Senior Electrical Engineer - Microgrid Controls & Automation Architecture at Ameresco in Knoxville, TN

Job description

Ameresco, Inc. (NYSE: AMRC) is a leading energy infrastructure company delivering integrated solutions that provide reliable power and modernize infrastructure. Since 2000, we have served as a trusted partner to public and private sector customers across North America, the UK and Europe, delivering over $15 billion in solutions and contracting more than 5 GW of energy resources . At Ameresco, we integrate energy resources and modernize the built environment through innovative infrastructure solutions that improve reliability, optimize performance, strengthen resilience, and support long-term sustainability. Join us in building the infrastructure that powers the future. Explore opportunities to make a meaningful impact while growing your career with a company at the forefront of energy innovation. Ameresco is seeking a Senior Electrical Engineer - Microgrid Controls & Automation Architecture to lead the development and integration of control systems for utility-scale generation, distributed energy resources, battery energy storage systems, renewable assets, and mission-critical data center microgrids. This role will define the hierarchy and interfaces among plant distributed control systems, microgrid controllers, energy management systems, generator controls, protection systems, utility interconnections, and supervisory SCADA platforms. The successful candidate will combine deep controls and power systems expertise with strong technical leadership, multi-vendor integration experience, commissioning capability, and client-facing communication skills. The position can be based in Knoxville, TN, Phoenix, AZ, or Dallas, TX . Occasional travel to customer locations, project sites, vendor facilities, and commissioning activities will be required Responsibilities: Develop integrated controls and automation architectures for microgrids, distributed generation plants, and behind-the-meter power systems. Define interfaces among plant DCS, microgrid controllers, EMS, SCADA, generator controls, BESS controls, protection relays, and utility systems. Prepare control philosophies, functional specifications, sequence-of-operations documents, cause-and-effect matrices, and communications architecture diagrams. Develop operating strategies for islanding, synchronization and resynchronization, black start, load following, generation dispatch, reserve management, voltage and frequency control, and fast load shedding. Lead multi-vendor controls integration and coordinates technical requirements with generation OEMs, BESS suppliers, microgrid controller vendors, protection engineers, utilities, EPC teams, and customers. Review vendor submittals and support factory acceptance testing, site acceptance testing, commissioning, performance testing, and operational troubleshooting. Incorporate secure control system architecture and applicable cybersecurity requirements, including ISA/IEC 62443 and NERC CIP where applicable. Support power system studies and ensure control strategies align with protection, short-circuit, dynamic stability, grounding, and utility interconnection requirements. Perform other duties as required. Minimum Qualifications: Bachelor's degree in Electrical Engineering or a closely related engineering discipline. At least 8 years of experience in power generation, utilities, industrial automation, microgrids, or distributed energy systems, including significant plant-level controls integration experience. Demonstrated experience developing or integrating microgrid controls architecture for grid-connected and islanded systems. Ability to review confidential US security information. Additional Qualifications: Strong working knowledge of DCS, SCADA, PLC, EMS, microgrid controllers, generator controls, synchronizing systems, protective relay integration, and power management systems. Experience with industrial communications protocols such as IEC 61850, DNP3, Modbus TCP/IP, OPC UA, and Ethernet/IP. Ability to produce and review technical