Smart Grid Engineer

About the role

You will join the grid modernization team of a utility or technology provider deploying the digital layer of the electric grid. The team owns advanced metering, distribution automation, and distributed energy resource orchestration from pilot through territory-wide rollout. This role matters because the grid is absorbing millions of inverters, EVs, and smart devices, and your systems keep voltage stable, outages short, and operators in control through the transition. You will design the sensing, communications, and control layers that turn a conventional distribution grid into an observable, dispatchable system. The role spans AMI data analytics, distribution automation schemes such as FLISR, and DERMS platforms that orchestrate thousands of behind-the-meter devices. You will work through the cybersecurity and interoperability standards, from IEEE 2030.5 to IEC 61850, that let multi-vendor systems operate as one. Pilot deployments will be your proving ground, and your measurement plans will determine whether a pilot earns a system-wide rollout.

What you will achieve

• Deploy distribution automation schemes that cut SAIDI/SAIFI by 15 to 20 percent through FLISR, Volt-VAR optimization, and automated switching
• Integrate 50+ MW of DERs per year into ADMS/DERMS platforms with validated telemetry, control, and forecasting interfaces, with cybersecurity reviews embedded at each design stage rather than bolted on
• Own use-case definitions, test plans, and factory acceptance testing for grid-edge devices across multiple vendors
• Drive interoperability by enforcing IEEE 2030.5, OpenADR, and IEC 61850 standards in procurement specs and integration testing, quantifying reliability improvements in SAIDI and SAIFI terms
• Deliver operator training and runbooks that turn new automation from a pilot feature into daily operations practice

What you will bring

Must-haves

• 2 to 5 years of experience in distribution engineering, utility OT systems, or grid-edge technology roles
• Strong understanding of distribution power flow, voltage regulation, protection coordination, and reliability metrics
• Familiarity with ADMS, DERMS, SCADA/EMS architectures and their data models
• Working knowledge of communication protocols: DNP3, Modbus, IEC 61850, and IEEE 2030.5
• Ability to analyze AMI and SCADA data in Python to diagnose grid performance issues
• Understanding of DER interconnection standards, especially IEEE 1547-2018 and smart inverter functions
• Systems thinking for cybersecurity, latency, and fail-safe behavior in operational technology

Nice-to-haves

• Experience with utility pilot programs from business case through scale-up
• Knowledge of FERC Order 2222 and DER aggregation market participation
• Familiarity with NERC CIP or utility cybersecurity practices
• Background in distribution planning with CYME, Synergi, or Milsoft
• Experience with ADMS or DERMS platforms and utility OT and IT integration