Top Grid Reliability Experts

Senior Power Systems Engineer – PSCAD Expert | (100% Remote Consultant)

Remote, US$83,200-$166,400Posted 20 days ago

RemoteContract Systems & Network $150k-$199k

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Job Description

Senior Power Systems Engineer - PSCAD Expert | Remote Consultant

Top GridRE | www.topgridre.com | 8101 Sandy Spring, Laurel, MD 20707

OPEN TO CANDIDATES WORLDWIDE - Applicants welcome from anywhere in the world

100% Remote | Consulting Engagement | US and international candidates

Candidates will be able to keep their current job while working for Top GridRE.

About Top GridRE

Top GridRE is a leading provider of NERC compliance services and electrical engineering studies for utilities, ISOs, and energy companies. From pre-registration guidance to post-registration compliance management, we deliver expert solutions that keep the grid reliable and compliant. We are based in Laurel, Maryland, just outside Washington, DC, and serve mainly North American utilities and energy developers.

About the Role

We are looking for an experienced power systems consultant to take ownership of technical studies and compliance deliverables, from data gathering and modeling through analysis and reporting. This is a flexible, fully remote engagement, and you can keep your current position.

What You'll Do

- Build, validate, and tune dynamic models of solar PV, battery energy storage (BESS), wind, and conventional plants: EMT models in PSCAD/EMTDC and positive-sequence models in PSS(R)E and DIgSILENT. Verify them against test and field measurements (MOD-026-2, MOD-032-1), and use Python to automate studies.

- Review inverter-based resource protection and controls: fault ride-through, voltage and frequency protection settings, plant-controller behavior, and coordination with utility protection (PRC-029).

- Specify and review disturbance monitoring (fault and dynamic recording) and use the recorded data to analyze plant performance after grid events (PRC-028).

- Prepare study reports and compliance documentation for the NERC standards described in the Referenced NERC Reliability Standards section below.

- Conduct system studies for conventional and renewable (IBR) projects, evaluating performance, reliability, and grid impacts, including grid-following and grid-forming controls.

- Validate client-provided data before it goes into studies.

- Develop study methodologies, and prepare and review clear technical reports with findings and recommendations.

- Work directly with clients on meetings and project planning, and manage multiple deadlines.

Basic Qualifications

- BS in Electrical Engineering from a recognized university

- 10+ years of power systems experience in NERC modeling and protection

- Experience performing power system studies independently

- Strong written and verbal communication skills in English

- Self-motivated, with the ability to work in a remote, project-based environment with multiple clients and deadlines

Required Qualifications

- Expertise in PSCAD/EMTDC (required), including building and validating EMT models

- Proficiency with PSS(R)E and/or DIgSILENT

- Python scripting for study automation

Preferred Qualifications

- Hands-on experience with MOD-026-2, MOD-032-1, PRC-028, and PRC-029

- Experience with the North American Electric Reliability Corporation (NERC)

- MS or PhD in Electrical Engineering

- Professional Engineer (PE) license

- Experience with DSA Tools

Referenced NERC Reliability Standards

NERC (North American Electric Reliability Corporation) sets the reliability standards for the North American power grid. This role supports compliance with the four standards below.

MOD-026-2 Verification and Validation of Dynamic Models and Data: Requires plant owners to give grid planners accurate dynamic simulation models of their plants, verified against how the plants actually perform. Scope includes solar PV, BESS, and other inverter-based resources (IBRs).

- Model data and documentation: Review manufacturer-supplied positive-sequence (PSS(R)E, DIgSILENT) and EMT (PSCAD) models, parameter lists, block diagrams, and user guides for completeness and consistency with the as-built plant.

- Verification against measurements: Compare simulated and measured plant response using commissioning and staged test data and recordings of real grid disturbances. Identify and correct parameter or modeling mismatches, and document the results as compliance evidence.

- EMT modeling in PSCAD: Build and validate EMT models of the inverters, plant controller, collector system, and main transformer. Confirm voltage and reactive power control, active power response to frequency, fault and ride-through behavior, and numerical stability and initialization. For BESS, include charge and discharge modes and state-of-charge limits.

- Model consistency: Reconcile the positive-sequence and EMT models with each other and with plant data, and respond to model-quality feedback from planners.

MOD-032-1 Data for Power System Modeling and Analysis: Requires owners to submit steady-state, dynamic, and short-circuit modeling data to planners so they can build accurate grid-wide models.

- Prepare, review, and submit modeling data for solar PV, BESS, and conventional plants, and keep it consistent with the verified MOD-026-2 models.

PRC-028-1 Disturbance Monitoring and Reporting Requirements for Inverter-Based Resources: Sets monitoring and reporting requirements so that the behavior of solar and BESS plants during grid disturbances can be recorded and analyzed.

- Specify, review, and document disturbance monitoring for IBR plants: sequence-of-events, fault, and dynamic disturbance recording at the inverter-unit level and the point of interconnection.

- Confirm time synchronization and data retention, and provide recorded data and analysis of IBR performance after grid events.

PRC-029-2 Frequency and Voltage Ride-through Requirements for Inverter-Based Resources: Sets performance requirements so that solar and BESS plants stay connected and keep supporting the grid during voltage and frequency disturbances.

- Ride-through performance: Show that inverters and plant controllers stay connected and keep delivering power through grid disturbances, without unnecessary tripping or momentary cessation, and recover output afterward. For BESS, address both charging and discharging modes and state-of-charge limits.

- Protection settings: Review inverter and plant protection settings (over/under-voltage, over/under-frequency, rate-of-change-of-frequency, phase-jump, DC-side, and plant-level protection) against the required ride-through limits, and coordinate them with utility protection.

- Ride-through modeling: Build and validate EMT (PSCAD) and positive-sequence (PSS(R)E) models that reproduce the inverter's ride-through and protection behavior in fault, voltage, and frequency event simulations.