Senior Electrical Engineer – Power Generation

GTN Technical Staffing; Dallas (TX); On-site; USD 120,000 - 180,000; Full time

Job summary

GTN Technical Staffing is seeking a Senior Electrical Engineer to support owner-side power generation systems for new data center developments. The role emphasizes hands-on power-system analysis and islanded operation of dissimilar generators, with ETAP modeling and rigorous review of EPC/vendor submittals.

Based in Dallas with extended field assignments during construction and commissioning, you will guide commissioning activities, review protection schemes, load sharing, and synchronization,

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Electrical Engineering from an ABET-accredited program or equivalent internationally accredited program.
• Typically 10+ years of electrical power systems experience.
• Hands-on experience with continuously operating, paralleled generation as a primary power source.
• Direct experience with islanded operation of dissimilar generators in EPC or design-build settings.

Responsibilities

• Review contractor engineering and vendor submittals, including single-line diagrams and equipment specifications.
• Evaluate load-flow, short-circuit, motor-starting, protective device coordination, and transient analyses.
• Perform independent calculations and dynamic modeling using ETAP.
• Verify studies with proper contingency cases and validated generator models.
• Prepare technical findings and recommendations for Design Authority / SME.
• Review islanded generation approaches and AVR/governor responses for parallel operation.
• Support owner-scope design, RFIs, changes, ITPs, and commissioning activities.
• Witness FAT/SAT procedures and ensure acceptance criteria are met.

Skills

ETAP proficiency

Load flow

Short-circuit

Dynamic modeling

Protection coordination

Governor control

GOOSE schemes

Education

Bachelor’s degree in Electrical Engineering

Tools

ETAP

Job description

Senior Electrical Engineer – Power Generation & Islanded Systems

Work Arrangement: Office-based, with extended field assignments during construction and commissioning

Overview

Our client, a growing high-performance computing and cloud infrastructure company, is seeking a Senior Electrical Engineer to support the owner-side engineering of primary power generation systems for new data center developments.

These facilities use gas turbines, reciprocating engines, or a combination of both as their primary power source, operating independently of the utility grid with an N+1 redundancy target.

The technical focus is the reliable operation of dissimilar generators on a shared islanded bus, including load sharing, frequency and voltage control, transient stability, and load shedding.

Working under the direction of the Design Authority / Subject Matter Expert (SME), this engineer will independently review EPC and vendor engineering, perform verification calculations and owner-scope design work, and support construction, startup, commissioning, and acceptance testing.

The ideal candidate combines hands‑on power system analysis with practical experience delivering continuously operating generation projects. Experience limited to standby generation or grid‑connected operation will not satisfy the core technical requirements.

Key Responsibilities

• Review contractor engineering and vendor submittals, including single‑line diagrams, load lists, equipment specifications, cable ampacity, grounding, relay settings, and PMS/SCADA architecture.
• Evaluate load‑flow, short‑circuit, motor‑starting, protective device coordination, arc‑flash, and electromagnetic transient/dynamic studies.
• Perform independent calculations and dynamic modeling using ETAP.
• Verify that studies use appropriate contingency cases and vendor‑validated machine, governor, and exciter models.
• Confirm code compliance and equipment listing documentation before recommending procurement release.
• Prepare clear technical findings and recommended dispositions for the Design Authority / SME.

Islanded Generation & Controls Integration

• Evaluate operating philosophies for dissimilar generators running in parallel.
• Review droop and isochronous control, governor and automatic voltage regulator (AVR) response, real/reactive power sharing, and reactive droop compensation.
• Assess system behavior during generator loss, load rejection, step‑load events, black start, and re‑synchronization.
• Review IEC 61850 GOOSE‑based load‑shedding and load‑sharing schemes implemented through microgrid controllers.
• Verify configuration file control, message performance requirements, PRP/HSR network redundancy, controller failover, and degraded operating modes.
• Confirm that end‑to‑end load‑shedding timing supports the stability margins assumed in the engineering studies.
• Verify protection coordination and arc‑flash analysis across credible operating conditions, including all‑units-online, N-1, black start, re‑synchronization, and temporary power.
• Review Failure Modes and Effects Analysis (FMEA) to confirm that loss of a single generating unit can be managed without interrupting IT loads.
• Assess electrical and controls interfaces across generation packages and balance‑of‑plant equipment.
• Identify safety, code, cybersecurity, and reliability concerns and elevate critical findings promptly.

