SD-25237 – ENGINEER IN SMART GRID AUTOMATION

The Luxembourg Institute of Science and Technology (LIST) is a Research and Technology Organization (RTO) active in the fields of materials, environment and IT. By transforming scientific knowledge into technologies, smart data and tools, LIST empowers citizens in their choices, public authorities in their decisions and businesses in their strategies.

Are you passionate about research? So are we! Come and join us

The Luxembourg Institute of Science and Technology (LIST) is a Research and Technology Organization (RTO) active in the fields of materials, environment and IT. By transforming scientific knowledge into technologies, smart data and tools, LIST empowers citizens in their choices, public authorities in their decisions and businesses in their strategies.

Do you want to know more about LIST? Check our website: https://www.list.lu/

You will join the Intelligent and Clean Energy Systems (ICES) research unit that aims to develop ground-breaking market-oriented solutions and services for clean energy systems, in which distributed and flexible markets and networks, based on clean and efficient assets, use digital technologies to integrate all the system players in an optimal, transparent and democratic manner.

Central to the ICES unit is the smart grid vision, namely, an electricity network in which information flows freely between consumers and suppliers, and operating conditions are adapted in real-time to guarantee the adequate security, reliability and resiliency levels. The research team extends this vision towards a wider energy portfolio, integrating other energy infrastructures and providing further abstraction and intelligence levels when designing, planning and operating solutions for the energy systems of the future.

Is Your profile described below? Are you our future colleague? Apply now!

You hold a Master or PhD degree in electrical engineering with the required expertise in control and automation of electrical grid. You are expected to have: At least 5 years of hands-on experience in grid automation including smart grids, microgrids, distributed generations.

You also have

• A solid background in configuring and programming controllers and measurements systems for electrical networks, including networked PLCs and computers, RTUs, PMUs, smart-meters, relays, etc
• An experience with standard communication protocols such as IEC 61850, IEC 60870, IEEE C37.118….
• Good knowledge of programming languages used in monitoring (SCADA) and control systems, such as C, .Net, Python, and Java
• Experience with constructing and operating renewable energy systems interfaced to the grid through power converters will be highly appreciated
• Experience with real-time simulators such as OPAL-RT, RDTS, Typhoon is an asset
• Good communication skills
• Demonstrated skills such as communicative and willing to learn, self-organized, and creative
• Some ability to work both independently and collaboratively in an international team across the ICES RDI unit

On top of this you are fluent in English (written and oral). The knowledge in at least one of the official languages of Luxembourg (French, German or Luxembourgish) is an asset.

How will you contribute?

You will join the recently established Intelligent and Clean Energy Systems (ICES) research unit and will in particular be involved in its hardware-in-the-loop (HIL) simulation laboratory. The ICES research unit aims to develop ground-breaking market-oriented solutions in the ways in which energy is generated, distributed and consumed, meeting the challenge of cutting greenhouse-gas emissions, ensuring energy security, planning feasible business models and socially outreach advances.

You will report directly to the ICES Head of Unit. You will be the team referent in charge of the ICES’ HIL-lab in projects development. To this end, we are looking for an engineer with practical experience in grid automation. You will participate in research and development projects, having an essential role in:

• Managing and coordinating resources to ensure adequate development of the experiments to be conducted in the lab
• Projecting new experimental deployments, identifying needs and planning works 
• Leading configuration of experiments and setups related to projects, in collaboration with other team members
• Developing experimental setups, solutions and systems in projects together with other team members
• Programming controllers and applications in dedicated computational systems (real-time system, networked PLCs, rapid prototyping systems, …) related to evaluation and validation activities in projects
• Collaborating in implementing energy systems models in computational systems, including real-time computers with HIL, dedicated simulation systems, HPC, etc
• Deploying distributed measurement systems based on smart meters, IED, RTU, PMU, and IoT in general
• Operating and maintaining power equipment used in experiments, such as power converters, power amplifiers, power sources, programmable loads, emulators, etc
• Participating in preparing reports, deliverables and publications related to the experimental activities carried out in the lab
• Ensuring fully operational communication networks in the lab, including both internal communications and links with external entities and setups
• Developing supervision and control systems for automatizing experiments in the lab
• Commissioning and starting up the new systems to be integrated in the lab
• Practicing with new equipment and systems, and elaborating adequate operational guidelines
• Guaranteeing right operation and certification of equipment and systems in the lab
• Ensuring high-quality standards in operational and maintenance procedures
• Keeping the lab data-base and the lab archive well organized and updated
• Collaboration with other departments to ensure proper health and safety measures and protocols in the lab
• Caring on minimizing environmental impact of works in the lab according to regulations
• Contributing to the technical content of new research proposals and commercialization projects
• Supporting the dissemination and publication of the unit’s research results in top ranked scientific journals

Moreover, you will contribute to the dissemination, valorisation and transfer of RDI results through:

• Software licensing
• Participation in the drafting of technical reports, scientific articles, patents and inventions
• Participation in the implementation of technological solutions (proof-of-concepts, prototypes)