Power Systems Engineer (Canada)

Opportunity Overview

Handshake is looking for experienced Power Systems Engineers to support AI research through flexible, part-time contract work. This is not a traditional engineering role—you’ll draw on your hands-on industry experience in power systems, microgrids, high-voltage systems, grid operations, or protection and control to evaluate AI-generated content and provide feedback that helps AI reason like a practicing power engineer.

This is an ongoing, project-based opportunity that you can take on alongside your current role.

What You’ll Do

• Create expert-level power engineering problems and scenarios grounded in real design, analysis, testing, commissioning, operations, and field work
• Review AI-generated responses for technical accuracy, practical feasibility, safety, and alignment with industry standards and engineering practice
• Evaluate calculations, assumptions, methodologies, and recommendations involving power flow, short-circuit analysis, protection, grid stability, equipment selection, and related topics
• Provide clear, structured written feedback to help improve AI model performance
• Complete tasks at your own pace, with no set schedule or minimum-hour requirement

Project Details

• The position is remote and asynchronous; work independently from wherever you are.
• The hours are flexible, with no minimum commitment, but most average 5–20 hrs
• The work includes developing prompts for AI models that reflect your field, and then evaluating responses.
• Your placement into a project will be dependent on project availability—if you apply now and can’t work on this project, more will be available soon.

Qualifications

Ideal candidates meet all three of the following:

• Industry experience — 2+ years of hands-on power systems engineering experience
• Degree — MS or PhD in Electrical Engineering, Power Engineering, or a closely related field. A BS in Electrical Engineering also qualifies when paired with strong industry experience
• Power systems expertise — demonstrated depth in one or more of the following areas:
• Transmission or distribution systems
• Microgrids and distributed energy resources
• High-voltage equipment and substations
• Protection, control, and relay coordination
• Power-flow, short-circuit, stability, or contingency analysis
• Grid integration of renewable energy and battery storage
• Power quality, grounding, or arc-flash analysis
• Utility operations, commissioning, or field engineering

Additional Qualifications

These are not required but will strengthen your application:

• Professional Engineer (PE) license or comparable professional certification
• Experience applying relevant IEEE, IEC, NERC, NFPA, or utility standards
• Proficiency with power-system tools such as ETAP, PSS®E, PSCAD, PowerWorld, DIgSILENT PowerFactory, SKM PowerTools, CYME, MATLAB/Simulink, Python, or comparable simulation and analysis environments
• Experience with protective-relay platforms and software from SEL, GE Vernova, Siemens, ABB, or comparable providers
• Experience at an electric utility, grid operator, engineering consultancy, EPC firm, power-equipment manufacturer, renewable-energy developer, or recognized employer such as GE Vernova, Siemens Energy, Hitachi Energy, Schneider Electric, Eaton, or Burns & McDonnell

Required for All Applicants

• Based in Canada
• Strong written communication and attention to detail
• Ability to explain complex power-engineering concepts clearly
• Ability to work independently in a remote, asynchronous environment