Associate System Operator

AES•Dayton, OH

4d•Onsite

About The Position

The AES Corporation (NYSE: AES), a Fortune 500 company, is a leader in the global energy revolution, operating in 14 countries and committed to shaping a future through innovation and collaboration. Recognized as one of the Top Ten Best Workplaces for Innovators by Fast Company in 2022 and certified as a Great Place to Work, AES is dedicated to its people and groundbreaking ideas. AES is ranked #1 globally in renewable energy sales to corporations and generated $12.7B in revenues in 2023, providing electricity to 25 million customers worldwide. Committed to meeting the Paris Agreement's goals by 2050, AES is developing innovative solutions like 24/7 carbon-free energy for data centers to drive rapid, global decarbonization. AES Ohio serves approximately 500,000 customers in Southwest-Central Ohio, managing 1,800 miles of transmission lines and over 150 substations. The System Operator role involves controlling and operating the Company's transmission, substation, and mainline distribution resources, monitoring generation, and ensuring compliance with NERC, PJM, and PUCO regulations, as well as company safety and operating standards. This is a rotating shift position requiring around-the-clock coverage, including nights, weekends, and holidays.

Requirements

This position is covered by NERC CIP cyber security standards.
Prior to being hired, promoted, or transferred into the position, the candidate must successfully pass a Personnel Risk Assessment, which includes identity verification and a criminal background check.
Before being granted unescorted access to cyber secure areas, the candidate must attend cyber security training.
Annual cyber security training is also required.
Develop and maintain knowledge of the company’s substation, distribution, and transmission systems, relay protection schemes, safety requirements, electrical theory, field equipment capabilities, and associated operating procedures and guidelines.
Ability to work in a stressful and fast-paced environment.
Ability to make sound judgments and crucial decisions in short amounts of time.
Ability to understand and assimilate complex technical information.
Ability to build and maintain relationships with teammates and external utility contacts.
Ability to work with little supervision and only general guidelines at times.
Must already have or obtain the appropriate North American Electric Reliability Corporation Certification within one year of employment and before independently performing the Reliability functions.
This Certification must be maintained with continuing education hours.
Must already have or obtain the appropriate PJM Certification within one year of employment and before independently performing the Reliability functions.
This Certification must be maintained with continuing education hours.
Ability to read and comprehend complex instructions, correspondence, and memos.
Strong oral and written communication skills.
Ability to apply concepts of algebra and geometry, and basic electrical theory.
Working knowledge of various database, spreadsheet, and word processing software.
Gather and analyze many complex variables to recommend decisions on complex issues under rapid and severe time constraints.
Combine complex data sets including weather, grid conditions, electrical voltages, customer load, power plant capabilities, system disturbance data, interconnected utility conditions, etc., to determine actions required to ensure continuous operation and reliability on the electrical grid.
Ability to solve practical problems and deal with a variety of concrete variables in situations where only limited standardization exists.
Ability to interpret a variety of instructions furnished in written, oral, diagram, or schedule form.
Has the authority to take or direct timely and appropriate real-time actions, without obtaining approval from higher-level personnel within their own operating authority vicinity.
During emergency operating conditions, has additional independent authority to shed firm load to prevent or alleviate Operating Security Limit violations without higher-level approval.
Ability to stand up to 2/3 of the time.
Must occasionally lift and/or move up to 25 pounds.
Ability to accept the mental and physical rigors of rotating shift work, constantly changing system conditions, and varying operating guidelines.

Nice To Haves

Bachelor’s degree in engineering or another technical discipline is desired.

Responsibilities

Controls and operates the Company's transmission, substation and mainline distribution resources and monitors generation resources from a reliability perspective.
Achieves and maintains operating standards in compliance with all existing NERC, PJM and PUCO regulations, plus company safety and operating standards.
Operates the transmission system, which includes responsibility for VAR flow, maintaining acceptable voltage levels, and monitoring for first contingency loading and voltage violations.
Coordinates and directs all switching operations on the transmission, substation and mainline distribution system.
Responsible for the safe, stable, reliable, economical, and environmentally correct operation of the Bulk Electric System.
Responsible for successfully completing the System Operator Training Program and complying with FERC, NERC, PJM, and RF requirements.
Promotes a safe working environment both inside and outside the department.
Completes the System Operator training requirements and passes the NERC and PJM certification tests.
Implements real-time actions, up to and including shedding firm load, to ensure stable and reliable operation of the Bulk Electric System.
Directs all actions for the safety and reliability of the electric grid, including field crews, electrical equipment, and customers in matters that affect electric grid reliability.
Directs all switching and tagging activities to achieve LOTO isolation on transmission, substation, and mainline distribution equipment for both scheduled and outage situations.
Serves as the first line of communication for real-time operations with PJM and interconnected utilities to assure the reliability of the transmission network.
Ensures compliance with strict Standards of Conduct, as well as NERC and PJM protocols for transmission services.
Operates the system on a minute-by-minute basis to ensure frequency is maintained by generation meeting load requirements.
Responds to transmission and distribution disturbances within established regulatory, industry, and company standards to ensure a continuous supply of electricity to customers.
Communicates the status of abnormal system conditions to co-workers and management.
Monitors and utilizes reactive reserves to ensure system reliability.
Mentors System Operator Trainees through the Operator training game plan.
Annually reviews and updates department Standard Operating Procedures.
Utilizes the system model to simulate removing transmission elements from service and reviews resulting contingency analysis to prevent any real-time violations.
Is knowledgeable of the procedures to transfer operations to the Back-up Control Center and implements them if necessary.