Careers

Control System Engineer

About Verrus

Data centers should be valuable assets to their customers, the grid, and the local community such that we are able to give customers what they want, where they want it, while cities and utilities are actively seeking us to build in their region.

Verrus will build and operate next generation data centers that flexibly leverage its onsite infrastructure through the development of proprietary technology. Doing so will allow Verrus to provide grid services that facilitate the effective procurement of power and carbon free energy, and balance traditional and variable uptime workloads (e.g., AI/ML).

Verrus is led by industry veterans with experience at the largest data center development companies, delivering over 3 GW of data center capacity across four continents in their careers (representing over $10bn of investment).

About Sidewalk Infrastructure Partners (SIP)

Backed by Alphabet, Ontario Teachers Pension Plan, and Stepstone Group, SIP is a consolidated holding company that builds innovative technology-enabled infrastructure companies and projects that deliver positive social and environmental impact at scale. We believe that technology-enabled infrastructure will help to solve some of the world’s most pressing social and environmental challenges.

Following years of research and in collaboration with its current management, SIP formed Verrus to design, build, and operate the world’s most innovative data centers, leveraging unique technology to develop a scaled project portfolio that delivers significant financial, environmental, and innovation outcomes.

Role

Verrus is looking for a candidate to serve as our Control System Engineer. This is a full-time position based out of Verrus’ Mountain View, CA office. 

The Control System Engineer will drive the design, validation and deployment of power flow management in a Verrus data center. This role demands extensive experience and expertise in inverter based battery energy storage systems (BESS) and microgrid control systems. The successful candidate will play a crucial role in designing solutions that enhance the power system stability of the datacenter and the power grid.

Responsibilities

  • Control System Development

    • Develop and implement control algorithms for microgrid operation (grid following, islanded, black start etc) with captive DERs
    • Develop  the sequence of operations (SOO) to operate the microgrid  
    • Perform simulation and hardware-in-the-loop (HIL) based validation of the developed control algorithms and sequence of operations
    • Partner with software engineers to develop optimal control strategies for BESS, load management, and grid support functions.

  • System Design & Integration

    • Collaborate with cross-functional teams to define system requirements, specifications, and performance criteria
    • Drive the integration of BESS and microgrid control systems
    • Integrate BESS with grid infrastructure, other energy systems such as generators

  • Innovation & Research

    • Stay updated with current standards, emerging technologies and industry trends in energy storage and microgrid systems such as  IEEE 1547, 2030.8, 2800 etc or NERC requirements for a BESS interconnection
    • Drive innovation by researching and evaluating new technologies and methodologies
    • Contribute to intellectual property development and establish Verrus’ thought leadership in the field through technical publications

  • Stakeholder Engagement

    • Interface with internal teams (Software/ Electrical/ Mechanical Engineering, Product management) to ensure alignment and address technical challenges
    • Actively engage with external partners (such as architecture and engineering firms, system integrators etc) to deliver the microgrid control system in a production datacenter

Minimum Qualifications

  • Bachelor’s degree in Electrical Engineering or a related field; 
  • Minimum of 5 years of experience in the system level modeling and control design of power systems with BESS/ inverter based resources and microgrid control systems
  • Extensive knowledge of BESS controls (grid following and grid forming modes, droop control, VSG control), power system and microgrid control design
  • Strong foundation in control systems: PID, Nonlinear control design etc
  • Proficiency in power system simulation (both steady state and transient) with Matlab/ PSCAD etc 
  • Familiarity with communication protocols such as Modbus TCP, IEC 61850 etc used in modern control system deployment
  • Working knowledge of power distribution architectures and associated methods of electrical protection
  • Excellent verbal and written communication skills, with the ability to convey complex technical concepts to diverse audiences.

Preferred Qualifications

  • Advanced degree (MS/ PhD) preferred
  • Experience with hardware in the loop validation (using RTDS, OPAL RT etc)
  • Strong understanding of grid operations, energy management systems and renewable energy integration
  • Prior experience with developing  sequences of operation for  complex power systems

Compensation

The annual base salary range for this position in California is $140,000-$170,000. Salary is only one part of Verrus’ comprehensive compensation package, which also includes a discretionary bonus and general health benefits and paid time off.

How to Apply

If you are interested in consideration for this role, please apply through careers@verrusdata.com by submitting your resume with the job title in the subject line of your application email. Due to the amount of interest in Verrus’ work, we may not have the chance to follow up with you directly following your submission.

We are an equal opportunity employer. For us, this is more than legal boilerplate; it is reflective of a deeply held belief that our success depends on our willingness to recruit, hire, empower, compensate, reward, and promote the best and brightest individuals, of all backgrounds and characteristics.