Staff or Senior Distribution Modeling Engineer

Xcel Energy•Maple Grove, MN

4d•$81,800 - $129,267•Hybrid

About The Position

Xcel Energy's Integrated System Planning (ISP) department coordinates planning across all utility operations (generation, transmission, distribution, and natural gas) for a carbon-neutral future. The modeling team within ISP provides technical power systems modeling expertise to support long-term, cross-functional planning. This role focuses on power systems modeling for the distribution aspect of the grid. The position involves maintaining up-to-date power flow models, developing modeling standards, staying current with industry best practices, ensuring model accuracy through validation, resolving data quality issues, and building/validating ETL workflows. The role also includes performing hosting capacity analysis using EPRI DRIVE, publishing distribution system capacity maps, and supporting grid modernization efforts and regulatory filings. Integration of distribution planning with transmission, resource, and gas planning is also a key aspect.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree in engineering from ABET accredited curriculum
2+ year's relevant engineering experience (for Staff Engineer level)
Demonstrated broad knowledge & proficiency in specialty area, knowledge of related specialties, & general knowledge of other related disciplines.
Ability to demonstrate the unique technical skills & core competencies for this engineering level established & documented by the organization.
5+ years relevant engineering experience with EIT/FE (Engineer in Training/Fundamentals of Engineering) required (for Senior Engineer level)
7+ years relevant engineering experience without EIT/FE (for Senior Engineer level)
Ability to demonstrate the unique technical skills and core competencies for this engineering level established & documented by the organization.

Nice To Haves

EIT/FE (Engineer in Training/Fundamentals of Engineering) strongly preferred (for Staff Engineer level)
Preferred PE (Professional Engineer) registration may be required depending on business need (for Senior Engineer level)
Experience performing distribution system planning and interconnection studies
Experience with distribution modeling tools such as CYME, Synergi, OpenDSS, or similar
Electrical Engineering degree with specialization in power systems
Proficiency in programming/scripting (Python, SQL, or similar)
Familiarity with power system data models and standards, such as the Common Information Model (CIM)

Responsibilities

Maintain up-to-date power flow models as data and conditions change.
Work with model consumers to develop modeling standards that meet requirements for interconnection and planning studies and ensure consistent and repeatable modeling practices.
Stay current on industry best practices, emerging technologies, and advanced modeling techniques to continuously enhance analytical capabilities and planning outcomes.
Ensure accurate models through a standard model validation process.
Work to resolve data quality issues in upstream source data systems.
Work with ISP's data science team to build and validate ETL workflows in Xcel’s data management platform (Databricks).
Assess the capabilities of the distribution grid via hosting capacity analysis using EPRI DRIVE.
Publish distribution system capacity maps.
Incorporate stakeholder feedback to improve HCA map user experience.
Support Xcel's Distribution System Plans and other regulatory filings.
Support grid modernization efforts, such as beneficial electrification, non-wire alternatives, proactive grid upgrades, and dispatchable distributed generation.
Work to integrate distribution planning efforts with transmission, resource, and gas planning.
Applies extensive technical expertise and has an understanding of the basic principles of other related disciplines.
Fully demonstrates the unique technical skills and core competencies for this engineering level by applying technical standards, principles, theories, concepts, and techniques to lead projects of moderate to large size, scope and complexity.
Supports the development of technical documentation (including but not limited to designs, testing, calculations, reports, standards, etc.).
Provides field engineering oversight and direction for activities such as support, testing, installation, inspections, commissioning etc.
Coordinates/leads multiple projects or portions of projects (including phases such as research, design, equipment selection, procurement, installation and commissioning).
Represents the organization as the prime technical contact in the bid/evaluation processes including preparation of bid documents, completion of technical evaluations for proposals and providing recommendations for selection.
Effectively and with precision resolves difficult technical/business matters both inter-organizationally and with outside customer/vendors with all formats of communication.
May assign tasks to and/or direct engineers, technicians, craft personnel and other support staff including coordination and review of work assignments.
Provides guidance and mentoring to less experienced engineers.
Responsible for continuous self-development of technical skills and competencies.
Leads activities such as budgeting, estimating, forecasting, accounting, work order management, in support of engineering projects.