Distribution and Gas Planning Engineer (Staff, Senior, or Principal)

Xcel Energy•Minneapolis, MN

3d•$81,000 - $156,600•Hybrid

About The Position

Xcel Energy is hiring a Distribution and Gas Planning Engineer at the staff, senior, or principal level. The successful candidate will be placed at a level commensurate with their skills and experience. The role develops and supports integrated strategic plans for gas and electric distribution systems by identifying opportunities for collaboration, evaluating future scenarios and innovative solutions, and aligning resources, forecasts, and departmental priorities. The engineer partners across teams to incorporate regulatory requirements, company strategy, cost-benefit considerations, and system constraints into cohesive plans. Plans integrate traditional resources with non-traditional resources such as demand response, non-wires and non-pipes alternatives, virtual power plants, energy efficiency, beneficial electrification, energy storage, and managed charging. The engineer communicates plans, recommendations, and process documentation to internal and external stakeholders to inform decisions and support continuous improvement. The position works across both gas and electric systems; expertise in electric system planning and a working knowledge of gas planning and non-traditional solutions are considered ideal. The role applies extensive technical expertise and works largely without appreciable direction, using considerable latitude to determine technical objectives. It involves complex or innovative assignments, development of improved techniques and procedures, technical advising, project leadership, and interaction with senior external personnel. The engineer may direct and mentor other staff, lead multiple projects or portions of major projects, and support engineering activities including budgeting, estimating, forecasting, accounting, and work order management. Xcel Energy supports a hybrid work model. Many roles are expected to work onsite three days per week, Tuesday through Thursday, although expectations vary according to the role, team, and business needs.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree in engineering from an ABET-accredited program; electrical or civil engineering degrees are preferred.
Staff level: At least 2 years of relevant engineering experience, broad knowledge and proficiency in the specialty area, knowledge of related specialties, and general knowledge of other related disciplines.
Staff level: Ability to demonstrate the technical skills and core competencies established and documented for the engineering level.
Senior level: At least 5 years of relevant engineering experience with EIT/FE, or 7 years without EIT/FE.
Senior level: Ability to demonstrate the technical skills and core competencies established and documented for the engineering level.
Principal level: At least 9 years of relevant engineering experience with PE registration, or 15 years without PE registration.
Principal level: Ability to demonstrate the technical skills and core competencies established and documented for the engineering level.
Work across gas and electric systems; the position description identifies electric system planning expertise and a working knowledge with ability to develop expertise in gas planning and non-traditional solutions as ideal.
Strongly preferred for staff level: EIT/FE (Engineer in Training/Fundamentals of Engineering).
Required for senior level when applicable: EIT/FE for the 5-year experience path.
Required for principal level when applicable: PE (Professional Engineer) registration for the 9-year experience path.

Nice To Haves

Electrical or civil engineering degree.
EIT/FE registration for staff-level candidates.
PE registration for senior-level candidates, depending on business need.
Expertise in electric system planning, with working knowledge of gas planning and non-traditional solutions.
Experience with utility load simulation and resource modeling tools such as Encompass and LoadSEER.

Responsibilities

Develop and support integrated strategic plans for gas and electric distribution systems.
Identify collaboration opportunities, evaluate future scenarios and innovative solutions, and align resources, forecasts, and departmental priorities.
Coordinate across teams to incorporate regulatory requirements, company strategy, cost-benefit considerations, and system constraints into planning.
Integrate traditional and non-traditional resources into strategic plans, including demand response, non-wires and non-pipes alternatives, virtual power plants, energy efficiency, beneficial electrification, energy storage, and managed charging.
Communicate plans, recommendations, and process documentation to internal and external stakeholders to support informed decision-making and continuous improvement.
Apply technical standards, principles, theories, concepts, and techniques to lead projects of moderate to large size, scope, and complexity.
Support technical documentation, including designs, testing, calculations, reports, and standards.
Provide technical support and field engineering oversight for operations, maintenance, testing and diagnostics, regulatory activities, installation, inspections, and commissioning.
Coordinate or lead multiple projects or project phases, including research, design, equipment selection, procurement, installation, and commissioning.
Represent the organization as the prime technical contact in bid and evaluation processes; prepare bid documents, evaluate proposals, and recommend selections.
Resolve difficult technical and business matters across organizations and with customers and vendors using appropriate communication formats.
Assign and review work for engineers, technicians, craft personnel, and support staff; provide guidance and mentoring to less experienced engineers.
Maintain and develop technical skills and competencies.
Lead or support budgeting, estimating, forecasting, accounting, and work order management for engineering projects.