Senior Engineer, SCADA Projects

We are currently looking for a dynamic and passionate Senior SCADA Project Engineer to provide strategic planning, commercial negotiation, oversee and execute the SCADA process on Utility Scale Solar, Wind, BESS and Hybrid Power Plants. This is a technical position with an emphasis on pre-construction, oversight, and project execution. Seeing the “big picture” and understanding the full project lifecycle from Development through hand-off to Operations and Maintenance is critical for this role.

Having the experience and speaking the language to dive into minute details is what will get the job done right. This person will work with various internal departments, SCADA vendors, EPCs, equipment manufacturers, and utilities to meet all grid integration and AES operational requirements through all project phases. As such, communication and organizational skills are necessary. This is a solid opportunity for an engineer to build a future in renewables for themselves and make a positive impact both at AES and globally.

Principle Duties and Responsibilities:

• Technically oversee and manage the SCADA Implementation on multiple simultaneous utility scale renewable projects split between various technologies and architectures (Solar, Wind, BESS, Hybrid, etc.)
• Understand and stay on top of project specifics including Interconnection, Substation and PV/BESS/Wind Array architectures to manage the SCADA process around the project.
• Directly manage the SCADA Process and SCADA Vendor/integrator to meet project requirements and timelines.
• The process will entail the following actions with above stated SCADA vender/integrator and with EPCs, equipment manufacturers, utilities, and internal AES teams:
• Review preliminary designs (5%-30% design level) and provide contract documentation, and Exhibits to support the EPC Agreement effort prior to construction.
• Support negotiations and convey SCADA approach to potential EPC’s and Approved SCADA Vendors.
• Provide early coordination with EPC and SCADA Vendors to deliver the Basis of Design and set up project for success during the transition from 30% to 60% engineering phases.
• Review internal exhibits, create Scopes of Work (SOW) for SCADA bids and pass directly to vendors as needed, to support Direct to Owner SCADA deployments
• Review external designs and provide red-flag memos to support Merger & Acquisitions efforts. This includes identifying scope gaps, providing approved solutions, and estimate cost and schedule impacts of the scope gaps.
• Provide input and verbiage to Interconnection Team to support RFP’s to utilities and LGIA assignments, and work with external off-takers to support PPA negotiations.
• Review and approve proposals.
• Work with Telecoms, Information and Operational Technology to ensure proper equipment selection, project networking and reliable and secure connectivity.
• Work with HV/Substation engineering and management teams to ensure proper substation SCADA and Meter Integration along with conceptual meter schemes for revenue and controlling meters and appropriate losses accounted for.
• Work with PV and BESS Engineering and management teams to ensure appropriate SCADA integration with respect to BESS, Inverters, Trackers, Wind Turbines, Meteorological sensors and more.
• Review and approve 30%, 60%, 90%, IFC, As-Built SCADA Design packages.
• Create and review point lists with SCADA Vendors and utilities/ISOs/PPAs, equipment manufacturers and other subsystem integrators
• Develop and review PPC (Power Plant Controller) control logic narratives and schemes to ensure the plants meets grid integration and AES operational requirements, including warrantee data support.
• Controls include: MW Curtailment and Charge/Discharge schemes for BESS, AVR (Volt-Var, PF, MVAR, etc.), Frequency Response, Substation Controls including Breakers and Capacitor Bank Controls, PV-BESS Hyrbrid controls, PV Tracker Controls, and various other subsystems
• Develop and review HMI narratives to show organization of pages, devices, points, controls, alarms and more.
• Review Factory Acceptance Testing documentation and plans, attend FAT tests and approve equipment assembled, configured and programmed for deployment.
• Oversee and support system install and integration, site commissioning, troubleshooting and Control Testing (remote with local onsite presence if needed)
• Lead, oversee and support telemetry and control (Point to Point) testing with various interconnection utilities, ISOs/RTOs, PPA off takers and other 3rd Parties
• Lead, oversee and support site performance testing (Capacity, Availability and more)
• Support in NERC testing requirements such as the MOD-25, 26, 27 tests.

Skills and Experience

• Hands on SCADA design and testing experience with a minimum of 5 years.
• Experience with current concepts of EPC Contracting including: exhibit negotiations and commercial aspects of renewables energy system deployment through mechanical completion, substantial completion, and final completion per contract requirements.
• Bachelor’s degree in Electrical Engineering, Computer Science, Information Technology, or related field; or equivalent work experience.
• Familiarity with at least one SCADA Platform: Ignition, GE Cimplicity, SEL, Wonderware, SOLV, Isotrol Bluence, Trimark T1-S/Vantage, PVHardware, ETAPro, OSI PI, Canary Labs Historian. Other platforms outside of Renewables will be considered as well.
• Familiarity with grid interconnection SCADA telemetry and control requirements across various markets and ISOs including CAISO, NYISO, PJM, MISO and ERCOT
• Experience in integration of relevant SCADA communication protocols, computer interfaces and media types: MODBUS, DNP3.0, OPC-UA, Fiber, Serial, TCP/IP, Radio
• Experience in integration of various devices including Substation Devices (RTACs, Relays, Meters), Array Devices (Inverters, Trackers, Met Stations, BESS) and remote RTUs from Utilities and other 3rd Parties.
• Understanding of NERC compliance from the SCADA perspective.
• Familiarity with Project Management software platforms, such as ProCore and responsibility for time sensitive deliverables generated from the projects PM software.
• Familiarity with data file management resources: Box, Sharepoint, etc., and sensitivity around Cyber Security requirements for appropriate use and file sharing.
• Project Management experience handling multiple consultants and EPCs.
• Strong communication skills and ability to lead technical discussions among SCADA vendors, EPCs, equipment manufacturers, utilities and internal teams.
• Strong organizational skills and ability to prioritize projects and tasks.