Software Engineer, Microgrid Controls Validation Engineer

Location & Team Gatherings

Intersect has been a fully flexible workplace since 2016, embracing work-from-home, hybrid, and in-office options. We prioritize deepening social connections through quarterly Team Week experiences and established Hub locations. We are currently seeking candidates located within 60 miles of our hubs in the SF Bay Area, NYC Metro Area, Denver, CO; Houston, TX; Calgary, AB; and Toronto, ON, to foster in-person connections while maintaining our flexible remote culture.

About This Role

As a Software Engineer, Microgrid Controls Validation Engineer within Intersect’s Microgrid Engineering team, you will define and implement the validation framework ensuring microgrid control software operates safely and reliably prior to field deployment. This role focuses on developing simulation environments, validation tools, and Hardware-in-the-Loop (HIL) testing to verify controls code across diverse real-world operating conditions. Collaborating with controls engineers, power systems engineers, utilities, and external partners, you will play a crucial role in ensuring microgrid systems meet performance, compliance, and reliability expectations at scale.

Team Overview

This team is essential to Intersect’s mission of accelerating the clean energy transition by designing and operating systems that deliver reliable power at massive scale. The Microgrid Engineering team engages across software, hardware, operations, and external stakeholders to validate complex systems under realistic conditions, prioritizing safety, performance, and long-term operability. Joining this team offers hands-on experience with advanced validation techniques and large-scale energy systems, making a tangible real-world impact.

What You’ll Do

• Develop software validation tools and simulation frameworks to rigorously test control algorithms across a full range of operating conditions, including failure modes, communication delays, and equipment faults.
• Define requirements and strategies for utilizing real-time simulators for Software-in-the-Loop (SIL) and Hardware-in-the-Loop (HIL) testing.
• Automate test execution to establish reproducible validation workflows and generate comprehensive reporting tools.
• Design precise verification metrics to demonstrate control performance, safety, and compliance.
• Collaborate with engineering teams, utilities, and external stakeholders to define comprehensive test cases and performance requirements.
• Validate both steady-state behavior and abnormal operating scenarios to ensure robust system operation.
• Support the analysis of field operating data to refine simulation models and identify critical edge cases.
• Integrate field learnings back into regression test suites for continuous improvement of validation coverage.
• Maintain a well-structured repository of validation assets, test artifacts, and comprehensive documentation.
• Ensure clear version control, traceability, and repeatability across all validation workflows.

What You’ll Bring

• B.S. or M.S. in Electrical Engineering, Software Engineering, Computer Engineering, or a closely related field.
• 3–7+ years of proven experience in real-time system validation, embedded software testing, or SIL/HIL simulation.
• Demonstrated ability to design automated test pipelines and verification metrics for real-time or embedded systems.
• Extensive experience with simulation tools such as Simulink or Modelica and real-time simulators, including SIL, HIL, or comparable validation methods.
• Proficiency in industrial control and embedded languages such as C++, IEC 61131-3 Structured Text, SEL RTAC logic, CODESYS, Lua, Rust, or C.
• Experience with modern development practices, including version control and automated validation workflows.
• Familiarity with utility grid interconnection and market requirements, particularly within ERCOT.
• A collaborative work style and the ability to work effectively with diverse cross-functional technical teams.
• Strong attention to detail and a steadfast commitment to safety, quality, and system reliability.

Total Rewards

At Intersect, we prioritize your well-being, growth, and work-life balance through a comprehensive total rewards package:

• Total Compensation: USD$185,000 - $195,000 (inclusive of base salary + bonus).
• Health & Wellness: 100% premium coverage for you and your dependents on medical, dental, and vision plans.
• Time to Recharge: Unlimited PTO, complemented by two company-wide breaks (Fourth of July & end of year).
• Family Support: Up to 12 weeks of fully paid parental leave, with an additional 6 weeks for birth parents; access to family planning and family care support through Carrot and Maven.
• Mental Health: Free access to Spring Health, including 5 complimentary therapy and psychiatry sessions, plus a Headspace account through Wellhub+.
• Perks & Extras: $150 monthly food stipend, $150 monthly reimbursement for cell phone and internet, pet insurance allowance, a full home office setup, free access to UrbanSitter with $625 in quarterly company-paid credits, ActiveHero, and One Medical.

Key skills/competency

• Microgrid Controls
• Real-time System Validation
• Hardware-in-the-Loop (HIL)
• Software-in-the-Loop (SIL)
• Automated Testing
• Simulink/Modelica
• Embedded Software
• C++/IEC 61131-3
• Power Systems Engineering
• Compliance & Reliability