Principal Hydroelectric Engineer

Duration: 6-8 months (Contract)
Location: Remote (East Coast preferred)
Schedule: As-needed, consultant-based
Project: Consumer's Energy, Michigan
Interview Process: One interview with our client's team
Position Summary
Subject Matter Expert (SME) role providing engineering expertise for hydroelectric pumped storage facility operations, maintenance, modernization, and reliability improvement. Requires extensive knowledge of plant operations, turbine-generator controls, governor/excitation systems, DCS, and IEEE Std 1010 compliance.
Key Responsibilities
Daily Activities:
Develop and review control narratives, technical documentation, and drawings
Analyze operating issues and identify safety/efficiency improvements
Provide expert recommendations for system enhancements
Core Technical Functions:
Lead modernization projects replacing legacy relay-based controls with Distributed Control Systems (DCS)
Translate relay logic, hardwired controls, and electromechanical circuits into modern software-based control logic
Develop control narratives, functional specifications, and sequence-of-operation documentation
Validate conversion of startup, shutdown, synchronization, load control, and protection functions to DCS
Support FAT, SAT, commissioning, and operational readiness reviews
Ensure compliance with IEEE Std 1010 (unit control, monitoring, local/remote operation, centralized control)
Coordinate with Operations/Maintenance to align digital controls with plant practices and reliability objectives
Investigate equipment failures, analyze trends, and develop asset improvement plans
Required Qualifications
Experience:
Minimum 8 years in power generation, hydroelectric facilities, and industrial control systems
Direct experience modernizing hydroelectric pumped storage units from relay-based controls to Emerson Ovation DCS
Specific Expertise Must Include:
Replacing generator start/stop relay logic, auxiliary systems, governor controls, excitation controls, and synchronizing systems
Turbine-generator operational sequencing and control/protection/monitoring system interactions
Developing and reviewing control logic diagrams, I/O databases, relay drawings, and HMI displays
Plant operations, troubleshooting, and hydroelectric modernization projects
Technical Knowledge:
Hydroelectric pumped storage turbine-generator systems
Governor and excitation systems
SCADA and DCS platforms
Protection and control systems
Excellent verbal and written communication skills
Education:
Bachelor's degree in Electrical Engineering, Controls Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, or related discipline
Preferred Qualifications
Familiarity with IEEE Std 1010 and IEEE Std 1249
Knowledge of NERC, FERC, utility operating requirements, and cybersecurity practices
Professional Engineer (PE) license
Key Deliverables
Control philosophy documents and sequence of operation narratives
Modernization project scopes and reliability improvement recommendations
Control system cybersecurity assessments
Ideal Candidate
Combines hands-on plant operating knowledge with control system engineering expertise. Has successfully led projects migrating legacy hydroelectric relay controls to modern DCS platforms. Understands generating unit sequences, control room operations, alarm management, and IEEE Std 1010 control architectures.

Work arrangement
No