Engineer II - Grid Planning

Alliant Energy•Cedar Rapids, IA

2d•Hybrid

About The Position

Alliant Energy is seeking an Engineer II – Grid Planning to join their high-impact team. This role focuses on the technical review and oversight of distributed energy resource (DER) interconnections, including solar photovoltaic (PV) systems, battery energy storage systems (BESS), and other renewable energy technologies across the state. The position requires a blend of engineering expertise and regulatory insight to ensure projects meet compliance standards, support grid reliability, and facilitate the transition to a cleaner energy mix. This is an opportunity for an electrical engineer to solve complex challenges, collaborate across teams, and shape the future of energy. The role involves travel up to 20% of the time across the company's territory.

Requirements

Bachelor's Degree in an Engineering Program accredited through the Engineering Accreditation Commission
2 years of related experience

Nice To Haves

Cost Optimization
Data Analysis
Feasibility Studies
Grid Interconnection Studies
Power Engineering
Power Flow Analysis and Modeling
Power Systems Performance Monitoring
Power Systems Planning
Short Circuit Simulation and Analysis
Standards Compliance
Transient Analysis

Responsibilities

Follows safety rules and practices to identify and correct unsafe conditions for self and team.
Strives to identify problems and solutions and makes safety suggestions to assist in maintaining a safe work environment, uses tools and standards to design safety in operating and maintaining equipment.
Maintains an awareness of customer needs and expectations and proposes solutions.
Is proactively involved in the identification and solution of problems falling within assigned area of responsibility.
Maintains communication and relationships with employees, business unit stakeholders, and contractors.
Comfortable discussing technical issues with others from non-technical backgrounds.
Applies regulatory and organizational engineering standards; makes recommendations for changing processes and procedures.
Facilitates meetings and lead discussions with stakeholders in support of system studies with limited guidance provided.
Uses critical thinking skills necessary in the interpretation of governmental regulations, regional or company business practices and the development of recommendations to address system issues or Planning Criteria violations.
Understands risk assessment methodologies or philosophies applying technical knowledge.
Makes lot-to-medium risk decisions with limited guidance provided.
Learns the difference between departmental team and cross functional team.
Participates as a key team member making positive, supportive contributions addressing moderately complex technical or operational problems.
Actively participates in departmental budgeting and planning processes.
Oversees multi-year plan and develops moderately complex scopes of work with cost estimate, sequencing, and prioritization with limited guidance provided.
Understands the property unit catalog and determining the classification between capital investment projects and O&M spend work.
Understands system modeling methodologies and software with limited support.
Able to build moderately complex models and perform power flow studies or analysis.
Develops understanding of interconnection agreements or other relevant agreement language, terminology, and technical requirements.
Able to support modifications to existing or development of new agreements including cost sharing with limited guidance.
Understands the tools, data, and process for supporting moderately complex technical reviews and studies related to distribution energy resource interconnection applications with limited guidance provided.
Understands and applies power quality concepts with limited guidance provided.
Engages in other duties as needed that support Alliant Energy’s Values and helps deliver on our Purpose to serve customers and build stronger communities.