Also called: Distributed Energy Engineer, Microgrid Controls Engineer
Designs small, self-running power grids, with solar, batteries and generators, that keep hospitals, bases and towns powered when the main grid goes down.
You model how a college campus's solar panels, batteries and backup generators should work together. Then you write the control logic that disconnects from the grid during a storm and keeps the lights on. On commissioning day you pull the plug on purpose to prove it works.
Estimated from BLS electrical engineers.
Approximate: anchored on Bureau of Labor Statistics data for a broader job group.
Bachelor's degree (4-year), about 4 years after high school. Bachelor's in electrical engineering; many have a master's in power systems.
Ways in: 4-year college, Graduate school. Training cost: $15k – $60k.
Majors to look at: Electrical Engineering, Energy Systems Engineering.
Growing faster than average (about 7% over 10 years). Electrical engineers overall; microgrid demand is growing faster.
Medium risk for 10 years. AI optimizes battery and solar dispatch; designing a reliable system for a hospital or base still takes engineers.
Classes: AP Physics, AP Calculus, AP Computer Science.
Official data: O*NET occupation 17-2071.
Career Universe is an early version. Pay, training and AI-risk figures are estimates to start your own research, not verified facts. The research was written with AI research assistants, checked by validation scripts and spot-checked by hand. Check anything important with schools, employers and official sources. How the numbers work.