Firmware Engineer - Power Systems (m/w/d)

Job Description

Nextracker's Control Systems Engineering team designs and delivers advanced control and communication solutions that optimize the performance of utility-scale solar, storage, and hybrid power plants.

We are seeking a Firmware Engineer to join our product development team responsible for embedded software and control logic used in plant-level control and grid regulation systems. This engineer will develop and validate real-time control firmware for industrial controllers (PLC and IPC-based systems), to meet precise performance requirements and grid code compliance.

The ideal candidate is hands-on, detail-oriented, and experienced in real-time embedded control systems. You will work closely with hardware, SCADA, and commissioning teams to deliver reliable, validated firmware deployed in utility-scale renewable generation plants.

Key Job Responsibilities

Firmware Development

• Design and implement real-time control algorithms for industrial controllers (PLC or IPC-based systems).
• Develop and maintain firmware architecture, state machines, and I/O logic for control of active/reactive power, voltage, and frequency.
• Implement and optimize communication stacks (e.g., Modbus TCP/RTU, DNP3, IEC 61850, OPC UA).
• Optimize firmware for deterministic timing and low-latency control execution.
• Integrate voltage, current, and frequency feedback loops with inverters, BESS, and metering systems.

Hardware Integration

• Collaborate with hardware engineers to define I/O mappings, analog/digital signal conditioning, and network communication layers.
• Work with industrial controller platforms (e.g., Siemens S7, GE RX3i, Allen-Bradley ControlLogix, or industrial PCs).
• Validate deterministic real-time performance under operational and simulated conditions.

Testing and Validation

• Support unit testing, Hardware-in-the-Loop (HIL) simulation, and Factory Acceptance Testing (FAT) of firmware releases.
• Collaborate with modeling and controls engineers to validate dynamic response under grid disturbance scenarios (RTDS, OPAL-RT,).
• Implement automated testing and test routines for firmware builds.

Standards and Compliance

• Ensure firmware operation complies with grid codes (IEEE 1547, UL 1741 SA, IEC 61850-7-420) and cybersecurity standards (IEC 62443).
• Maintain documentation for firmware design, communication interfaces, and functional behavior per IEC/IEEE standards.
• Support certification testing for control hardware and firmware releases.