Associate Principal Electrical Studies Engineer

WESTWOOD PROFESSIONAL SERVICES INC • Plano, TX

7h

About The Position

Participate in design and optimization of utility-scale renewable plants, including wind, solar, and battery storage facilities. Perform comprehensive electrical system studies, ensure compliance with interconnection requirements and seamless integration of renewable assets into the power grid, and mentor and guide junior studies engineers. Work with lead design engineers and clients to develop electrical models and studies to support the project design process. Develop detailed system models that accurately represent the plant in design and perform a variety of studies, including short circuit and effective grounding, load flow and reactive power, harmonics, insulation coordination, power and energy loss, concentric neutral induced voltage, arc flash, grounding, lightning risk assessments, and transient studies for switching and overvoltage. Produce written reports conveying study results within the project schedule. Coordinate with internal project leads and project managers, as well as external clients, owners, and related engineers (such as independent and owner’s engineers).

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree in Electrical Engineering with coursework in power systems or electric power engineering earned from an ABET-accredited institution.
• Professional Engineer (PE) or equivalent license.
• Seven (7) years of professional engineering experience in electrical plant design and operation and electrical power systems modeling and studies.
• Five (5) years of experience in utility-scale renewable power plant electrical design, modeling, and analysis, which may have been gained as a part of or in addition to the professional engineering experience.
• Experience in Protection and control in utility and renewable systems.
• Experience in Providing independent review and feedback on electrical power systems studies for renewable power plant designs.
• Experience in Solar photovoltaic, wind, and battery storage project design, including the electrical aspects of these designs.
• Experience in Power systems analysis and electrical systems studies and related concepts including for load flow and reactive power, short circuit and effective grounding, insulation coordination, power and energy loss, harmonic, voltage flicker, transient overvoltage (TOV), transient recovery voltage (TRV), capacitor switching, transformer inrush, protection coordination, and transient stability studies.
• Experience with DIgSILENT PowerFactory as a primary modeling tool – specifically for performance of detailed system modeling, load flow and reactive power analysis, short circuit and effective grounding analysis, harmonic and voltage flicker analysis, and protective device coordination.
• Experience with Modeling and analysis with ETAP, PSCAD, ASPEN, CAPE, and CYMCAP.
• Experience with Dynamic plant and control-system modeling in PSSE and PSLF.
• Knowledge of Applicable standards in IEEE, ICEA, NFPA, OSHA, NEC, and IEC.
• Experience with Grid interconnection requirements and performance of reactive power studies to demonstrate facility compliance with local and federal requirements.
• Experience with relay protection setting and setting software (SEL-AcSelerator, GE-Enervesta).
• Knowledge of NERC standard, PRC-001, PRC-019, PRC-024, PRC-025?,PRC-029.
• Experience with Programming language using C/C++/Python scripts for automation.
• Experience with Model Quality Test by following regional utility standards such as ERCOT, MISO.
• Must have current authorization to be employed in the U.S. without employer sponsorship.

Responsibilities

• Participate in design and optimization of utility-scale renewable plants, including wind, solar, and battery storage facilities.
• Perform comprehensive electrical system studies.
• Ensure compliance with interconnection requirements and seamless integration of renewable assets into the power grid.
• Mentor and guide junior studies engineers.
• Work with lead design engineers and clients to develop electrical models and studies to support the project design process.
• Develop detailed system models that accurately represent the plant in design.
• Perform a variety of studies, including short circuit and effective grounding, load flow and reactive power, harmonics, insulation coordination, power and energy loss, concentric neutral induced voltage, arc flash, grounding, lightning risk assessments, and transient studies for switching and overvoltage.
• Produce written reports conveying study results within the project schedule.
• Coordinate with internal project leads and project managers, as well as external clients, owners, and related engineers (such as independent and owner’s engineers).

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Senior