Distribution Planning Engineer (Entry, Staff, Senior, or Principal)

Xcel Energy•Maple Grove, MN

1d•Hybrid

About The Position

The Distribution Planning Engineer develops and implements near- and mid-term distribution system plans to support the safe, reliable, and cost-effective delivery of electric service. The role conducts distribution system analyses—including power flow studies, hosting capacity assessments, capacity checks, and load forecasting—to identify infrastructure needs and support system growth. The engineer develops execution plans for capacity expansion projects, evaluates non-wires alternatives and other grid solutions, and collaborates with account management, economic development, community relations, and regulatory teams. Additional work includes supporting regulatory filings, maintaining design philosophy documents and planning standards, identifying opportunities to integrate distributed energy resources, and providing technical recommendations aligned with operational needs and long-term business and customer objectives. The position develops technical expertise in a specialty area and performs work involving conventional plans, investigations, surveys, structures, or equipment with relatively few complex features and established precedents. Work is generally limited in scope and performed under supervision using established procedures. The engineer may lead small- to medium-sized non-critical projects, provide field oversight of critical projects under direction, contribute to larger projects as proficiency grows, and coordinate or supervise the work of interns, drafters, craft personnel, technicians, or others. Work is reviewed for technical judgment, adequacy, and accuracy. The posting describes entry, staff, senior, and principal engineering levels. The selected candidate will be placed at a level commensurate with their skills and experience, and the skills and experience requirements vary by level. Xcel Energy supports a hybrid work model; many roles are expected onsite three days per week, Tuesday through Thursday, although expectations vary by role, team, and business needs.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree in engineering from an ABET-accredited curriculum is required at all listed levels.
Entry level: 0 or more years of relevant engineering experience.
Staff level: 2 or more years of relevant engineering experience; demonstrated broad knowledge and proficiency in the specialty area, knowledge of related specialties, and general knowledge of other related disciplines.
Senior level: 5 or more years of relevant engineering experience with EIT/FE; 7 or more years without EIT/FE.
Principal level: 9 or more years of relevant engineering experience with PE registration; 15 or more years without PE registration.
Ability to demonstrate the technical skills and core competencies established and documented for the applicable engineering level.
Ability to perform work under supervision and follow established procedures at the entry-level scope described.

Nice To Haves

EIT/FE (Engineer in Training/Fundamentals of Engineering) is preferred at entry level and strongly preferred at staff level; it is required for senior-level candidates with 5 or more years of experience.
PE (Professional Engineer) registration may be required for senior level depending on business need; it is required at principal level for candidates with 9 or more years of experience.
Experience in distribution planning, distribution or substation design, DER interconnection, or distribution operations.
Experience with LoadSEER or other load forecasting tools.
Experience with CYME or other power flow tools.
Familiarity with utility regulatory processes and filings.

Responsibilities

Apply technical standards, principles, theories, concepts, and techniques to activities and assignments of limited scope.
Support development of technical documentation, including designs, testing materials, calculations, reports, and standards.
Use and potentially assist in developing procedures.
Provide ongoing technical support for project activities in areas such as operations, maintenance, testing and diagnostics, and regulatory work.
Provide field engineering oversight for commissioning, testing, inspections, and similar activities under direct supervision, as needed.
Coordinate or lead projects or portions of projects—including research, design, equipment selection, procurement support, installation, and commissioning—under the direction of a higher-level engineer or supervisor.
Support bid and evaluation processes by performing basic analyses and calculations using existing documentation and materials.
Communicate with other company business areas as part of technical proposal evaluations, following appropriate processes.
Exchange information with internal organizations and external customers or vendors on matters of varying importance and complexity.
Coordinate the work of interns, drafters, technicians, and others, and provide guidance and mentoring to less experienced engineers, as needed.
Maintain and develop technical skills and competencies.
Support engineering projects through activities such as budgeting, estimating, forecasting, accounting, and work order management.
Develop and implement near- and mid-term distribution system plans.
Conduct power flow studies, hosting capacity assessments, capacity checks, and load forecasting to identify distribution infrastructure needs.
Develop execution plans for capacity expansion projects and evaluate non-wires alternatives and other innovative grid solutions.
Collaborate with account management, economic development, community relations, and regulatory teams.
Support distribution planning regulatory filings and maintain design philosophy documents and planning standards.
Identify distributed energy resource integration opportunities and provide technical recommendations aligned with system needs and business and customer objectives.