Nerc System Operator Jobs in Tennessee (NOW HIRING)

Silicon Ranch is a fully integrated provider of customized renewable energy, carbon, and battery storage solutions for a diverse set of partners across North America.

• We are known for putting community partnerships first, and are the only renewable energy company in the U.S. that owns and operates all of its solar ranches and has a 100% track record for successful delivery.

• We have the largest utility scale agrivoltaics portfolio in the country under Regenerative Energy, our nationally recognized holistic approach to project design, construction, and land management. Our model incorporates regenerative ranching and other regenerative land management practices to restore livelihoods and soil health, biodiversity, and water quality.

• Through our subsidiary, Clearloop, we are able to help businesses of all sizes reclaim their carbon footprint with a direct investment in building new solar projects while also helping bring renewable energy and economic development to distressed communities.

By joining Silicon Ranch, you will be joining a team of experienced and dedicated individuals who have proven time and again that it is indeed possible to not only "make solar do more", but to make the promise of carbon-free, renewable energy that benefits people right where it comes from a tangible, measurable, and replicable reality. 

Silicon Ranch is committed to creating a diverse and inclusive workplace that is reflective of the communities in which we work and serve. We are an equal opportunity employer and will consider all qualified applicants without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, veteran status, and other legally protected characteristics.

Job Description

Position: Renewable Operations Center Operator- Solar PV  

Location: Nashville, TN (Onsite - Remote Operations Center)

Overview: The Remote Operations Specialist is responsible for the real-time monitoring, control, and operational compliance of utility-scale solar PV power plants from a NERC GOP-2 compliant Remote Operations Center (ROC). This role supports grid reliability, plant availability, safe operations, and regulatory compliance across a geographically diverse solar portfolio.
The position functions as a front-line system operator, coordinating with Balancing Authorities (BAs), Transmission Operators (TOPs), Field O&M teams, Asset Management, and Engineering to ensure plants are operated safely, reliably, and in full compliance with NERC Reliability Standards.

Why Join Us

• Be part of the setting up of a modern NERC compliant ROC
• Operate critical utility-scale solar assets in a NERC-compliant control room
• Play a direct role in supporting grid reliability and clean energy integration
• Gain hands-on experience in real-time grid and plant operations
• Build skills in data analytics and Power BI reporting
• Work a structured DuPont schedule with built-in extended time off
• Grow into senior operations, compliance, or performance engineering roles

Main Responsibilities: 

Real-Time Operations & Monitoring

• Monitor and operate solar PV plants using SCADA, EMS, and plant monitoring platforms
• Execute remote switching, curtailments, inverter setpoint changes, and plant controls in accordance with approved operating procedures
• Respond to dispatch instructions and operational directives from Balancing Authority and Transmission Operator
• Identify, diagnose, and escalate plant alarms, outages, and abnormal operating conditions
• Maintain real-time situational awareness of plant status, weather conditions, grid constraints, and interconnection limits

NERC Compliance & Grid Operations

• Perform operational duties in alignment with NERC and GOP-2 standards
• Execute and document operator communications using three-part communication protocols where required
• Maintain accurate and timely event logs, switching records, and operational documentation
• Support disturbance reporting, event classification, and evidence retention
• Participate in compliance drills, simulations, and internal readiness exercises
• Support internal and external NERC audits by providing operational records and evidence

Incident & Event Management

• Lead initial response to forced outages, inverter trips, grid events, and weather-related incidents
• Coordinate with Field O&M, OEMs, EPCs, and internal engineering teams during events
• Escalate issues per defined incident response procedures
• Support post-event reviews and corrective action tracking

Performance Analytics & Reporting

• In addition to real-time operations, this role encourages learning and hands-on exposure to data analysis and reporting
• Support operational and performance reporting by:
• Extracting data from SCADA systems, monitoring platforms, and event logs
• Developing and maintaining dashboards and reports using Microsoft Power BI
• Collaborate with Performance Engineering, Asset Management, and Compliance teams to:
• Analyze trends in outages, curtailments, alarms, and availability
• Improve operational insights, reporting automation, and decision-making
• This role offers a growth pathway into operations analytics, performance engineering, or compliance support

Work Schedule & Environment

• This position is based at a 247, 365-day Remote Operations Center (ROC) in Nashville, TN.
• Staff work on a rotating DuPont shift schedule, commonly used in utility and control room environments.

DuPont Shift Structure (Typical):

• Rotating 12-hour day and night shifts
• Multi-week repeating cycle that generally includes:
• Multiple consecutive day shifts
• Multiple consecutive night shifts
• Short recovery breaks
• A built-in extended rest period (typically 7 consecutive days off)
• Shift handovers are critical and include plant status, open incidents, grid constraints, and compliance-sensitive activities
• Must be comfortable working nights, weekends, and holidays as part of a rotating schedule

Qualifications: 

• Bachelor's degree in Engineering, Renewable Energy, or related technical discipline
  OR equivalent relevant experience.c
• Minimum 1-3 years of experience working in a technical call center or operations center role.

Operational Readiness Requirements

Candidates without prior NERC or control room experience must:

• Complete internal ROC onboarding and operations training program
• Complete NERC fundamentals training within 6-12 months
• Demonstrate proficiency in:
• Event logging and documentation discipline
• Operator communication protocols
• Shift handover procedures
• Incident escalation workflows

Preferred (But Not Required)

• Exposure to grid operations or interconnection requirements
• Familiarity with outage coordination
• Experience building reports or dashboards in Power BI
• Experience analyzing SCADA data
• • Demonstrated familiarity with:
  • SCADA or plant monitoring platforms
  • Solar plant metrics

Key Competencies

• Strong situational awareness and decision-making under pressure
• Clear verbal and written communication during normal and emergency operations
• High attention to detail and procedural discipline
• Collaborative mindset across operations, engineering, and compliance teams
• Commitment to safety, reliability, and regulatory compliance

Our interview process:

A typical interview process at Silicon Ranch might include the below stages. Please note that we may make changes to these steps as needed, and details will be provided to you early on in the process.

1. Introductory Interview with our recruiter
2. Hiring Manager Interview to dive into technical skills and behavioral questions
3. Panel Interview to assess cross-functional skills and dive deeper into technical skills
4. Executive Interview to answer high-level questions about SRC and the team