In my role within the microgrid sector, I find myself at the cutting edge of innovation, working alongside brilliant experts from around the world. Together, we are dedicated to delivering impactful solutions that enable resiliency and sustainability for our customers. Each day presents new challenges and opportunities, fueling my passion for making a difference in the ever-evolving landscape of energy management.
A role at the cutting edge of innovation
I’m Annamarie, and I’m currently in my second rotation as a member of Schneider Electric’s Leadership Development Program (LDP). In my role within the Global Microgrid Line of Business, I have the amazing opportunity to support the TVDA (Tested, Validated, Documented Architecture) Lab at the SE Andover Research & Development Facility.
As a Microgrid Systems Test Engineer, I’m responsible for testing and validating end-user scenarios for our SE CTO (Configured to Order) Microgrid Solution, Microgrid Flex. Together with my team, I work to drive our state-of-the-art lab forward through test automation and collaboration with Schneider Electric partners as we deliver innovative microgrid solutions.
It’s a role that keeps me at the forefront of innovation in the microgrid space, while collaborating with some amazing experts from all around the globe to deliver resiliency and sustainability gains to customers.
Why a rotational development program?
A rotational development program is an immersive career pathway, designed to offer participants diverse experiences across various functions and departments. This dynamic approach not only enhances skill sets but also fosters a deep understanding of the business as a whole.
For those eager to explore different facets of their industry, build a robust professional network, and develop versatile competencies, a rotational program is a fantastic choice. It offers a unique opportunity to discover one’s strengths and passions while driving impactful change.
Schneider Electric offers many different development programs in a variety of business units and countries. I’m part of the Leadership Development Program (LDP) in the United States which is a three-year program with three different roles.
A day in my life
Join me for glimpse into a day in my life as I reflect on my journey as an LDP in the microgrid space!
7:45AM – Arrive at Office & Grab Coffee
After arriving at the office and stopping at my desk, I head upstairs to grab coffee with my friend and catch up about our days. We always like to try new coffee recipes – our current favorite is a Chai tea latte with oat milk, gingerbread flavor syrup and a shot of espresso!
8:00AM – Prep and Setup Microgrid Demo Lab
I head back downstairs and set up the Microgrid Demo Lab, which includes configuring the Energy Control Center to simulate our on-site microgrid. This is where we host live demonstrations to showcase how our microgrid solution is leveraged to provide resiliency, sustainability, and economic optimization right here at the Andover R&D facility.
8:30AM – Host Customer Tour
Once our microgrid sales lead arrives with their customers, I greet them as we make our way into the Demo Lab. After getting to know the group, I begin the presentation and share how our microgrid solutions can help them achieve their resiliency needs and sustainability targets. Next, we head over to the Microgrid TVDA lab for a deep-dive into our standardized offer, Microgrid Flex, and how the capabilities of the lab enable us to deliver microgrid solutions with shorter lead times and decreased life cycle cost.
9:15AM – Daily Standup
As the visitors head to their next meetings for the day, I go back to my desk and check my email. Then, I jump on the daily standup call with my team. This is a short meeting in which the team gathers to share quick updates or blockers, and our plans for today’s work. This gives us the opportunity to address roadblocks as a team and celebrate wins together.
9:30AM – TVDA Testing
After the standup, I meet with the Andover lab team in the TVDA lab. We power up the lab and dive into some testing for new DER (Distributed Energy Resource) integration. The test plans we execute will validate new architectures and DERs for release in the configured-to-order microgrid configuration tool, EcoStruxure Microgrid Build. Broadening this portfolio of validated use cases is key to our CTO strategy and the value we deliver.
12:00PM – Lunch
At noon, the team walks to lunch. A great perk of the Andover office is that we have a cafeteria since the site hosts many visitors and customers. I grab a salad from the salad bar and sit with the team to catch up about our weekends and plan out what we’d like to accomplish in the afternoon.
12:30PM – Lab HMI (Human Machine Interface) Development
I head back to the lab and begin some development in Python and GeoSCADA for a lab automation application I am taking lead on. The application will act as a kind of centralized dashboard for visualization and controls in the lab, increasing the efficiency of future testing and acting as a building block towards automation.
3:45PM – Team Sync on Travel Plans
Near the end of the day, the team meets to sync on our travel plans. Myself and two other team members are traveling to two SE global R&D hubs (Bangalore, India and Grenoble, France) in a few weeks for PI Planning and meetings with the Microgrid team. I am super excited for the trip – not only to visit new places I’ve never experienced but also to meet some of the people I work with every day!
4:00PM – LDP Conference Meeting
Within the LDP, I am a proud member of our conference committee helping to pitch, plan and execute an in-person event for our program members, alumni and network. This year’s theme is Trust as an Accelerator for Success. During the call we discuss workshops and events to bring this theme to life, as well as managing travel and budget. It is always great to work alongside my LDP cohort as many of them have become my best friends.
5:00PM – Wrap Up & Planning for Tomorrow
After the conference meeting, I follow up on a few action items from the conference team. Then, I wrap up the rest of the work from the day and look at my calendar for tomorrow. I do some quick prep for upcoming calls and projects and then head home. On my commute, I always like to spend the time catching up with friends or family on the phone.
Thank you for reading
Thank you for following along for a glimpse into a day in my life as a Microgrid Systems Test Engineer! It is incredible to work in such a meaningful space with a strong team of experts dedicated to driving grid modernization – and having some fun along the way.
If you’re interested in learning more about our development programs, visit the careers website and search for current openings here.
About the author
Annamarie Martin, Microgrid Systems Test Engineer
Annamarie Martin is a Microgrid Systems Test Engineer at Schneider Electric. She enjoys traveling, staying active and spending time with family and friends.
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