Principal RTDS Engineer - HIL Testing

ON.energy is setting the standard for large load interconnection. ON’s patented AI UPS™ is a medium-voltage UPS that serves as a firewall, protecting the data center from the grid, and the grid from the data center. With multiple gigawatts currently under construction, we are enabling grid-safe data centers. 

Principal RTDS Engineer - HIL Testing (Houston, TX location - local, relocation or remote with travel required)

Role Summary

The Principal RTDS Engineer is the technical authority for ON.energy’s hardware-in-the-loop and real-time simulation capability. The role owns the architecture, build-out and operation of the HIL lab in Houston, centered on RTDS. It sets the test strategy and standards used to validate ON.energy’s storage and power conversion products, including the AI UPS™. Working across controls, firmware, power systems modeling and product engineering, this role decides how products are proven before release. It combines hands-on technical leadership with responsibility for the methods, tools and people that make validation scalable.

Key Responsibilities

• Define and own the HIL and real-time simulation strategy, including lab architecture, platform roadmap, and the balance between controller-in-the-loop and power-hardware-in-the-loop testing.
• Lead the design, specification, procurement, commissioning and expansion of the RTDS-based HIL lab, including simulator hardware, I/O, signal conditioning, amplifiers and data acquisition.
• Establish the standards for real-time models of plant, grid and equipment behavior, and personally develop the most complex models.
• Set the integration approach for product controllers, control software and firmware, including configuration management and version control of models and test environments.
• Own the validation framework: test plan templates, acceptance criteria, coverage expectations and sign-off for functional, performance, fault, boundary-condition and regression campaigns.
• Act as final technical reviewer of controls behavior across normal operation, grid disturbances, abnormal conditions and recovery, including grid-forming and ride-through performance.
• Lead correlation between HIL results, offline EMT studies (PSCAD, RSCAD) and field or lab measurements, and resolve model and control discrepancies.
• Architect the test automation and continuous-integration strategy so that automated test suites run against every firmware and model release.
• Lead complex failure investigations with controls and firmware teams, driving root cause analysis and closure.
• Represent HIL validation in design reviews, product release gates and customer technical reviews.
• Serve as ON.energy’s technical point of contact with RTDS Technologies, national laboratories, university test centers, certification bodies and utilities on HIL-based validation and model quality.
• Mentor engineers on HIL methods, and help hire and grow the HIL and test team.
• Own laboratory safety practices, configuration control and documentation standards.

Key Requirements

• 10+ years of experience in HIL testing, real-time simulation, controls validation, or laboratory testing of grid-connected power electronics, including technical leadership of a lab or test program.
• Bachelor’s degree in electrical engineering, power systems, controls engineering or a related discipline. A master’s or PhD is strongly preferred.
• Deep hands-on expertise with RTDS/RSCAD, including building or expanding an RTDS lab (hardware configuration, I/O and interfacing). Experience with Typhoon HIL or OPAL-RT is a plus.
• Expert command of offline EMT simulation (PSCAD, RSCAD, MATLAB/Simulink), with a proven track record of converting and validating models for real-time execution.
• Strong grounding in inverter controls, grid-forming and grid-following operation, energy storage systems and power system dynamics.
• A record of defining test strategies, standards and acceptance criteria that other engineers follow, and of standing behind the results at release decisions.
• Advanced Python, or a comparable language, for test automation, data analysis and tooling, plus experience setting automation and CI direction for a team.
• Working knowledge of SCADA and industrial protocols such as Modbus, DNP3, CAN and IEC 61850.
• Hands-on bench proficiency with power supplies, amplifiers, oscilloscopes, transducers and data acquisition hardware.
• The ability to influence senior engineering leadership and communicate clearly with customers, utilities and field and commissioning teams.

Preferred Experience

• Power-hardware-in-the-loop experience at significant power levels.
• UPS systems, microgrids or facilities serving critical load, especially data centers.
• ISO and utility interconnection requirements (IEEE 2800, IEEE 1547, NERC large-load guidance), model quality testing, or third-party certification.
• Contributions to IEEE, NERC or industry working groups on inverter-based resources or large-load interconnection.
• Collaboration with national laboratories or university test centers.
• Experience building or leading a test engineering team.

For US-based roles - What you’ll get:

• Competitive salary + annual performance-based bonus eligibility
• Medical, dental, and vision insurance
• 401(k) with company match
• Paid time off and company holidays 

For Mexico-based roles - What you’ll get:

• Competitive salary + annual performance bonus eligibility
• Christmas Bonus (Aguinaldo): 30 days
• Major medical expenses and life insurance
• Paid time off and holidays (per local policy)

For all roles:

• Professional development and growth opportunities
• Opportunity to grow with a mission-driven team shaping the future of clean energy
• Equal Opportunity: ON.energy is committed to equal employment opportunity and to maintaining a work environment free of harassment, discrimination, or retaliation.
• Benefits vary by role and location and are subject to change.

Agency Notice: ON.energy does not accept unsolicited resumes from staffing agencies, search firms, or third-party recruiters. Resumes submitted without a fully executed Master Services Agreement (MSA) and a written request from an authorized member of our Talent Acquisition team will be considered the property of ON.energy. No placement fees or compensation will be paid for unsolicited candidate submissions.