Software Engineer, Microgrid Controls Manager

We’re a team of friends bound together by a mission to preserve our planet for future generations through innovative energy solutions and modern infrastructure. In December 2025, Google announced an agreement to acquire Intersect, to enable more data center and generation capacity to come online faster while accelerating energy development and innovation. After close, we’ll continue doing exactly what we were built to do - develop, construct, and operate the most ambitious power and data infrastructure in the country.

Intersect’s operations will remain separate from Alphabet and Google under the Intersect brand. We’re on an aggressive growth trajectory and looking for people hungry to tackle the largest energy challenges on the planet. 

Intersect has been a fully flexible workplace since its founding in 2016.  We’ve been very intentional about the way we do things. We are not work-from-home, hybrid, or in-office - we are any and all of those options! Deepening social connections and offering shared experiences is a cornerstone of the way we work. We connect as a team at our Team Week experiences four times a year and at our recently established Hub locations - SF Bay Area, NYC Metro Area, NY; Denver, CO; Houston, TX; Calgary, AB; and Toronto, ON.

We are currently looking for candidates located within 60 miles of any of the listed hubs to foster more in-person connections while maintaining our flexible remote culture.

As part of Intersect’s Microgrid Engineering team, you’ll lead the development and evolution of the control systems that enable large-scale, resilient microgrids powering critical infrastructure. This role combines deep technical ownership with people leadership guiding architectural decisions, mentoring engineers, and ensuring the control stack meets the highest standards for safety, reliability, and performance across both islanded and grid-interactive environments. This role is designed for an experienced engineering leader who thrives at the intersection of software, power systems, and real-world operations. You’ll work closely with equipment suppliers, operations teams, and cross-functional partners to prove what’s possible as Intersect deploys microgrids at unprecedented scale.

This team plays a critical role in advancing Intersect’s mission to accelerate the energy transition by designing, validating, and deploying large-scale microgrid systems that support critical infrastructure. The Microgrid Engineering team works across software, hardware, and operations to deliver systems that are safe, reliable, and economically optimized, while giving team members the opportunity to work on complex, first-of-their-kind technical challenges alongside experienced cross-functional partners.

Lead and Develop the Controls Engineering Team

• Lead, mentor, and grow a team of controls engineers and software developers

• Responsible for microgrid control code and documentation

• Set clear technical direction, review designs and code, and support career development across the team

• Establish and enforce development best practices including version control, pull requests, coding standards, and unit testing

Own Microgrid Controls Architecture and Roadmap

• Define the technical approach and long-term roadmap for the supervisory microgrid controller, equipment control interfaces, and SCADA integration

• Translate system-level requirements into scalable, maintainable control software architectures

• Partner with internal teams to align controls strategy with system performance, reliability, and operational goals

Enable Equipment Integration and Grid Compliance

• Coordinate with equipment suppliers across PV, wind, battery storage, and thermal generation to define control interfaces and qualification requirements

• Define and tune key parameters such as droop control, dispatch logic, and ride-through behavior

• Ensure grid-connected operation complies with utility interconnection agreements and applicable ancillary market requirements

Validate, Test, and Improve System Performance

• Lead validation planning across Software-in-the-Loop (SIL), Hardware-in-the-Loop (HIL), vendor testing, and site-level validation

• Oversee modeling and analysis of economic tradeoffs including fuel efficiency, cycling, curtailment, and interconnection constraints

• Assist with post-event root cause analysis, reviewing telemetry and event logs to improve reliability and performance

Support Operations and Continuous Improvement

• Partner with operations teams to diagnose unexpected control behavior and drive timely resolution

• Document issues clearly and coordinate corrective actions across internal and external stakeholders

• Use operational learnings to continuously improve control strategies and development processes

• 8–12+ years of experience in real-time controls, power systems, or microgrid / DER controls.

• 3–5+ years of experience leading engineering teams or serving in a technical management role.

• Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in Electrical Engineering, Software Engineering, Computer Engineering, or a related field.

• Strong background in real-time control systems for power or industrial applications.

• Experience with microgrids and distributed energy resources.

• Fluency in software lifecycle management, quality assurance practices, and disciplined development workflows.

• Hands-on experience with industrial or embedded control languages such as C++, IEC 61131-3 Structured Text, SEL RTAC logic, CODESYS, Lua, Rust, or C; commissioning SCADA systems experience is a plus.

• Familiarity with cybersecurity requirements and standard protective measures for control systems.

• Knowledge of utility grid interconnection and market requirements, particularly ERCOT.

• A collaborative, systems-oriented mindset that will help you succeed in cross-functional, fast-moving environments.

At Intersect, we care about your well-being, growth, and balance. Here’s how we support you:

Total Compensation: USD$ 185,000- $195,000 (total compensation includes base salary + bonus)

Health & wellness: 100% premium coverage for you and your dependents on medical, dental, and vision

Time to recharge: Unlimited PTO, plus two company-wide breaks (Fourth of July & end of year)

Family support: Up to 12 weeks of fully paid parental leave, plus 6 additional weeks for birth parents; access to family planning support via Carrot and Maven

Mental health: Free access to Spring Health which includes 5 free Therapy & psychiatry sessions, plus a Headspace account for mindfulness and meditation through our physical health vendor, Wellhub+

Perks & extras: $150 monthly food stipend, $150 monthly reimbursement for cell phone/ internet, pet insurance allowance, full home office setup and free access to UrbanSitter with $625 in quarterly paid company credits, ActiveHero, and One Medical

Ready to build control systems that power critical infrastructure at unprecedented scale? Apply now and help shape the future of microgrid technology while growing your leadership impact.

Intersect maintains a work environment free from discrimination, one where all employees are treated with dignity and respect. All employees share in the responsibility for fulfilling Intersect's commitment to equal employment opportunity. Intersect does not discriminate against any employee or applicant on the basis of age, ancestry, citizenship, color, family or medical care leave, gender identity or expression, genetic information, immigration status, marital status, medical condition, national origin, physical or mental disability, political affiliation, protected veteran or military status, race, ethnicity, religion, sex (including pregnancy), sexual orientation, or any other characteristic protected by and consistent with applicable local laws, regulations and ordinances. We adhere to these principles in all aspects of employment, including recruitment, hiring, training, compensation, promotion, benefits, social and recreational programs, and discipline.