R&D Substation Automation - Verification & Validation Engineer - IDC

Job Summary**

We are seeking a highly motivated and innovative R&D Engineer to join our dynamic team at Hitachi, Ltd. This role involves contributing to the research, design, and development of cutting-edge technologies and products, pushing the boundaries of innovation within our diverse industrial sectors.

Job Responsibilities**

• Perform verification and validation of Substation Automation and Protection products, systems, and engineering tools.
• Design, execute, and document functional, integration, interoperability, regression, performance, and system-level test cases.
• Validate IEC 61850 services and system engineering, including MMS, GOOSE, Sampled Values, SCL files, and time synchronization where applicable.
• Test communication interfaces and protocols such as IEC 61850, IEC 60870-5-101/104, DNP3, OPC UA, SNMP, and other relevant industrial protocols.
• Analyze network communication and troubleshoot system-level issues using tools such as Wireshark and protocol/test tools.
• Validate integration between IEDs, protection and control devices, SCADA systems, gateways, engineering tools, and communication networks.
• Integrate the industry standard redundancy protocols and time synchronization between devices.
• Identify, reproduce, document, and track defects, working closely with development teams through resolution and verification.
• Contribute to test automation using Python or similar scripting technologies to improve test coverage and efficiency.
• Participate in cybersecurity and secure communication validation, including authentication, secure protocols, certificates, role-based access, and network security features where applicable.
• Prepare clear test specifications, test reports, defect reports, and technical documentation.
• Collaborate with local and global R&D teams to continuously improve test methods, automation, product quality, and validation efficiency.

Job Qualifications**

• Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in Electrical Engineering, Electronics, Instrumentation, Power Systems, or a related engineering discipline.
• Good understanding of Substation Automation, Protection & Control, or power automation systems.
• Knowledge of IEC 61850 concepts and communication architecture.
• Familiarity with at least some industrial protocols such as IEC 60870-5-101/104, DNP3, OPC UA, Modbus, or SNMP.
• Basic understanding of Ethernet networking, TCP/IP, VLANs, redundancy, and time synchronization concepts.
• Experience with system testing, product validation, integration testing, or troubleshooting.
• Ability to analyze communication/network traces using Wireshark or similar tools.
• Basic programming or scripting knowledge, preferably Python.
• Strong analytical, problem-solving, documentation, and communication skills.