Distribution Planning Engineer – System Planning & Grid Reliability
About The Position
In this role, you'll support electric utilities with distribution system planning, load forecasting, protection and arc flash studies, construction work plans, system reliability assessments, and capital improvement planning. You'll partner with utility clients to identify future system needs, evaluate infrastructure investments, and develop practical engineering solutions that improve reliability, safety, and capacity across the distribution network. This position offers opportunities to work on a diverse range of planning and engineering projects while helping utilities prepare for load growth, asset replacement needs, grid modernization initiatives, and evolving customer demands. This is a strong fit for engineers who enjoy both technical analysis and strategic planning.
Requirements
- Bachelor’s degree in Electrical Engineering or a related field.
- ~5+ years of experience in electric utility or distribution planning.
- Experience with distribution modeling and engineering analysis tools (e.g. CYME, Synergi, or ASPEN, WindMil, ETAP, SKM, EasyPower, CAPE, PSS/E, PSCAD etc.).
- Experience supporting construction work plans, capital planning efforts, utility infrastructure investment programs, or protection coordination analyses.
- Ability to travel up to 5% as required to support clients and projects.
- FE/EIT (or ability to obtain).
Nice To Haves
- Master’s degree in Electrical Engineering.
- Professional Engineer (PE) license.
- Experience conducting arc flash studies and protection coordination analyses.
- Experience with load forecasting, LoadSEER, or other forecasting platforms.
- Experience developing long-range distribution plans and asset management strategies.
- Experience with scripting, automation, or advanced data analytics.
- Experience managing or supporting project execution, including scope, schedule, and coordination across teams.
- Experience interfacing directly with clients, including presenting study results or participating in technical discussions.
- Understanding of project financials, budgets, or resource planning.
Responsibilities
- Perform distribution planning studies, including load flow, voltage analysis, contingency analysis, capacity assessments, and system reliability evaluations.
- Develop long-term distribution system plans and identify infrastructure improvements required to support forecasted load growth.
- Prepare and support utility construction work plans (CWPs), capital improvement plans, and system reinforcement programs.
- Conduct arc flash studies, protection coordination studies, and fault current analyses.
- Develop and maintain distribution system models using tools such as CYME, Synergi, WindMil, ASPEN, or similar platforms.
- Perform load forecasting and evaluate future capacity requirements at the feeder, substation, and system level.
- Assess equipment loading, feeder performance, voltage regulation, and reliability metrics.
- Support grid modernization initiatives including automation, resiliency improvements, and strategic infrastructure investments.
- Collaborate with distribution design, substation, protection, data solutions, and operations teams to develop integrated engineering solutions.
- Lead client discussions, present technical recommendations, and support project execution.
- Mentor junior engineers and provide technical review of planning and study deliverables.
Benefits
- Generous paid time off and benefits
- 401(k) retirement program with a company match
- Career development programs
- Tuition reimbursement
- Flexible work schedule
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What This Job Offers
Job Type
Full-time
Career Level
Senior
