DERMS Senior or Staff Engineer (Richmond, Hybrid)

Job Summary

This position will be hired at either a Senior or Staff level Engineer.

The staff level role is the top progression level position in the Engineer series. Includes senior to technical expert engineers, able to perform highly difficult and very complex work requiring extensive knowledge of the subject matter and significant experience within functional assignment area. Plans and conducts complex work requiring independent judgment in the evaluation, selection, adaptation and modification of standard techniques, procedures, and criteria. Devises new and innovative approaches to previously undefined problems encountered and develops innovative and original industry-wide engineering criteria ensuring compliance with design criteria and standards. Possesses and applies advanced engineering knowledge and skills to provide technical expertise, guidance to all levels of engineers and/or team leadership. Possesses and applies advanced knowledge and technical skills to solve complex engineering problems, or to plan and coordinate medium to large scale engineering projects or varied assignments requiring diverse knowledge of engineering principles and practices. Serves as a resource to management on more complex engineering problems and issues. Perform research to find innovative and cost-effective engineering solutions to operational problems within assigned area. Serve as a technical expert on engineering related legal and regulatory issues to outside entities.

This role will be responsible for the implementation of efforts related to deploying a Distributed Energy Resource Management System (DERMS). This role will also support demonstration of grid operations with high levels of distributed energy resources (DERs) as part of the GRid Integration & Demonstration of Flexible Energy Resources (GRID-FLEXER) project. This role will focus on engineering support for successful implementation of GRID-FLEXER project, design and development of new grid control paradigms that leverage the DERMS capability, and development of new capabilities in the distribution control centers for leveraging customer load flexibility.  Activities will focus on engagement with internal and external stakeholders, gathering and shaping business requirements, and establishing a roadmap for implementation and seeing projects through to successful completion.

This position will support operationalizing Dominion Energy’s Distributed Energy Resource Management System (DERMS) platform thereby enabling DERMS to support distribution grid operations for improved reliability and flexibility. During the operationalization phase, this role will work closely with the distribution grid operators at the Regional Operations Centers (ROCs) to embed DERMS functionalities within their work processes. This role would also require grid analysis of different DERMS control strategies, configure parameters for virtual power plants (VPPs), and identify and implement novel DER grid integration techniques. During the deployment phase, this role will focus on developing, implementing, and testing interfaces for integrating DERMS with systems like the Advanced Distribution Management System (ADMS), Geographical Information System (GIS), etc.

Required Knowledge, Skills, Abilities & Experience

The knowledge, skills, abilities, and experience that are required for entry into this job include the following:

Senior Level: 6 + years of relevant engineering experience

Staff Level:    8+ years of relevant engineering experience (An Engineering PhD can be substituted for up to 5 years’ experience based on research engineering work on related projects approved by executive leadership.)

Additional Skills:

• Demonstrated experience with implementing, operating, managing and/or supporting an advanced distribution management system (ADMS), distributed energy resource management system (DERMS) and their integrations

• Demonstrated understanding of the suite of software applications used by the grid operators

• Advanced knowledge and experience with advanced grid control algorithms/techniques including artificial intelligence/machine learning (AI/ML), data analytics, microgrids, digital twin modeling, managing grid with high levels of renewable energy

• (Preferred) Demonstrated experience in power system modeling and knowledge with use of distribution power system analysis and power flow software such as CYME, Synergi Electric, OpenDSS, etc.

• (Preferred) Firm understanding of distribution systems and challenges with integrating DER systems

• Self-motivated Engineer who can work cooperatively in a team environment, but is comfortable independently seeking knowledge and information

REQUIRED ENGINEERING CRITERIA: 
For placement of a candidate in the Engineer job series, the following criteria must be met:   

Possess a 4-year Engineering degree from an ABET accredited Engineering program based on the year that the Engineering program was accredited by ABET, or 

Possess a 4-year Engineering degree from an institution outside of the U.S. which is accredited through the country's own Engineering accrediting body under the Washington Accord as a full signatory, and is a degree that was recognized by the country's accrediting body on or after the date that full signatory status was achieved, or  

Possess a 4-year degree in Engineering (non-ABET accredited), Physics, Chemistry, Math or Engineering Technology and a post-graduate Engineering degree from an institution where the undergraduate degree in the same Engineering discipline is ABET-accredited based on the year the Engineering program was accredited by ABET, or 

Holds or has previously held a valid U.S. Professional Engineer license. 

Education Requirements

Required Degree (equivalency not accepted in lieu of required degree):

Bachelor’s in Engineering

Licenses, Certifications, or Quals Description

Working Conditions

Other Working Conditions

Test Description

No Testing Required