Power Systems Engineer, Microgrids

Intersect; Time (IL); Hybrid; USD 105,000 - 195,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Team Week experiences

Flexible remote/hybrid culture

100% premium health coverage for you &

Unlimited PTO

Job summary

Intersect is expanding its Microgrid Engineering team and seeks an experienced engineer to design and validate high‑performance microgrid control systems. You will build EMT and dynamic models of loads, generation, and storage, collaborating with controls engineers, designers, suppliers, and utility operators to ensure robust performance.

You will participate in SIL/HIL testing, analyze field data, and support validation under normal and contingency conditions.

Qualifications

• MS or PhD in Electrical Engineering with an emphasis in power systems or control systems.
• 4–8+ years of EMT and dynamic power system studies experience in microgrids or similar environments.
• Hands-on experience with EMT tools (PSCAD) and familiarity with Simulink/Modelica and SIL/HIL.
• Strong knowledge of inverter operating modes and grid interconnection requirements, especially ERCOT.

Responsibilities

• Build and oversee EMT and dynamic models for loads, controls, and generation assets including batteries and renewables.
• Identify system parameters from design docs and field data to reflect real-world behavior.
• Simulate contingency events to verify stability and performance across scenarios.
• Model grid disturbances and assess compliance with interconnection agreements and market rules.
• Collaborate with controls, electrical design, suppliers, and operators to feed insights back into design.
• Assess asset behavior and limitations through supplier models and data reviews.
• Compare design options to evaluate performance tradeoffs and long-term costs.
• Participate in SIL/HIL testing, site validation planning, and performance verification.
• Support post-event analysis with data review and model playback for fidelity improvements.

Skills

Power systems

EMT studies

Dynamic modeling

PSCAD

Simulink

Modelica

Grid interconnection

HIL/SIL

Data analysis

Education

MS or PhD in Electrical Engineering

Tools

PSCAD

Simulink

Modelica

Job description

United States / Canada

Location & Team Gatherings

Intersect is a fully flexible workplace. We are not strictly work‑from‑home, hybrid, or in‑office – we are any or all of those options. We connect as a team at our Team Week experiences four times a year and at our hubs in SF Bay Area, NYC Metro Area, NY; Denver, CO; Austin, TX; Calgary, AB; and Toronto, ON. Candidates must be located within 60 miles of one of these hubs to foster in‑person connections while maintaining our flexible remote culture.

About This Role

As part of Intersect’s Microgrid Engineering team, you will apply advanced power system theory, simulation expertise, and real‑world engineering judgment to design and validate high‑performance microgrid control systems. You’ll partner closely with controls engineers, electrical designers, external suppliers, and utility operators to develop fit‑for‑purpose power system models and validate controller behavior across both normal and contingency conditions.

Team Overview

The Microgrid Engineering team plays a critical role in accelerating the clean energy transition by supporting large‑scale infrastructure that delivers reliable, cost‑effective power. We collaborate across engineering, controls, and external partners to design, test, and validate systems operating under complex and demanding conditions. Joining the team means contributing to high‑impact projects while growing your technical depth alongside experienced engineers tackling industry‑challenging power system problems.

What You’ll Do

• Build and oversee the development of detailed EMT and dynamic models representing loads, supervisory controls, protection schemes, and generation assets including batteries, wind, PV, reciprocating engines, and turbines.
• Identify key system parameters from design documentation, requirements, and field data to ensure models accurately reflect real‑world behavior.
• Identify and simulate contingency events such as breaker trips, generator failures, and fault conditions to confirm system stability and performance.
• For grid‑connected systems, simulate responses to grid disturbances and assess compliance with interconnection agreements, model quality standards, and ancillary market requirements.
• Collaborate with adjacent engineering teams to understand system design, control logic, communication latencies, and protection schemes, feeding simulation insights back into design decisions.
• Evaluate supplier documentation and models to characterize expected behavior and operational limitations of generation and storage assets.
• Assess design options by evaluating performance tradeoffs and long‑term cost impacts from a power system stability perspective.
• Participate in Software‑in‑the‑Loop (SIL) and Hardware‑in‑the‑Loop (HIL) testing, site validation planning, and performance verification.
• Support post‑event analysis through field data review, model correlation, and model playback to continuously improve system fidelity.

What You’ll Bring

• M.S. or Ph.D. in Electrical Engineering with an emphasis in power systems or control systems.
• 4–8+ years of experience performing EMT and dynamic power system studies for microgrids, islanded systems, or weak‑grid environments.
• Hands‑on experience with PSCAD or similar EMT tools; familiarity with Simulink or Modelica and real‑time simulation methodologies including SIL and HIL.
• Strong understanding of inverter operating modes such as grid‑forming, grid‑following, and droop control.
• Experience modeling dynamic loads, including large and fast‑changing datacenter loads, and assessing their impact on system stability.
• Familiarity with modeling communication delays, control system latencies, protection scheme interactions, and fault ride‑through behavior.
• Knowledge of utility interconnection and market requirements, particularly within ERCOT, that will help you succeed in grid‑interactive system studies.
• A collaborative, detail‑oriented work style with the curiosity and persistence needed to solve complex, system‑level engineering challenges.

Total Rewards

• Total Compensation: USD 105,000 – 195,000 (base salary plus bonus).
• Health & Wellness: 100% premium coverage for you and your dependents on medical, dental, and vision.
• Time to Recharge: Unlimited PTO, plus company‑wide breaks on the Fourth of July and year‑end.
• Family Support: Up to 12 weeks fully paid parental leave, plus 6 additional weeks for birth parents; access to family planning and care support through Carrot and Maven.
• Mental Health: Free access to Spring Health (5 free therapy/psychiatry sessions) and a Headspace account for mindfulness and meditation.
• Perks & Extras: $150 monthly food stipend; $150 monthly reimbursement for cell phone and internet; pet insurance allowance; full home office setup; free access to UrbanSitter (with $625 quarterly credits); ActiveHero; and One Medical.
• Equity: Beyond your salary, you’ll receive an equity grant giving you a meaningful stake in our parent company.

Intersect maintains a work environment free from discrimination, where all employees are treated with dignity and respect. All employees share the responsibility for fulfilling Intersect’s commitment to equal employment opportunity. Intersect does not discriminate against any employee or applicant on the basis of age, ancestry, citizenship, color, family or medical care leave, gender identity or expression, genetic information, immigration status, marital status, medical condition, national origin, physical or mental disability, political affiliation, protected veteran or military status, race, ethnicity, religion, sex (including pregnancy), sexual orientation, or any other characteristic protected by applicable local laws, regulations and ordinances. We adhere to these principles in all aspects of employment, including recruitment, hiring, training, compensation, promotion, benefits, social and recreational programs, and discipline.

We sometimes use AI‑powered note‑taking tools during interviews to support our team. They are used only for documentation and do not replace human judgment.