Engineer (Sr. - Principal) | NEW GENERATION Projects & Interconnection

American Electric Power•Columbus, OH

3d•Onsite

About The Position

The New Generation Projects & Interconnection Engineer provides technical support for the development, evaluation, and grid integration of new gas, wind, solar, and energy storage facilities. The engineer develops owner requirements and RFP technical documents, performs proposal and equipment due diligence, supports generation siting and RTO interconnection activities, and conducts electrical planning studies for new and operating generation assets.

Requirements

Bachelor's degree in electrical engineering discipline.
Working knowledge of power generation technologies, electric power systems, and utility or RTO generator interconnection processes.
Ability to interpret engineering studies, drawings, specifications, proposals, contracts, and regulatory or reliability requirements.
Strong analytical, project coordination, technical writing, and communication skills.
Has typically acquired 4 or more years of related engineering experience along with a Bachelor's degree in engineering in a program accredited by ABET; or 2 years of related engineering experience along with a Master's degree or PhD in engineering from a program accredited by ABET
Individuals with a Bachelor’s degree in Engineering Technology can satisfy this degree requirement, if they obtain a certified Professional Engineering (PE) license.
Acceptable alternative is: (1) a Bachelor's degree in engineering (non-ABET) plus a Master's degree or PhD in engineering from a university with an ABET accredited Bachelor's program.

Nice To Haves

Registration as a Professional Engineer (PE) in any U.S. state or Puerto Rico is encouraged and preferred.
Confirmation is required to ensure the PE obtained in Puerto Rico aligns with NCEES standards.
Relevant utility, consulting, power plant, project development, or interconnection experience is preferred; Engineer-in-Training or Professional Engineer credential is a plus.

Responsibilities

Develop owner specifications, design criteria, scopes of work, and technical RFP materials for generation projects.
Evaluate bids, project designs, equipment suppliers, and wind and solar resource assessments; document technical risks and recommendations.
Support site screening, generation interconnection planning, RTO application processes, and the development and review of generator interconnection agreements.
Perform or coordinate plant/transmission interface, voltage regulation, transformer tap, excitation limit, arc-flash, and short-circuit analyses.
Provide technical support related to FERC requirements and applicable NERC policies and standards.
Coordinate with project teams, consultants, equipment suppliers, transmission organizations, and internal stakeholders to deliver timely, technically sound work products.
Exhibits journey level proficiency plus advanced knowledge that enables the engineer to serve as a leader within the assigned organization.
Keeps abreast of new products, developments, technologies, procedures and equipment.
Understands and analyzes interrelationships between systems and component equipment.
Interprets codes and regulations, and develops standards relevant to the area of assignment.
Provides guidance and exercises judgment and discretion in providing guidance and direction to other Engineers.
Leads, facilitates and coordinates work activities of others within the work group, team, department, corporate entity, or those external to the company as required to perform all routine engineering work.
Ensures all work activities are performed in accordance with the policies, practices, standards and rules of the company and complies with the regulations and procedures required by external agencies.
Promotes engineering professionalism and standards.
Coordinates and conducts training sessions.
Participates in the development of plans by establishing measurable goals, objectives and requirements for specific areas of responsibility.
Coordinates the development of input necessary to establish projected cost of all projects.
Is proficient in use of scheduling techniques (CPM, PERT, flow charts, etc.) for budget and planning activities.
Identifies and initiates appropriate corrective action when objectives are not being met.
Identifies, clarifies, resolves, and initiates solutions to routine and/or complex problems that sometimes involve analysis of inadequate or conflicting data.
Demonstrates the ability to divide problems into component steps.
Consistently looks for and develops opportunities and presents new ideas and approaches.
Coordinates the work of other engineers in an efficient and effective manner.
Develops, reviews or prepares reports on complex technical subjects clearly, concisely and effectively, in a manner suitable for presentation to management, professional societies, regulatory bodies, etc.
Leads and facilitates meetings effectively.
Possess collaborative and consensus building skills.
Functions as a team leader and member.
Networks upward and downward in several disciplines inside and outside the AEP system.
Leverages network to get things done.
Makes decisions affecting plans and goals based on analysis of uncertain input and outcomes.
Uses diverse approaches to make decisions in the absence of a definite framework or where few precedents exist.
Can handle conflicting interests related to approaches on projects or studies.
Analyzes options and risks and possesses the experience and knowledge to assess the risk of decisions and act accordingly.
Makes decisions that affect the operations or results of the department and may have some impact on a major project.
Exhibits an awareness of AEP's competitive position and how business decisions impact their organizational unit.
Understands the specific goals and objectives of their individual organizational unit and is proficient in establishing measurable goals and objectives.
Effectively manages project budgets using cost management techniques and understands how their decisions and recommendations impact AEP's expenses and revenues.
Demonstrates an awareness of profit incentives, optimizing growth of customers' businesses and using our services to attract new business.