The world is electrifying faster than ever, and at GE Vernova, we're building the technologies that make it possible. As a Principal Engineer in Control & Automation Systems, you'll serve as a technical authority shaping the future of High Voltage Direct Current (HVDC) and digital substation technology. This is a role where your expertise directly influences how power reaches millions of people — and where your ideas help define what comes next.
You'll lead the technical design, architecture, and delivery of advanced control and automation systems for HVDC and digital substation environments. Specifically, you will:
- Own the technical solution for control and automation systems end-to-end — from requirements definition and architecture through to implementation, validation, and governance — ensuring designs meet customer requirements and comply with IEC 61850, IEC 60870-5, and related power system communication standards.
- Lead HVDC control and protection design, including network and cybersecurity architecture, Substation Configuration Language (SCL) data modelling, protection logic, interlocking logic, and integration of Intelligent Electronic Devices (IEDs), bay controllers, merging units, and Human-Machine Interfaces (HMIs) within digital substations.
- Drive engineering excellence by identifying and implementing improvements to methods, tools, processes, and systems that enhance customer value, and by upholding Safety, Quality, Delivery, and Cost (SQDC) principles across the team.
- Collaborate and influence across project teams, New Product Introduction (NPI), utilities, and vendors to support system integration, testing, and commissioning; provide technical consultation to cross-functional teams on manufacturing, supply chain, and field challenges.
- Shape the profession — represent GE Vernova externally at industry conferences and in professional bodies such as IEC and CIGRE; contribute to the Patent Evaluation Board (PEB); mentor junior engineers; and support hiring, promotion, and succession planning within Engineering & Technology.
Who We're Looking For
You're a seasoned power systems engineer with significant hands-on experience in substation automation and HVDC control systems — someone who combines deep technical authority with the ability to lead, influence, and inspire.
Required
- A formal education in Electrical Engineering, Control Systems, or a related discipline is valued, but we are most interested in your total experience and professional achievements.
- Significant experience in power system automation or substation control engineering, including substantial experience with IEC 61850-based systems.
- In-depth knowledge of IEC 61850 protocols and concepts, including Manufacturing Message Specification (MMS), Generic Object-Oriented Substation Events (GOOSE), SCL, and Sampled Values.
- Strong understanding of communication networks, including Ethernet, Virtual Local Area Networks (VLANs), and Parallel Redundancy Protocol/High-availability Seamless Redundancy (PRP/HSR) redundancy architectures.
- Proven experience configuring and integrating IEDs, protection relays, substation bay controllers, merging units, and HMI systems.
- Hands-on experience with Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition (SCADA) and Distributed Control System (DCS) platform integration.
- Working knowledge of Layer 2 and Layer 3 communication protocols, including IPv4, Open Shortest Path First (OSPF), Link Aggregation Control Protocol (LACP), Demilitarised Zone (DMZ), Virtual Private Network (VPN), Distribution Management System/Advanced Distribution Management System (DMS/ADMS), DNP3, and Modbus.
- Experience using IEC 61850 System Configurators and IED Connectivity Packages.
Preferred
- Active participation in IEC, CIGRE, or equivalent industry standards working groups.
- Experience leading root cause analysis for complex Voltage Source Converter (VSC) control and protection issues.
- Familiarity with cybersecurity design principles for industrial control systems.
Why GE Vernova
At GE Vernova, we're on a mission to electrify and decarbonize the world. That means building technologies that are reliable, sustainable, and transformative. Joining our team means working alongside some of the brightest minds in power engineering, contributing to projects that have a genuine global impact, and growing your career in an environment that values curiosity, collaboration, and technical leadership.
Additional InformationRelocation Assistance Provided: Yes
Skills Required
- Bachelor's degree in Electrical Engineering, Control Systems, or related discipline
- Minimum 15 years of experience in power system automation or substation control engineering
- At least 5 years of experience with IEC 61850-based systems
- In-depth understanding of IEC 61850 protocols and concepts
- Experience with engineering tools such as IEC 61850 System Configurators
- Hands-on experience integrating systems with SCADA and DCS platforms
GE Vernova Compensation & Benefits Highlights
The following summarizes recurring compensation and benefits themes identified from responses generated by popular LLMs to common candidate questions about GE Vernova and has not been reviewed or approved by GE Vernova.
-
Retirement Support — The 401(k) plan includes company matching contributions and additional company retirement contributions, with access to Fidelity resources and financial planning consultants. Feedback suggests this structure supports long-term savings beyond a basic match.
-
Parental & Family Support — Paid parental leave is available with flexible, continuous or non-continuous usage, and is complemented by adoption resources and Work/Life Connections guidance. Maternity leave is described as extended relative to typical workplace norms.
-
Leave & Time Off Breadth — Time-off programs include 12 paid holidays, permissive time off for many salaried roles, and dedicated personal, illness, and caregiving time for U.S. new hires. Some hourly roles start with a defined PTO bank, while other roles may offer unlimited time off.
GE Vernova Insights
What We Do
GE Vernova is a planned purpose-built company on a mission to electrify the planet while simultaneously working to decarbonize it. If we want our energy future to be different…we must be different. Our mission is embedded in our name. We retain our treasured legacy, “GE,” in our name as an enduring and hard-earned badge of quality and ingenuity. “Ver” / “verde” signal Earth’s verdant and lush ecosystems. “Nova,” from the Latin “novus,” nods to a new, innovative era of lower carbon energy that GE Vernova will help deliver. GE Vernova brings together GE’s portfolio of energy businesses including Power, Wind, Electrification and Digital businesses. With focus, GE Vernova is accelerating the path to more reliable, affordable, and sustainable energy, while helping our customers power economies and deliver the electricity that is vital to health, safety, security, and improved quality of life. Together, we have The Energy to Change the World.
Why Work With Us
Join our team, to evolve and grow, surrounded by some of the brightest minds in the industry who help you get better every day. You’ll get the chance to rewrite the rules, work on cutting-edge technology, and be part of a global team for positive change.
Gallery
