Senior Engineer - DER Communications

About the position

Georgia Power Company is seeking an Engineer to support the installation, commissioning, testing, maintenance, and lifecycle support of utility-owned Distributed Energy Resource (DER) field gateway solutions deployed at DER sites across Georgia. This field-focused role will help enable secure, scalable, and sustainable DER communications required for real-time DER monitoring and control through a Distributed Energy Resource Management System (DERMS). The position will work closely with the DER Communications’ Principal Gateway lead, DER operations teams, field organizations, cybersecurity, telecommunications, vendors, and contractors to ensure gateways are installed and maintained safely, reliably, and consistently. The position will be responsible for hands-on field execution, including installation and configuration of gateway hardware and communications equipment, supporting point-to-point testing, validating communications with DER assets and DERMS platforms, troubleshooting field issues, documenting as-built configurations, and supporting ongoing maintenance activities. Duties include working with low voltage power wiring, instrumentation and control wiring, and low voltage data and communication wiring. The successful candidate will be joining GPC’s expanding Grid Strategy & Solutions team that is developing Company strategies for the “grid of the future”. This collaborative and innovative team values leaders and problem‑solvers who are excited about shaping the future of our industry.

Responsibilities

  • Support deployment of standardized utility-owned DER field gateway solutions in accordance with technical requirements, construction specifications, cybersecurity standards, and operating procedures developed by the Principal Gateway lead and supporting SMEs.
  • Perform end-to-end field deployment activities for DER gateways, including site readiness reviews, installation checks, device configuration, commissioning, communications validation, point-to-point testing, troubleshooting, and corrective maintenance.
  • Support DERMS and enterprise Operational Technology (OT) platform integration by assisting with point list mapping, data validation, communications testing, control logic verification, and operational checkout with DER site personnel up to and including witness testing.
  • Maintain accurate field deployment records, commissioning results, as-built documentation, configuration files, maintenance history, and lessons learned to support long-term gateway reliability and continuous improvement.
  • Support integration of DER field gateways with DERMS and other enterprise OT platforms used for monitoring and controlling DER assets.
  • Coordinate with contractors, vendors, field organizations, telecommunications, cybersecurity, DER operations, and customer program teams to support safe and reliable DER field gateway installations.
  • Apply working knowledge of networking, firewalls, VLANs, NATs, cellular or utility telecommunications, and secure architecture during field deployment and troubleshooting activities.
  • Provide field input to improve DER gateway designs, installation standards, construction specifications, maintenance practices, and operating procedures.

Requirements

  • Minimum of 5 years of electric utility engineering, field engineering, operations, telecommunications, automation, or related technical experience is required.
  • Ability to travel frequently across Georgia to DER sites and work safely in field environments is required.
  • Prior experience using hand tools and test equipment to repair mechanical and/or electrical equipment is required.
  • Must be available to travel overnight and provide statewide support while working alone and driving to remote locations.

Nice-to-haves

  • Bachelor’s degree in Electrical Engineering, Computer Engineering, Engineering Technology, Telecommunications, Information Systems, or a related technical discipline from an ABET-accredited institution is preferred.
  • Professional Engineer License is a plus.
  • Field experience installing, commissioning, maintaining, or troubleshooting distribution automation, control, communications, metering, SCADA, protection, or related field equipment is highly preferred.
  • Experience working in Distribution Automation, I&C Engineering, SIA, or P&C Field Services is highly preferred.
  • Understanding of monitoring and control systems, SCADA architectures, electric utility OT environments, and secure communications networks is highly preferred.
  • Experience supporting field communications equipment for electric utility OT control systems or industrial environments is highly preferred.
  • Hands-on experience with installation, commissioning, maintenance, configuration, or operations of control, automation, networking, or communications equipment is highly preferred.
  • Strong working knowledge communication protocols such as DNP3, Modbus, IEEE 2030.5, OpenADR, OPC, and EIC 61850 are highly preferred.
  • Experience with communication protocol conversion, point mapping, telecommunications system architecture, and field diagnostics is preferred.
  • Experience with RTACs, PLCs, power plant controllers (PPCs), cellular routers, radios, network switches, gateways, inverter-based resources (IBR), renewable generation control systems, or similar intelligent field devices is preferred.
  • Working knowledge of networking, cybersecurity, firewalls, VLANs, NATs, IP addressing, and use of diagnostic tools is preferred.
  • Experience working in Transmission &/or Distribution Engineering, P&C Applications, telecommunications or system operations is a plus.
  • Experience with distributed generation (DG) interconnection, DG witness testing, renewables, DER operations, or customer-owned equipment integration is a plus.
  • Experience producing field documentation, test records, as-built drawings, configuration artifacts, maintenance records, and commissioning reports is a plus.

Benefits

  • Relocation assistance is available to those not currently within a reasonable commute distance.
  • competitive base salary
  • annual incentive awards for eligible employees
  • health, welfare and retirement benefits designed to support physical, financial, and emotional/social well-being.
  • This position may also be eligible for additional compensation, such as an incentive program, with the amount of any bonus/awards subject to the terms and conditions of the applicable incentive plan(s).
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