Engineering Manager Power Systems and Modeling

About Elevate Energy Consulting

Elevate Energy Consulting elevates clients across the electricity ecosystem as we strive for a reliable, resilient, and affordable clean energy future. With a blend of deep expertise across bulk power system planning, design, control, protection, and operations, we support our clients tackling the most challenging issues facing the energy transition. Our experience and deep regulatory background in North America also enable us to support clients to ensure compliance with existing and future obligations.

We work on diverse projects to help elevate our clients across a broad spectrum of reliability-centered topics: modeling, studies, protection, event analysis, optimization, systems integration, process improvements, internal controls, and compliance evidence. Our goal is to uplift and elevate our clients and to ensure that our work has positive impact for the betterment of our industry and society. Join our amazing team to tackle imminent challenges facing the grid of the future.

Position Summary

We are seeking an experienced Engineering Manager, Power Systems and Modeling, to lead our grid integration and power system dynamics team. This technical leadership role manages engineers who conduct grid studies, support regulatory compliance, and facilitate the interconnection of inverter-based resources (IBRs), including utility-scale solar, battery energy storage systems (BESS), and wind facilities. The ideal candidate brings deep expertise in NERC standards such as PRC-029 and MOD-026/027, regional grid code updates such as ERCOT NOGRR 245, and the interconnection requirements and processes of North American ISOs, including ERCOT, PJM, SPP, and MISO among others. The role connects technical execution, cross-functional engineering management, vendor and OEM coordination, and regulatory alignment. It also requires experience using with phasor-domain tools such as PSS/E and PSLF, electromagnetic transient (EMT) modeling in PSCAD, and IBR control structures to help analyze and tune models to meet regulatory or interconnection requirements.

The Engineering Manager position is key to helping ensure that technical project work is executed on time, with high quality, and builds a lasting relationship with the client and internal teams. Engineering Managers lead their team and foster a culture aligned with Elevate’s core values. The Engineering Manager leads a team of engineers and specialists within a defined area of expertise while staying hands-on with technical work themselves. They also help foster a safe, inclusive, respectful, and diverse culture within the organization. The specific technical scope of each Engineering Manager varies by department and will be tailored based on the needs of the organization.

Engineering Managers are expected to support technical project execution through delivery of their own projects and provide their team with technical management and oversight. Engineering Managers are also expected to demonstrate strong people leadership. The associated split between individual contributions, team project management, and people leadership will vary by role and department; expectations will be established between the Engineering Manager and their Business Unit Leader.

Regarding technical work, the Engineering Manager owns and delivers their own select technical projects and assignments, sets the standard for quality in their area of expertise, serves as a senior technical resource their team can rely on, and helps provide oversight of technical work on their team. On the leadership side, Engineering Managers are accountable for the growth, performance, and day-to-day support of their direct reports, along with the quality and timeliness of the team's work. The role is a strong fit for someone with deep technical expertise who also wants to develop people around them and help Elevate deliver world-class work.

Roles and Responsibilities

This role carries two equally weighted sets of responsibilities. Approximately half of the manager's time is spent on their own technical work within their area of expertise, and approximately half on leading and developing their team. The roles and responsibilities for each Engineering Manager position will be tailored to the technical scope of projects for that specific role. The specific technical scope varies by area of expertise and will be tailored for each manager.

The following are a list of roles, responsibilities, and projects related to this position:

Technical Project Execution

• Proven experience delivering compliance work for standards such as NERC PRC-029-01, NERC MOD-026/027, ERCOT NOGRR 245, and IEEE 2800, among others.
• NERC PRC-029-01: Navigate compliance studies and settings verifications for frequency and voltage ride-through (FRT/VRT) capabilities, and other complex nuances and requirements set forth for IBRs.
• NERC MOD-026 & MOD-027: Lead technical compliance strategies for legacy and new-build IBR ride-through performance maximization, OEM firmware/hardware update paths, and attestation reporting
• ERCOT NOGRR 245: Lead technical compliance strategies for legacy and new-build IBR ride-through performance maximization, OEM firmware/hardware update paths, and attestation reporting
• Experience using power system analysis tools and software’s such as PSS/E, PSLF, ASPEN, and PSCAD EMT;
• Understanding the models, limitations, file types and requirements of various regions such as ERCOT, PJM, MISO etc.
• Oversee, conduct and analyze dynamic transient stability studies required for compliance such as model performance tests, verifications and validations.
• Understanding the interconnection processes and requirements of ISOs across North America such as ERCOT, PJM, MISO, SPP etc.
• High-level understanding of IBR control structures to identify adjustments and tuning options that may resolve performance issues.
• Experience in automation and programming, such as using Python is considered a plus.
• Interface with clients on specific projects to support the enhancement of tools, processes, requirements, and understanding of evolving industry conditions and emerging trends.
• Support the development of technical project proposals for customers and clients
• Provide subject matter expertise internally and to clients, partners, regulatory entities, and other external stakeholders across North America.
• Leverage first principles, engineering fundamentals, and simplified test systems to drive best practices around emerging risk areas and other topics of interest.
• Study emerging industry developments and their impacts on system reliability and performance across key technical focus areas.
• Develop engineering reports, presentations, and documentation based on project deliverable requirements.
• Deliver technical presentations to clients and broadly across industry to help elevate best practices, and continue to grow as a leader in the field.
• Successfully deliver exceptional value to clients through world-class analysis and the delivery of key milestones and deliverables.
• Serve as an industry leader and establish relationships with other industry thought leaders, executives, policymakers, and others.
• Meet with clients (virtual and in-person as needed) to understand needs and successfully communicate with clients both verbally and in writing.

