Senior Power Controls & Grid Planning Engineer

Sargent & Lundy; Chicago (IL); Hybrid; USD 134,546 - 205,557; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Comprehensive healthcare plans

Generous paid time off

401(k)

Tuition Assistance

Employee Referral Bonus

Job summary

Sargent & Lundy is seeking a Controls & Grid Integration Planning Engineer in Chicago to support large power systems integration. This hybrid position requires in-office work 3 days a week and emphasizes strong leadership and technical oversight in dynamic performance studies and control system integration.

The role demands extensive experience in power generation controls and requires strong communication skills for interaction with various stakeholders. Opportunities for travel across the U.S. and internationally are available.

Qualifications

• 12+ years’ experience in power generation controls, grid integration, or utility-scale plant systems.
• Experience with islanded or isolated grids.
• Familiarity with gas turbine control systems and energy management systems.

Responsibilities

• Help work on large, isolated power systems integrating with various generating technologies.
• Provide independent technical oversight of plant control philosophies.
• Review and challenge dynamic studies, control narratives, and overall coordination strategies.

Skills

Electrical Engineering

Power generation controls

Grid integration

Dynamic performance studies

Gas turbine control systems

Communication skills

Education

Bachelor's degree in Electrical Engineering

Job description

This position is based on a hybrid work schedule and will require in-office work 3 days per week.

Overview

Sargent & Lundy Consulting (SLC) works on behalf of clients to support electric power projects. We evaluate and optimize technical, commercial, environmental, and financial aspects of the projects for a variety of clients.

Responsibilities

In this role, you will help work on large, isolated power systems integrating equipment such as gas turbines, BESS, reciprocating engines, and other generating technologies with large dynamic electrical loads.

We are seeking a Controls & Grid Integration Planning Engineer to support Owner’s Engineer and design teams on large, isolated power systems integrating equipment such as gas turbines, reciprocating engines, BESS, Solar PV, with large dynamic loads. The role will provide independent technical oversight of plant control philosophies, ensuring that OEM, EPC, and system integrator designs collectively deliver stable, resilient, and compliant operation under steady-state, transient, and islanded conditions. The engineer will review and challenge dynamic studies, control narratives, plant controller strategies, and protection philosophies without directly performing detailed PSS®E or PSCAD modeling. Responsibilities include validating integration between GT controls, BESS EMS/PPC systems, SCADA, and overall coordination strategies (frequency response, voltage control, inertia management, black start, load rejection, and large motor/data center step loads).

The position requires strong cross-disciplinary leadership, risk identification capability, and the ability to translate complex control interactions into clear recommendations for owner and lender stakeholders.

You will have the opportunity to travel within the United States as well as internationally.

Qualifications

We do not sponsor employees for work authorization in the U.S. for this position.

Essential Skills And Experience

• Bachelor's degree in Electrical Engineering
• 12+ years’ experience in power generation controls, grid integration, or utility‑scale plant systems
• Demonstrated experience with islanded or isolated grids
• Strong understanding of dynamic performance studies (transient stability, EMT, frequency response), even if not the primary modeler
• Familiarity with gas turbine control systems (e.g., Mark VIe or equivalent) and BESS plant/energy management systems, power plant controllers
• Experience reviewing EPC deliverables, grid code compliance documentation, and performance guarantees
• Knowledge of protection coordination and system‑level control architecture
• Strong communication skills for engagement with developers, OEMs, lenders, and regulatory bodies
• Experience in development support and conceptual design of thermal power projects:
• Simple cycle gas turbines
• Combined cycle projects
• Coal fired generation
• Reciprocating engines (RICE)

Valued But Not Required Skills And Experience

• Master's degree in electrical engineering is a plus.
• Experience in technical due diligence and owner’s engineering design reviews of thermal power projects is a plus.
• General understanding of power station operations and performance reviews is a plus.
• General understanding of process design at electric power generation facilities is a plus.
• Contract development experience is a plus.
• Reliability modeling experience is a plus.

AI & Automation at Sargent & Lundy

In this role, we expect people to be willing or able to lead others who use modern tools:

• You are expected to lead others in taking engineering problems from issue to solution by setting expectations for using data and modern tools such as automation and AI to improve workflows, reduce rework, and deliver cost-effective designs.
• Leaders in these roles often direct automation and process‑improvement work, for example, how teams automate calculations, summarize technical documents, or generate design documentation and guiding when and how AI or agentic AI tools are used while ensuring results are checked.
• Overseeing engineers who program or script (e.g., Python, MATLAB, advanced Excel) to automate engineering tasks, with review of automated outputs, is valued but not required.
• We also value additional learning, such as a minor, certificate, or other experience in Computer Science, Artificial Intelligence, Software Engineering, or related fields that enables effective oversight of automation and agentic AI‑enabled engineering workflows.

Award-Winning Benefits

At Sargent & Lundy, we care about the health and well‑being of our employees. Our commitment extends beyond the workplace, offering comprehensive healthcare plans and generous paid time off to support our team members in every aspect of their lives. We understand the importance of work‑life balance, which is why we are proud to provide competitive, award‑winning benefits. Our dedication to employee satisfaction has earned us the prestigious Top Workplaces Culture Excellence Award for compensation and benefits in 2022, 2023, and 2024.

Health & Wellness

• Health Plans: Medical, Dental, Vision
• Life & Accident Insurance
• Disability Coverage
• Employee Assistance Program (EAP)
• Back‑Up Daycare
• FSA & HSA
• 401(k)
• Pre‑Tax Commuter Account
• Merit Scholarship Program
• Employee Discount Program
• Corporate Charitable Giving Program
• Tuition Assistance
• First Professional Licensure Bonus
• Employee Referral Bonus
• Paid Annual Personal/Sick Time (PST)
• Paid Vacation
• Paid Holidays
• Paid Parental Leave
• Paid Bereavement Leave
• Flexible Work Arrangements

Compensation Range

$134,546 - $205,557

Transparency Statement

Sargent & Lundy discloses compensation ranges that comply with all local and state regulations. The total compensation package for eligible positions will include a base salary or an hourly rate and a comprehensive benefits package, reflecting our commitment to rewarding performance and supporting the overall well‑being of our employees. Individuals may also be eligible to participate in our yearly discretionary bonus.

Equal Opportunity

Sargent & Lundy is an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, national origin, disability status, protected veteran status, or any protected status as defined by applicable law.