RTDS Engineer

Role Summary

Terabase Energy is seeking an RTDS Engineer to support the delivery of real-time Hardware-in-the-Loop simulation solutions for utility-scale solar, BESS, and hybrid renewable energy projects.

This role will be primarily responsible for developing, configuring, validating, and maintaining project-specific RTDS and RSCAD models used for plant controller, SCADA, EMS, inverter, and substation control validation. The RTDS Engineer will work closely with Controls Engineering, SCADA Engineering, Project Engineering, Modeling & Validation, Commissioning, and customer-facing teams to ensure HIL simulations are ready for internal testing, FAT, customer witness testing, and field issue replication.

The ideal candidate has 5+ years of hands-on experience with PSCAD, RSCAD, RTDS modeling, and HIL setup for project-specific power plant validation.

Key Responsibilities

RTDS / RSCAD Modeling

• Develop and configure project-specific RTDS and RSCAD models for utility-scale solar, BESS, and hybrid power plants.
• Translate electrical one-lines, control narratives, interconnection requirements, equipment data, and project specifications into real-time simulation models.
• Build and validate plant-level models for active power, reactive power, voltage control, frequency response, ramp-rate control, curtailment, and grid support functions.
• Develop and maintain reusable RSCAD model libraries, templates, and project standards.

PSCAD and Dynamic Modeling

• Develop, review, and validate PSCAD models to support project-specific studies, controls validation, and grid compliance requirements.
• Support model alignment between PSCAD and RTDS/RSCAD environments.
• Work with inverter OEMs, BESS OEMs, and internal engineering teams to validate control behavior and model assumptions.
• Support testing related to inverter-based resource performance, plant controller behavior, and interconnection compliance.

HIL Setup and Project Delivery

• Set up project-specific Hardware-in-the-Loop environments using RTDS and physical control hardware.
• Integrate PPCs, EMS controllers, RTACs, relays, gateways, SCADA servers, network switches, firewalls, and communication interfaces into the HIL environment.
• Configure I/O mapping, signal routing, protocol interfaces, and controller communication paths.
• Support FAT, eFAT, customer witness testing, internal validation, and project readiness reviews.
• Ensure HIL environments are delivered on schedule to support project milestones.

Testing, Validation, and Troubleshooting

• Develop and execute HIL test plans, procedures, acceptance criteria, and validation reports.
• Validate controls performance under normal operating conditions, grid disturbances, curtailment scenarios, plant trips, communication failures, and recovery events.
• Troubleshoot model, controller, communication, network, and simulation issues during HIL setup and testing.
• Replicate field issues in the HIL environment to support commissioning, root-cause analysis, and corrective actions.
• Document test results, model assumptions, issue logs, lessons learned, and final validation outcomes.

Cross-Functional Collaboration

• Partner with Controls Engineering, SCADA Engineering, Project Engineering, Commissioning, IT/OT, and Product teams to align HIL setup with project needs.
• Support customer-facing technical discussions related to HIL testing, plant controller validation, and model behavior.
• Work with vendors and OEMs to obtain model data, controller interfaces, firmware details, and communication requirements.
• Contribute to Terabase’s standard HIL delivery process, test automation roadmap, and quality improvement initiatives.

Requirements

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Electrical Engineering, Power Systems, Controls Engineering, or a related technical field.
• 5+ years of experience with PSCAD, RSCAD, RTDS, or real-time power system simulation.
• Hands-on experience setting up Hardware-in-the-Loop environments for project-specific validation.
• Strong understanding of power systems, inverter-based resources, utility-scale solar, BESS, hybrid plants, and plant-level controls.
• Experience developing and validating PSCAD and RSCAD models.
• Experience integrating physical controllers, RTACs, relays, gateways, SCADA systems, or network devices into simulation environments.
• Familiarity with PPC, EMS, SCADA, inverter controls, substation automation, and plant controller validation.
• Experience with industrial communication protocols such as DNP3, Modbus TCP, IEC 61850, OPC UA, or similar protocols.
• Ability to read and interpret electrical one-lines, network diagrams, control narratives, points lists, equipment data sheets, and interconnection requirements.
• Strong troubleshooting skills across models, controls, communication networks, and physical hardware.
• Strong documentation, communication, and cross-functional collaboration skills.

Preferred Qualifications

• Master’s degree in Electrical Engineering, Power Systems, or Controls Engineering.
• Experience with RTDS NovaCor, RSCAD FX, GTNET, GTFPGA, or similar RTDS hardware/software platforms.
• Experience with OPAL-RT, Typhoon HIL, Speedgoat, or other real-time simulation platforms.
• Experience with SEL RTACs, SEL relays, SEL-3555, Schweitzer controllers, Ignition SCADA, or similar control platforms.
• Experience with IEEE 2800, NERC, ERCOT, CAISO, PJM, or other utility interconnection and grid compliance requirements.
• Experience with inverter OEM and BESS OEM models.
• Experience creating automated HIL test scripts, reusable test libraries, and validation templates.
• Experience supporting FAT, SAT, commissioning, or field troubleshooting for renewable energy projects.
• Experience with Python, MATLAB/Simulink, scripting, or test automation tools.

Core Competencies

• Deep technical understanding of R