Senior Electrical Design Engineer - BESS & HV Grid Connection
Role overview
The Senior Electrical Design Engineer is responsible for the electrical design of NGEN’s utility-scale, front-of-the-meter Battery Energy Storage System (BESS) projects of 50 MW and above, across all of NGEN’s European markets, with a particular focus on high-voltage grid connections and power system integration.
The engineer produces the preliminary electrical design in-house. Detailed design is outsourced to external engineering firms, and the engineer reviews their deliverables on NGEN’s behalf. Every design package is brought to the CTO approval gates complete, compliant with the NGEN BESS Design Guidelines and ready for release.
Deep technical expertise in HV substation design, protection and control engineering, and European grid code compliance is essential.
Key responsibilities
Develop the preliminary electrical design packages for BESS projects in-house, including concept-level HV/MV single-line diagrams, substation layouts, cable routing plans, earthing philosophies, auxiliary-power concepts and SCADA/communications architecture. These packages are the technical basis for detailed design by external engineering firms and EPC contractors.
Manage and technically oversee the external engineering firms and subcontractors that produce the detailed design drawings and documentation, including HV substation layouts, cable schedules, protection coordination studies and as-built packages.
Review and comment on all detailed design deliverables produced by external parties, including AutoCAD and EPLAN drawings, relay coordination studies and equipment specifications. Ensure they align with project requirements, applicable standards, the NGEN BESS Design Guidelines and NGEN’s design intent, and recommend them for CTO approval (system design and SLD, protection settings, grid-code studies, SCADA/network design, IFC release, design deviations).
Design and specify HV grid connection infrastructure from MV up to 400 kV, including HV and MV transformer sizing and specification (including OLTC/AVR), switchgear selection, busbar arrangements and cable systems, at a preliminary design level.
Develop preliminary protection and control philosophies for BESS-connected HV networks, including distance, overcurrent, differential and earth fault protection schemes, for detailed development by external protection engineers. Review the resulting protection settings before CTO approval.
Specify, commission and review power system studies, including load flow, short-circuit (IEC 60909), arc flash, harmonic analysis, and RMS/EMT dynamic and grid-code compliance studies, using DIgSILENT PowerFactory, PSCAD, ETAP or equivalent tools. This includes model provenance (BESS/PCS model and firmware version) and the derivation of plant-controller settings for the BESS supplier.
Ensure all designs comply with the applicable grid codes and standards, including the EU Network Code Requirements for Generators (NC RfG), the national grid codes of NGEN’s markets (e.g. TOR in Austria, VDE-AR-N 4110/4120/4130 in Germany, and the codes of HOPS, ELES, AST, Transelectrica and REN) and IEC standards.
Prepare and review the technical documentation for grid connection applications with TSOs and DSOs, including power system impact assessments and protection settings submissions.
Specify equipment technical requirements and review datasheets for HV transformers, MV transformers and skids, switchgear, protection relays (e.g. SEL, ABB, Siemens SIPROTEC, GE/Schneider MiCOM), and battery systems and PCS from multiple suppliers (e.g. Tesla Megapack, CATL, Sungrow, Envision).
Define the site SCADA and communications interface in line with the NGEN BESS Design Guidelines: grid-interface and SCADA PLC roles, IEC 61850 IED data access, network architecture, time synchronisation and the NIS-2 cybersecurity baseline.
Coordinate with procurement, EPC contractors, project managers and commissioning engineers so that design intent is carried through to site implementation.
Act as the technical interface with TSOs, DSOs, authorities having jurisdiction and client technical teams on all HV and protection matters.
Support factory acceptance testing (FAT), site acceptance testing (SAT) and commissioning of HV switchgear, HV/MV transformers and BESS systems.
Propose improvements to the NGEN BESS Design Guidelines from project experience, and standardise design across NGEN’s markets.
Qualifications
Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in Electrical Engineering or Power Systems Engineering.
Minimum 5 years of hands-on electrical design experience, with a strong focus on HV substations or grid-connected BESS or renewable energy projects.
Demonstrated experience producing and reviewing preliminary HV design deliverables: SLDs, protection philosophies, earthing calculations and cable sizing to IEC standards.
Proven experience managing external engineering firms and reviewing detailed design deliverables, including AutoCAD electrical drawings, EPLAN schematics and relay coordination studies.
Working knowledge of AutoCAD (2D drafting and electrical) sufficient to produce and mark up preliminary design drawings and review external deliverables.
Proficiency in DIgSILENT PowerFactory. PSCAD, ETAP or PSS/E is an advantage.
Working knowledge of NC RfG Type B/C/D requirements, at least one European national grid code (e.g. TOR, VDE-AR-N 4110/4120/4130), and IEC standards relevant to HV and BESS systems.
Experience with grid connection processes and TSO/DSO interface requirements in at least one European market.
Experience with protection relay configuration and testing (secondary injection, end-to-end testing) is highly desirable.
Experience with utility-scale BESS from at least one major supplier (e.g. Tesla Megapack, CATL, Sungrow, Envision), including plant-controller and grid-compliance settings, is strongly preferred.
Working knowledge of IEC 61850 and substation SCADA/communications architecture.
Fluent in English. German is an advantage.
Strong analytical, documentation and stakeholder management skills, with the ability to hold external engineering partners accountable to quality and schedule.
Demonstrated ability to think beyond conventional engineering approaches, whether in value-engineering a grid connection solution, challenging a network operator’s technical requirements, or finding a pragmatic path through a complex design constraint where no textbook answer exists.
What we offer
A motivating environment with flat hierarchies.
Attractive compensation.
A secure position with long-term development.
Professional development and training.
Where you'll work
The role is based in Amsterdam, the Netherlands, with regular travel to project sites across Europe. You will report directly to our Chief Technology Officer (CTO), and your scope is group-wide, covering all of NGEN's front-of-the-meter BESS projects.