Owner‑Scope Design & Construction Support

• Perform detailed engineering for owner‑retained and owner‑furnished scope, including interfaces, tie‑ins, and temporary power systems.
• Respond to RFIs, field change requests, proposed deviations, and construction‑stage technical issues.
• Support witness and hold points established in approved Inspection and Test Plans (ITPs).
• Route deviations through formal engineering review and change‑control processes.
• Provide technical assessments distinguishing owner‑directed changes, design development, and contractor rework.

Commissioning & Acceptance

• Review commissioning plans, test procedures, and acceptance criteria.
• Witness Factory Acceptance Testing (FAT) at vendor facilities.
• Support Site Acceptance Testing (SAT), protection and relay functional testing, energization, startup troubleshooting, and Integrated Systems Testing (IST).
• Witness load‑shedding and load‑sharing tests, including measured GOOSE performance, end‑to‑end shedding time, controller failover, and dissimilar‑generator response.
• Verify live N+1 failover performance under operating load.
• Review as‑built documentation, final relay settings, spare parts, and operator training before recommending acceptance or withholding acceptance.

Technical Governance & Documentation

• Maintain written technical objections, queries, nonconformance reports, and verified closure records.
• Escalate blocking safety, code, and cybersecurity issues to the SME the same business day.
• Communicate independent technical conclusions clearly to contractors, vendors, and internal stakeholders.
• Preserve the EPC contractor’s design responsibility and Engineer of Record obligations.
• Follow formal approval and change‑order processes for requirements, scope, cost, and schedule changes.

Final technical dispositions, requirement waivers, and gate Go/Hold decisions remain with the Design Authority / SME. This role does not direct contractor construction means and methods.

Required Qualifications

Education & Experience

• Bachelor’s degree in Electrical Engineering from an ABET-accredited program or equivalent internationally accredited program.
• Typically 10+ years of electrical power systems experience.
• Hands‑on experience with continuously operating, paralleled generation serving as a primary power source.
• Direct experience with islanded operation of dissimilar generators, where the generating units maintain system frequency and voltage.
• Experience working within an EPC or design‑build organization, including active construction, startup, and commissioning assignments.

Power System Analysis

• Hands‑on ETAP proficiency, including personally building and running:
• Load‑flow and short‑circuit studies.
• Motor‑starting analysis.
• Arc‑flash analysis.
• Transient stability studies.
• Ability to evaluate machine models, governor/exciter parameters, and contingency assumptions in contractor studies.

Generation, Protection & Controls

• Strong understanding of gas turbine and reciprocating engine packages and their electrical and control interfaces.
• Experience evaluating generators with different inertia, governor response, and load‑acceptance characteristics.
• Knowledge of IEC 61850 GOOSE‑based load‑shedding and load‑sharing schemes, including configuration, performance, redundancy, and failure modes.
• Familiarity with balance‑of‑plant equipment, including fuel gas compressors, heaters, pumps, and fans.
• Working command of high‑, medium‑, and low‑voltage switchgear, motor control centers, generator step‑up transformers, and step‑down transformers.
• Strong knowledge of applicable ANSI, IEEE, and NEC requirements.

Project Execution & Communication

• Practical understanding of engineering deliverable lifecycles, Issued for Construction (IFC) releases, vendor data cycles, submittals, RFIs, and turnover.
• Ability to develop and defend an independent technical position while collaborating effectively with contractors, vendors, and engineering leadership.
• Strong technical writing, documentation, troubleshooting, and engineering judgment.

Preferred Qualifications

• Professional Engineer (PE) license.
• NFPA 70E training.
• Commissioning credential through ACG, NEBB, or an equivalent organization.
• Direct configuration review and site testing experience with IEC 61850 schemes.
• Gas‑insulated switchgear (GIS) experience.
• Data center or other mission‑critical facility experience.
• Strong experience maintaining auditable engineering decisions, test evidence, and acceptance records.

This position is based in Dallas and includes extended field assignments during construction and commissioning, along with travel to vendor facilities for equipment testing.