Power Systems Engineer, US

Do you want to make a positive impact? Are you interested in helping us achieve our vision of a highly efficient grid that powers a cleaner planet? Do you want to work in a collaborative environment surrounded by colleagues who are creative, focused and mission-driven? If so, read on to see if this might be the job you have been dreaming about.

We are in the energy transition business. At Smart Wires, we reimagine the grid with innovative technology and analytics that provide a digital, controllable and optimized power system. This will enable renewable energy adoption and consumer electrification at the pace and scale required for a net zero world.

With commitment to accelerating the energy transition, we are determined to achieve our mission to advance the delivery of affordable, clean electricity around the world. Come join our team!

Smart Wires is currently seeking a Power Systems Engineer based in Durham, NC, to support our Analytics team.

Smart Wires is reimagining the grid with SmartValve, our modular two-way power flow control technology and grid enhancement solutions. The Smart Wires team aims to ensure that Smart Wires’ current and future products enable the energy transition to clean affordable renewable energy by modernizing the grid with SmartValve, allowing our customers to meet the challenges and capture the opportunities of this global movement. The grid is the new frontier in energy, it is central to unlocking the energy transition.

The Smart Wires Analytics team is reimagining how power system planning can be done in an optimal and reproducible way. Our current opportunities lie at the intersection of Power System Modeling and Analysis, Software Engineering, and Data Analytics.

This role involves working closely with other Smart Wires teams based globally, coordinating with both external and internal stakeholders, and engaging with Customers to provide guidance and support. Qualified candidates are optimistic, energetic, excellent communicators, and thrive when working as part of a fast-paced, multi-disciplinary team.

Primary Responsibilities

• Designing and developing Hardware and/or Software-In-the-Loop (HIL and/or SIL) test systems to accurately simulate the real-world environment in which the hardware or software being tested will operate.
• Specifying necessary hardware components, including controllers, interfaces, and simulation models.
• Integrating hardware components, such as electronic control units (ECUs), sensors, actuators, and other devices into the HIL test system.
• Ensuring proper communication and synchronization between different hardware elements.
• Developing or configuring simulation models that accurately represent the behavior of the physical system.
• Validating and refining simulation models to ensure they accurately reflect the real-world system dynamics.
• Conducting tests using the HIL system to validate the performance and functionality of hardware components or systems to ensure high quality and reliable performance.
• Analyzing test results and identifying issues or discrepancies between the simulation and real-world behavior.
• Identifying and resolving hardware or software issues that may arise during testing.
• Collaborating with other engineers, such as software developers and control systems engineers, to address and fix problems.
• Collaborating with the product development team to validate product requirements.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree in Electrical Engineering and/or Electronic Engineering and/or Computer Engineering with a specialization in power systems.
• Proficiency in at least one industry-standard high-level scientific computing language, preferably Python and/or C.
• Familiarity with code version control and related tools and frameworks (e.g., Agile and Git).
• Ability to write clear and concise documentation, including user manuals and technical specifications.
• Proficient in analyzing complex systems and troubleshooting issues during testing.
• Strong problem-solving skills to identify and address discrepancies between simulations and real-world behavior.
• Ability to work both independently and collaboratively, as part of technical groups based in multiple continents and with diverse backgrounds.
• Highly organized and detail-oriented.
• Familiarity with network simulations using real-time digital simulation platforms HIL and/or SIL.
• Self-motivated and willing to take initiatives.

Benefits

The Company

Smart Wires is a global power technology company advancing the delivery of affordable, clean electricity worldwide. With our innovative technology and advanced analytics, we maximize the grid’s capacity. This means more renewables, at a lower cost and with less disruption to communities and the environment. Smart Wires is headquartered in Durham, North Carolina and has a global workforce spread across four continents. Our team collaborates with our customers to achieve their strategic objectives and help them face an uncertain energy future with flexible, high-impact solutions.

Our Core Values

At Smart Wires, we are passionate about creating a culture that empowers our team members to make good decisions, based on four values:

Making an impact: We are passionate and ambitious about a better future for everyone. We are laser-focused on creating a meaningful, positive impact with real change for our customers, our industry, electricity consumers, and the planet.

Collaboration to drive success: We collaborate with each other, and our stakeholders, because we know even better outcomes come from great teamwork. We have humility which allows us to listen, learn and improve. We value diverse perspectives and seek high impact results.

Accountability: We take responsibility for our actions and behaviors, and for the outcomes we deliver. Acting with integrity and authenticity – and maintaining clear, open communication – ensures we are always improving, and delivering safe, high-quality solutions. We do what we say we will do.

Tenacious courage: We are clear on our path. We have always pioneered new ideas that challenge the status quo, even when it’s not popular. We have tenacity, grit and determination. We push the boundaries of what’s thought to be possible – so we can leave the world a better place than we found it.

Benefits

At Smart Wires, we strive to foster an inclusive and supportive environment that focuses on our employee's total wellbeing, and our benefits offerings reflect that commitment to our people.

 We offer:

• Competitive compensation packages.
• Unlimited Annual Leave (Yes, we encourage employees to make full use of this benefit).
• Paid Volunteer Time Off to give back to your community.
• Company-wide wellness break to recharge.
• Eighteen weeks of paid parental leave to support you and your family.
• Flexible workspace policy/ Hybrid workplace.

Benefits/perks may vary depending on the nature of your employment and the country where you work.