Principal Power Systems Engineer - R&D

on.energy; Houston (TX); On-site; USD 150,000 - 190,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical, dental, and vision insurance

401(k) with company match

Paid time off and company holidays

Job summary

ON.energy is seeking a Principal Power Systems Modeling Engineer to own power system modeling, validation, and grid performance assessment. You will define standards, lead high-impact simulations, and ensure models accurately reflect ON.energy hardware, controls, firmware, and plant operating modes.

You will support interconnection studies, product qualification, and grid requirements demonstrations, collaborating across R&D, Controls, Test, Product, and external partners.

Qualifications

• Master’s or Ph.D. in Electrical Engineering, Power Systems, or related field.
• 12+ years of advanced power systems modeling experience including EMT, RMS, dynamic modeling, and inverter-based resources.
• Experience with HIL or real-time simulation platforms preferred.
• Strong understanding of ISO and Utility interconnection requirements and NERC standards.
• Leadership to set technical direction and coordinate across engineering teams.

Responsibilities

• Define modeling standards and governance for EMT, RMS, and dynamic models.
• Own model lifecycle management aligned with hardware, firmware, and project configurations.
• Lead EMT and dynamic models supporting interconnection studies and product qualification.
• Coordinate with external consultants, utilities, ISOs, and internal teams for grid requirements.

Skills

Power systems modeling

EMT modeling

RMS modeling

Dynamic modeling

Inverter-based resources

BESS

Large-load studies

Education

Master’s or Ph.D. in Electrical Engineering or Power Systems

Tools

PSCAD

PSSE

PSLF

MATLAB/Simulink

Job description

ON.energyis setting the standard for large load interconnection. ON’s patented AI UPS™ is a medium-voltage UPS that serves as a firewall, protecting the data center from the grid, and the grid from the data center.With multiple gigawatts currently under construction, we are enabling grid-safe data centers.

The Principal Power Systems Modeling Engineer is ON.energy’s technical owner for power system modeling, model validation, and grid performance assessment. This role sets modeling standards, leads high-impact simulation work, and ensures models accurately represent ON.energy hardware, controls, firmware, protection settings, and plant-level operating modes.

The position supports product development, interconnection studies, grid requirements demonstrations, customer projects, and emerging large-load applications. It serves as a key technical bridge across R&D, Controls, Test, Product, Project Engineering, external consultants, customers, utilities, ISOs, and standards organizations.

Key focus areas include EMT and dynamic modeling, ERCOT Model Quality Testing, evolving large-load ride-through requirements, hardware-to-model matching, Hardware-in-the-Loop and real-time simulation, and project-specific modeling support for ON.energy deployments.

RESPONSIBILITIES

Technical Modeling Leadership

ON.energyis setting the standard for large load interconnection. ON’s patented AI UPS™ is a medium-voltage UPS that serves as a firewall, protecting the data center from the grid, and the grid from the data center.With multiple gigawatts currently under construction, we are enabling grid-safe data centers.

The Principal Power Systems Modeling Engineer is ON.energy’s technical owner for power system modeling, model validation, and grid performance assessment. This role sets modeling standards, leads high-impact simulation work, and ensures models accurately represent ON.energy hardware, controls, firmware, protection settings, and plant-level operating modes.

The position supports product development, interconnection studies, grid requirements demonstrations, customer projects, and emerging large-load applications. It serves as a key technical bridge across R&D, Controls, Test, Product, Project Engineering, external consultants, customers, utilities, ISOs, and standards organizations.

Key focus areas include EMT and dynamic modeling, ERCOT Model Quality Testing, evolving large-load ride-through requirements, hardware-to-model matching, Hardware-in-the-Loop and real-time simulation, and project-specific modeling support for ON.energy deployments.

• Define modeling standards: Establish ON.energy’s modeling philosophy, validation methods, governance processes, and quality expectations across EMT, RMS, transient, steady-state, HIL, and real-time simulation environments.
• Own model lifecycle management: Ensure models remain aligned with released hardware, firmware, controls algorithms, protection settings, plant controls, and project-specific configurations.
• Serve as technical authority: Provide expert judgment on model fidelity, validation evidence, simulation assumptions, and external model submissions.

Project and Product Support

• Lead technical execution: Develop, review, and approve EMT and dynamic models supporting interconnection studies, customer applications, product qualification, and grid requirements.
• Support project modeling: Partner with Project Engineering on study assumptions, equivalent models, SLD representation, equipment settings, operating conditions, and data requirements.
• Assess system performance: Evaluate ride-through behavior, weak-grid performance, harmonics, generator interations, startup behavior, control response, and large-disturbance response.

Validation, HIL, and Hardware Matching

• Ensure hardware-to-model alignment: Confirm models represent inverter behavior, BESS response, EMS functionality, firmware, protection, controls, and fielded product configurations.
• Correlate models with evidence: Compare simulations against lab tests, HIL results, commissioning data, field measurements, disturbance records, and vendor model behavior.

Grid Requirements, Consultant Oversight, and Technical Leadership

• Lead grid requirements modeling: Serve as technical lead for ISO MQT, large-load ride-through evaluations, and evolving grid requirements.
• Oversee external studies: Direct and review work performed by consultants and study partners, ensuring technical quality, traceability, and consistency with ON.energy standards.
• Influence product and engineering direction: Translate modeling insights into recommendations for controls, firmware, hardware design, validation investments, customer applications, and roadmap priorities.
• Mentor and represent: Guide engineers across modeling, controls, test, and project teams, and represent ON.energy in technical discussions with utilities, ISOs, consultants, customers, and industry groups.

EXPERIENCE AND REQUIREMENTS

• Education: Masters Degreeor Ph.D. in Electrical Engineering, Power Systems Engineering, or a related technical discipline.
• Experience: 12+ years of advanced power systems modeling experience, including EMT, RMS, dynamic modeling, inverter-based resources, BESS, large loads, or transmission-connected facilities.
• Tools: Expertise with PSCAD, PSSE, PSLF, MATLAB/Simulink, and related simulation platforms; experience with HIL or real-time simulation platforms strongly preferred.
• Grid requirements: Strong understanding of ISO and Utility interconnection requirements, MQT, NERC reliability standards, inverter-based resource requirements, and evolving large-load expectations.
• Technical breadth: Fluency in inverter controls, protection settings, firmware behavior, EMS functions, UPS/BESS architectures, and hardware/software integration.
• Leadership: Demonstrated ability to set technical direction, influence across engineering disciplines, review complex deliverables, communicate with external stakeholders, and create scalable engineering processes.

For US-based roles - What you’ll get:

• Competitive salary + annual performance-based bonus eligibility
• Medical, dental, and vision insurance
• 401(k) with company match
• Paid time off and company holidays

For Mexico-based roles - What you’ll get:

• Competitive salary + annual performance bonus eligibility
• Christmas Bonus (Aguinaldo): 30 days
• Major medical expenses and life insurance
• Paid time off and holidays (per local policy)

For all roles:

• Professional development and growth opportunities
• Opportunity to grow with a mission-driven team shaping the future of clean energy
• Equal Opportunity: ON.energy is committed to equal employment opportunity and to maintaining a work environment free of harassment, discrimination, or retaliation.
• Benefits vary by role and location and are subject to change.