Associate Principal Electrical Studies Engineer

Westwood Professional Services • Plano, TX

25d

About The Position

Participate in the 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 support the seamless integration of renewable assets into the power grid. Mentor and guide junior studies engineers, and work with lead design engineers and clients to develop electrical models and studies that support the project design process.

Develop detailed system models that accurately represent the plant in design and perform 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 switching and overvoltage transients. Produce written reports conveying study results within project schedules.

Coordinate with internal project leads and project managers, as well as external clients, owners, and related engineers, including independent and owner’s engineers.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree in Electrical Engineering with coursework in power systems or electric power engineering from an ABET-accredited institution.
• Professional Engineer (PE) or equivalent license.
• Seven years of professional engineering experience in electrical plant design and operation, and electrical power systems modeling and studies.
• Five years of experience in utility-scale renewable power plant electrical design, modeling, and analysis; this experience may be included in or additional to the professional engineering experience.
• Experience with protection and control in utility and renewable systems.
• Experience providing independent review and feedback on electrical power systems studies for renewable power plant designs.
• Experience with electrical design of solar photovoltaic, wind, and battery storage projects.
• Experience in power systems analysis and electrical systems studies, including load flow and reactive power, short circuit and effective grounding, insulation coordination, power and energy loss, harmonics, voltage flicker, transient overvoltage (TOV), transient recovery voltage (TRV), capacitor switching, transformer inrush, protection coordination, and transient stability studies.
• Experience using DIgSILENT PowerFactory as a primary modeling tool for 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 using ETAP, PSCAD, ASPEN, CAPE, and CYMCAP.
• Experience with dynamic plant and control-system modeling in PSSE and PSLF.
• Knowledge of applicable IEEE, ICEA, NFPA, OSHA, NEC, and IEC standards.
• Knowledge of grid interconnection requirements and experience performing reactive power studies to demonstrate facility compliance with local and federal requirements.
• Experience with relay protection settings and setting software, including SEL-AcSelerator and GE-Enervesta.
• Knowledge of NERC standards, including PRC-001, PRC-019, PRC-024, PRC-025, and PRC-029 as listed in the posting.
• Programming experience using C, C++, or Python scripts for automation.
• Experience with Model Quality Testing following regional utility standards such as ERCOT and MISO.
• Current authorization to work in the U.S. without employer sponsorship.

Responsibilities

• Participate in the design and optimization of utility-scale wind, solar, and battery storage plants.
• Perform electrical system studies and support compliance with interconnection requirements and integration of renewable assets into the power grid.
• Mentor and guide junior studies engineers.
• Develop electrical models and studies with lead design engineers and clients to support project design.
• Develop detailed system models representing plants in design.
• Perform 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 switching and overvoltage transients.
• Produce written reports of study results within project schedules.
• Coordinate with internal project leads and project managers, clients, owners, independent engineers, and owner’s engineers.

What This Job Offers

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