Q

Qualus

Power services firm for grid modernization

Principal SCADA Engineer

Full-TimeDeadline 7/20/27
No salary listed
Expert
Bachelor's
Vancouver, BC, Canada
In Person
Electrical EngineeringPower Systems Engineering, Controls & Automation Engineering

About the job

Requirements
  • At least 20 years of utility-focused protection, control, and metering engineering experience, with demonstrated system-level responsibility.
  • Bachelor’s degree in Electrical Engineering from a recognized university.
  • Registration as a Professional Engineer (P.Eng.) in Canada, or eligibility to obtain registration; a U.S. Professional Engineer license is considered an asset.
  • Recognized expertise in substation protection philosophy, including transmission line, transformer, bus, and feeder protection.
  • Extensive experience with Energy Management Systems (EMS), Distribution Management Systems (DMS), SCADA Masters, Remote Terminal Units (RTUs), Programmable Logic Controllers (PLCs), Human-Machine Interfaces (HMIs), telemetry, and communications protocols.
  • Strong knowledge of DNP3, Modbus, IEC 61850, and related utility protocols.
  • Experience performing protection coordination studies and relay settings for high-voltage transmission systems.
  • Proven success in system architecture, field commissioning, troubleshooting, and stakeholder engagement.
  • Practical experience with substation construction, commissioning, outage planning, and operational interfaces.
  • Proven ability to provide technical judgment on non-standard, complex, or first-of-kind applications.
  • Strong understanding of North American Electric Reliability Corporation (NERC) compliance and its impact on design activities.
  • Experience on Engineering, Procurement, and Construction (EPC) projects, and familiarity with utility maintenance and operational practices, are considered strong assets.
  • Demonstrated capability to mentor.
Responsibilities
  • Act as the Automation Protection & Control Subject Matter Expert, providing technical governance across multiple projects and programs.
  • Set and uphold automation standards and best practices for high-voltage substations.
  • Serve as Principal Engineer or Technical Authority on complex, high-risk, or non-standard projects, providing final technical approval and direction.
  • Review and approve protection planning, philosophy, and application documents; one-lines, schematics, logic diagrams, panel layouts, and wiring diagrams; and Remote Terminal Unit, Programmable Logic Controller, Human-Machine Interface, embedded controller, and communications system configurations.
  • Chair or participate in senior-level design reviews, hazard and risk assessments, and near-miss investigations.
  • Advise project teams on construction sequencing, outage planning, and commissioning strategy.
  • Provide technical oversight for project scopes, feasibility studies, cost estimates, and definition-phase deliverables, including review of assumptions and risks.
  • Support Business Development by contributing technical strategy, execution approaches, and risk assessments for proposals and pursuits.
  • Act as a primary technical escalation point for clients, internal teams, and external partners.
  • Mentor senior and junior engineers, and contribute to the continuous improvement of Automation standards, tools, and engineering practices.

About the company

Qualus provides power-services across advisory, planning, engineering, digital solutions, program management, field services, and software-enabled services to utilities, commercial/industrial sites, data centers, governments, and renewable/energy-storage developers. Its offerings combine hands-on project execution with data-driven software tools to modernize grids, improve resiliency, ensure security, and advance sustainability, including integrating distributed resources and managing emergencies. Distinct as a pure-play firm that covers both consulting and field execution with ~1,900 professionals across the U.S. and Canada, serving utilities, commercial/industrial sites, data centers, and government clients. Its goal is to help clients build and maintain reliable, secure, and efficient power systems during the energy transition.

Company Size

501-1,000

Company Stage

N/A

Total Funding

N/A

Headquarters

Cincinnati, Ohio

Founded

2001

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Simplify Jobs

Simplify's Take

What believers are saying

  • Clearlake closed the Qualus acquisition on April 30, 2026.
  • Qualus bought Wood's North American T&D business in October 2025.
  • Aquawolf's December 2025 deal added high-voltage routes, offices, and construction support.

What critics are saying

  • Qualus still fights RESA Power over trade secrets and non-compete enforcement.
  • Clearlake must integrate Aquawolf, Wood T&D, and ten prior acquisitions quickly.
  • Private-equity ownership and financing increase pressure for leverage, synergies, and a 2027 exit.

What makes Qualus unique

  • Qualus is a pure-play power platform spanning advisory through field execution.
  • Qualus serves utilities, data centers, renewables, and industrials across North America.
  • Qualus built scale through 2021-2025 tuck-in acquisitions under New Mountain Capital.

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Benefits

  • Health Insurance
  • Dental Insurance
  • Vision Insurance
  • Life Insurance
  • Disability Insurance
  • Health Savings Account/Flexible Spending Account
  • Parental Leave
  • Paid Vacation
  • Paid Holidays
  • EAP

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Clearlake Capital Group has signed a definitive agreement to acquire Qualus Corporation, a power and electric grid services platform, from New Mountain Capital. Financial terms were not disclosed. Qualus provides integrated advisory, planning, engineering, digital solutions and field services supporting grid resiliency and sustainability. The company serves investor-owned utilities and commercial organisations, addressing technical complexity created by economic electrification and surging power demands. New Mountain Capital supported Qualus over the past five years during a period of significant growth. The acquisition will be financed by Apollo, Goldman Sachs Alternatives and Clearlake as joint lead arrangers. Clearlake manages over $185 billion in assets and focuses on operational improvements through its O.P.S. approach across multiple sectors.

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