Digital EPC Project Lead (BESS Specialist)

Location

Sevilla, Spain

Mission

Technical ownership of the digital (OT) scope of renewable energy plants (PV, BESS and hybrid PV+BESS): SCADA, communications network, sensing and instrumentation, and plant control systems. Defines the digital architecture and ensures its design, integration, commissioning and operational performance throughout the whole plant lifecycle, coordinating suppliers, integrators and the company's internal technical departments, and acting as the interface with EPC contractors, the control center, OT cybersecurity, corporate IT, the Utility and the System Operator.

Responsibilities

Act as technical owner of the digital scope of renewable energy plants (PV, BESS and hybrid PV+BESS; wind when required): SCADA, communications network, sensing and control systems. Coordinate suppliers, integrators and internal technical departments (influencing and steering without direct management of a technical team) throughout the plant lifecycle:

• Define the digital architecture of the plant (SCADA, plant controller/PPC, EMS, communications network, sensors and instrumentation), ensuring consistency across PV, BESS and substation systems from concept to operation.
• Develop and review the digital engineering in all project phases (conceptual, basic, detailed and as-built): architectures, technical specifications, signal lists, I/O and network drawings, according to monitoring, control and grid code requirements.
• Communications network design and engineering: OT LAN/WAN topology, redundancy, switches, gateways, signal concentrators, protocol converters, time synchronization and remote connectivity to the control center.
• Define sensing and instrumentation requirements (meteorological stations, energy meters, field sensors, BESS and environmental signals, integration of fire and safety signals) and data quality criteria.
• Interface and protocol definition (Modbus, DNP3, IEC-104, IEC-61850, OPC) between plant systems, BESS subsystems (BMS, PCS, thermal management, fire protection), the control center, the Utility and the System Operator.
• Define the functional requirements of SCADA, PPC and EMS control (active/reactive power, voltage and frequency response, ramp rates, BESS dispatch from the control perspective) and supervise their implementation and integration.
• Coordinate with OT cybersecurity and corporate IT: network segmentation, remote access, IEC 62443 compliance and integration of plant data with corporate IT and data platforms.
• Prepare technical specifications, carry out the technical – economic evaluation of offers and manage suppliers and integrators (SCADA, communications and OT equipment, and the digital interfaces of inverter, BESS and PCS suppliers).
• Technical coordination of EPC contractors and integrators: documentation review and tracking, FAT, interface management and resolution of technical issues.
• Lead the commissioning of the digital scope (SCADA, communications, sensors and control), including communications with the control center, the Utility and the System Operator, and participation in grid compliance tests and, for BESS, in the control and data-acquisition aspects of capacity and performance tests (SAT).
• Follow-up of grid connection and grid code compliance requirements affecting monitoring and control, together with the Utility and the System Operator.
• Operation phase: support O&M and the control center on performance monitoring, availability, incident resolution, upgrades and obsolescence management, feeding lessons learned back into engineering.
• Contribute to the company's OT/digital standards, reference architectures and technical templates.
• Project status and KPI reporting to the Head of OT Engineering and coordination with engineering, procurement, construction, operation, cybersecurity and IT teams.

Job Requirements

• Engineering degree (Telecommunications, Industrial, Electrical or Electronic Engineering).
• Language: English. B2 certification.
• Advanced knowledge of control and monitoring systems (SCADA, plant controllers/PPC, EMS) for renewable plants.
• Advanced knowledge of industrial communications networks and protocols (Modbus, DNP3, IEC-104, IEC-61850, OPC).
• Knowledge of OT cybersecurity (IEC 62443) and of field instrumentation and sensors for PV and BESS plants.
• Solid understanding of PV and BESS plant architecture and operation (BMS, PCS, container architectures, EMS functionalities) from the digital integration perspective.
• Knowledge of the execution of EPC projects and of the grid codes applicable to energy storage and renewable generation.
• Working knowledge of planning and project follow-up tools (MS Project, Primavera or similar).
• Knowledge of BESS standards and safety codes (IEC 62619, UL 9540/9540A, NFPA 855) in relation to monitoring and safety-signal integration will be valued.
• CCNA certification or similar will be valued.
• OT cybersecurity certification (IEC 62443, GICSP or similar) or PMP certification will be valued.
• Knowledge of wind projects will be valued.

Previous experience

• At least 5 years of experience in the design, integration and commissioning of SCADA, communications networks and control and monitoring systems for utility-scale renewable plants (PV, BESS or wind) and substations, including on-site start-up.
• At least 3 years of specific experience in the digital integration of utility-scale BESS (standalone or hybrid): EMS/PPC, communications and interfaces with BMS and PCS, including supplier management and commissioning.
• Experience coordinating suppliers, integrators and EPC contractors, and in technical – economic evaluation and negotiation of offers.
• Experience working with cross-functional technical teams (engineering, operation, cybersecurity, IT) in a matrix environment.
• Valuable experience in the operation phase (O&M or control center) of renewable plants.
• Valuable experience in grid code compliance and interaction with the Utility and System Operator.
• Valuable experience in OT cybersecurity (IEC 62443) and in wind projects.

• Availability for International travel on a regular basis.

What we offer

• Career opportunities and professional development in a growing multinational company with a team highly qualified
• Permanent contract
• Hybrid work model

Zelestra celebrates the diversity of thought and experience that comes from a variety of backgrounds including, but not limited to, gender, age, ethnicity... Our mission is to contribute to a more just and equitable society.

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