDS/CHIL results and field performance where applicable.

• Develop and expand in-house RTDS laboratory capabilities, including model integration, I/O scaling, communication interfaces, test automation, equipment selection, and standardized validation procedures.

Desired Qualifications:

• MS or PhD in Electrical Engineering, Power Systems, Controls, or a closely related discipline.

• Proven experience developing and supporting integrated hardware and software test environments, including hands‑on troubleshooting and debugging.

• Ability to develop test automation, scripts, or control functions using Python, C, C++, or a similar programming language.

• Strong experience with engineering simulation tools such as PSCAD, MATLAB/Simulink, or comparable platforms.

• Solid understanding of electrical engineering fundamentals, circuit behavior, and control theory.

• Practical experience with communication networks, laboratory measurement equipment, and real-time simulation platforms such as RTDS, OPAL-RT, Typhoon HIL,

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—$215,000 USD

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

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