Technical Management and Team Project Execution

• Support client engagements by setting direction on tools, processes, and requirements, and resolving issues before they impact project outcomes.
• Act as a subject matter resource internally and externally, fielding escalations and guiding the team through complex problems to keep work moving.
• Track progress, helping the team scope work, navigate trade-offs, and stay on track across local, regional, and industry-wide efforts.
• Reinforce sound engineering judgment and best practices, coaching the team to ground their work in first principles and deliver results in emerging risk areas.
• Keep the team oriented to emerging industry developments, helping them focus effort on the areas with the greatest impact on client outcomes.
• Review work and documentation for quality and completeness, ensuring deliverables meet project requirements and deadlines.
• Prepare and support the team in delivering technical presentations, providing feedback and building their visibility in the field.
• Track team progress on projects and keep up-to-date project management tools and systems.
• Remove roadblocks, align resources, and monitor project status so the team delivers exceptional value and hits key milestones on time.
• Step into client meetings as needed to support the team, clarify needs, and reinforce clear communication.

People Leadership

• Set clear expectations and priorities for your team, and hold reports accountable to them.
• Hold consistent one-on-ones with each direct report; provide coaching, feedback, and unblocking.
• Delegate assignments based on capability and development goals, matching the right people to the right work.
• Own performance for your team, including goal setting, mid-year reviews, and annual reviews.
• Address performance and conduct issues directly and early, including difficult conversations when needed.
• Recognize and reward strong contribution to reinforce the behaviors and results that matter.
• Manage staffing, workload, and utilization across your team in coordination with leadership.
• Support hiring within your area by interviewing candidates, leading onboarding efforts for new team members, and managing offboarding as needed.
• Develop the skills and capabilities of your team members, including supporting growth along both the management and senior individual contributor tracks.
• Build a collaborative, inclusive team culture where people can do their best work, and model the company's values and standards of professionalism.
• Approve time, paid time off, and routine administrative items, and serve as the first point of escalation for your reports.
• Communicate company direction and decisions to your team, and surface their input and concerns upward early.

Qualifications

Candidates are expected to have the following qualifications:

• Deep technical expertise and experience in the specific domain or area of expertise associated with the role, including practical experience with the required tools, methods, background, and engineering principles.
• Experience executing and leading projects within their areas of expertise, involving large projects and/or complex projects involving multiple stakeholders.
• Credentials and experience typical for an Engineering Manager in the specific domain (case-by-case). Examples include Professional Engineer licensure (or equivalent), PhD, past management or leadership experience, etc.
• Demonstrated ability to lead people (coach, develop, and give positive and/or negative feedback to others)
• Ability to handle difficult conversations with respect, kindness, and empathy
• Excellent written and verbal communication, including comfort with accountability and performance conversations.
• The ability to manage workload, assignments, deliverables, and project execution across multiple projects, clients, topics, systems, and tools in a coordinated and streamlined fashion.
• Demonstrated project management skills and experience across large projects.
• Sound technical and interpersonal judgment, strong organization, and follow-through across competing priorities.
• Willingness to protect and invest in the people leadership aspects of the role rather than defaulting mostly to execution of technical work.

Physical requirements for this role include:

• Must be able to sit and/or stand for prolonged periods of time at a computer.
• Ability to travel to job sites, both in an office environment and in the field.

Company Benefits

• Competitive salary.
• 10-20% performance-based bonus compensation structure.
• Full suite of health benefits - medical, dental, vision.
• Annual home office stipend.
• Annual employee health and wellness stipend.
• Competitive time off and company holidays.

Additional Details

• The specific area of expertise, department name, and title for an Engineering Manager role will be defined on a case-by-case basis.
• A background check will be conducted prior to employment.
• All persons hired will be required to verify identity and eligibility to work in the United States or Canada and must complete employment eligibility verification documentation upon hire, in compliance with federal law.
• This is a fully remote role with some travel expected; a passport is required for North American and other international travel.
• This position has been classified as exempt.

Elevate Energy Consulting is an equal opportunity employer committed to diversity and inclusivity in the workplace. We prohibit discrimination and harassment of any kind based on race, color, sex, religion, sexual orientation, national origin, disability, genetic information, pregnancy, or any other protected characteristic as outlined by federal, state, or local laws. Elevate Energy Consulting makes hiring decisions based solely on qualifications, merit, and business needs at the time.