Electric Transmission Planning Lead

AECOM•Chicago, IL

1d•Hybrid

About The Position

AECOM is seeking an experienced Electric Transmission Planning Lead to strengthen and expand our transmission planning, grid modernization, and power system analysis capabilities across North America. This individual will serve as a senior technical leader and seller-doer, supporting a diverse portfolio of clients including electric utilities, independent system operators (ISOs/RTOs), transmission owners, renewable energy developers, data center providers, industrial and commercial energy users, government agencies, and other infrastructure stakeholders. The role will involve identifying and pursuing strategic growth opportunities, developing innovative technical solutions, and leading complex transmission planning, interconnection, reliability, and energy transition studies. The successful candidate will combine deep expertise in transmission system planning and power system analysis with strong client engagement, business development, and project leadership capabilities. This individual will serve as a trusted advisor to clients navigating grid expansion, renewable energy integration, electrification, reliability, resilience, and decarbonization challenges while providing technical direction, quality oversight, and mentorship across multidisciplinary project teams. In addition to leading technical studies, this role will help shape AECOM's strategic growth in the rapidly evolving energy sector, supporting pursuits, developing client relationships, and collaborating across engineering, advisory, environmental, digital, and program management disciplines to deliver integrated solutions. The ideal candidate will possess a strong understanding of transmission planning, interconnection processes, energy policy and regulatory drivers, emerging technologies, and the long-term challenges associated with modernizing and expanding North America's electric grid.

Requirements

BA/BS in Electrical Engineering or Power Systems Engineering + 8 years of related experience or demonstrated equivalency of experience and/or education
8 years of related experience in transmission planning, power system analysis, or closely related utility/consulting work
Demonstrated experience leading transmission planning and/or interconnection studies.
Demonstrated client-facing leadership and experience developing or expanding client relationships
Demonstrated experience leading multidisciplinary engineering projects

Nice To Haves

Masters Degree in Electrical Engineering or Power Systems Engineering
Professional Engineer (PE) license
Strong technical background in power flow, contingency analysis, dynamic stability, transmission expansion planning, and system reliability
Advanced experience with PSS®E, PSLF, PowerWorld, TARA, or comparable transmission planning software
Experience leading technical teams and reviewing complex power-system studies
Relevant industry experience in industrial, power generation, oil & gas, chemicals, LNG, terminals, or heavy industrial facilities
Strong understanding of applicable NERC reliability standards and regional transmission planning requirements
Experience working within one or more U.S. ISO/RTO or regional planning environments
Prior consulting or utility transmission-planning leadership experience
Existing relationships with electric utilities, ISOs/RTOs, developers, or other energy-sector clients
Experience with generator, storage, and large-load interconnection studies
Familiarity with EMT/IBR studies, PSCAD, production-cost modeling, HVDC, energy storage, or advanced transmission technologies
Experience with Python or other automation/data-analysis tools

Responsibilities

Lead transmission planning, system reliability, grid expansion, and interconnection engagements.
Provide technical direction for steady-state power flow, contingency, dynamic stability, short-circuit, and related transmission studies.
Lead long-range transmission expansion and scenario planning associated with load growth, electrification, renewable generation, energy storage, generation retirements, and emerging large loads.
Direct generator, storage, and large-load interconnection studies and transmission service assessments.
Develop study methodologies, assumptions, planning criteria, and technical approaches.
Review and provide QA/QC of models, analyses, technical reports, and recommendations.
Identify transmission constraints and guide development and evaluation of mitigation alternatives.
Serve as senior technical advisor for complex transmission planning issues.
Maintain working knowledge of emerging areas such as inverter-based resources, grid-forming technologies, HVDC, advanced transmission technologies, and probabilistic planning.
Develop and maintain relationships with utilities, ISOs/RTOs, developers, and other energy-sector clients.
Identify and shape opportunities in transmission planning, interconnection, reliability, grid expansion, and renewable integration.
Serve as technical lead for proposals, pursuits, interviews, and client presentations.
Develop technical scopes, staffing approaches, schedules, and fee estimates.
Work with AECOM account managers and Energy leadership to expand transmission planning opportunities with existing and prospective clients.
Represent AECOM at industry conferences, workshops, and technical forums.
Mentor and develop transmission planning engineers.
Support recruitment of additional transmission planning resources as workload grows.
Establish consistent study methodologies, modeling practices, technical standards, and QA/QC procedures.
Integrate transmission planning with AECOM's transmission and substation engineering, program management, environmental, permitting, advisory, and energy-transition capabilities.