Principal Power Systems Engineer

ITResource Hunter; El Segundo (CA); On-site; USD 201,000 - 314,000; Full time

Job summary

ITResource Hunter in El Segundo, CA is seeking a Principal Power Systems Engineer to lead the design, modeling, and validation of electrical power systems for a nuclear microreactor platform. You will own architectural design, SLDs, FMEAs, and system integration across grid-connected and islanded configurations, collaborating with power conversion teams and performing SIL/HIL testing.

Requires strong background in high-power systems, battery integration, and grid-forming/following controls, with

Qualifications

• B.S. in Electrical Engineering with emphasis in power/control.
• 5+ years designing power systems for generation, microgrids, or mission-critical power systems.
• Experience sizing/integrating high-voltage battery systems with power electronics.
• Experience with PSCAD, ETAP, PSS E, Simulink, or equivalent.
• Understanding of inverters, grid converters, DC/DC converters, and grid-forming/following/droop control.
• Experience analyzing system stability, protection behavior, and fault response.
• Strong cross-functional communication skills.

Responsibilities

• Own power system architectural design for microreactor-based power generation.
• Develop single-line diagrams for reactor configurations.
• Develop FMEAs to identify failure modes and redundancy paths.
• Evaluate system behavior during disturbances and faults.
• Size energy storage for cold start and varying loads.
• Coordinate synchronization of multiple reactors in a microgrid.
• Collaborate with power conversion team to integrate generator requirements.
• Participate in SIL/HIL and system-level testing.
• Support checkouts, commissioning, and testing of power requirements.
• Ensure regulatory compliance and testing methods for power quality.

Skills

Power systems design

Power system modeling

System stability analysis

Communication

Education

B.S. in Electrical Engineering (power/control)

M.S. in Electrical Engineering (preferred)

Tools

PSCAD

ETAP

PSS E

Simulink

Job description

Job Title: Principal Power Systems Engineer
Location: El Segundo, CA
Duration: Full time
Base Salary: $200,500 $314,475 + equity

The Opportunity:

Client is seeking a talented Principal Power Systems Engineer to lead the design, modeling, and validation of electrical power systems supporting our nuclear microreactor platform. You will play a critical role in defining how power is generated, conditioned, controlled, and delivered to customers across grid-connected, islanded, and rapidly deployable environments.

Responsibilities & Duties:

• Own power system architectural design for microreactor-based power generation systems operating in grid-connected and islanded modes.
• Develop single-line diagrams of the power system for single- or multiple-reactor configurations.
• Develop FMEAs to identify system behavior during component/system failures and identify redundancy paths.
• Evaluate system behavior during disturbances such as load steps, faults, breaker operations, and loss-of-generation events.
• Size energy storage systems for reactor cold start and variable load demands.
• Own synchronization of multiple reactors in a microgrid and multiple reactors tied to grid.
• Collaborate cross-functionally with the power conversion team to understand generator requirements and design power systems that can integrate seamlessly.
• Participate in software-in-the-loop (SIL), hardware-in-the-loop (HIL), and system-level testing to validate/verify system performance.
• Support system checkouts, commissioning, and testing of all power requirements
• Regulatory compliance of power systems, including testing methods to verify power quality.

Required Qualifications & Skills:

• B.S. in Electrical Engineering with an emphasis in power systems or control systems.
• 5+ years of experience designing power systems for generation, microgrids, or mission-critical power systems.
• Experience with sizing and integrating high-voltage battery systems with power electronics.
• Strong experience with power system modeling and simulation tools (e.g., PSCAD, ETAP, PSS E, Simulink, or equivalent).
• Solid understanding of inverters, grid converters, DC/DC converters, rotating generation, and power system control modes (grid-forming, grid-following, droop control).
• Experience in analyzing system stability, protection behavior, and fault response in complex electrical systems.
• Ability to clearly communicate technical concepts and results to cross-functional teams.

Desired Qualifications & Skills:

• M.S. in Electrical Engineering or related discipline.
• Experience in power electronics development for high-power, medium-voltage equipment, including transformers, switchgear, inverters, active rectifiers, DC/DC converters, and generator controls.
• Experience with islanded power systems supporting critical loads.
• Familiarity with interconnection requirements, grid codes, and relevant IEEE or utility standards.
• Experience in modeling dynamic loads and fast-changing electrical demand.
• Exposure to nuclear, aerospace, defense, or other highly regulated industries.
• Experience mentoring junior engineers or leading technical efforts on complex programs.