Engineering Associate 1

CPS Energy•San Antonio, TX

2d•Onsite

About The Position

The Engineering Associate position holds the responsibility for the safe, reliable, and economic round-the-clock operation of the generation, electric transmission, and distribution systems. Duties include Engineering responsibilities for the design, construction, maintenance, and operation activities of our power plants, transmission lines, substations, distribution system, gas systems, control centers and others. These Engineering duties may include continuous monitoring and balancing of energy flow and responding to system disturbances, along with all generation, distribution, and transmission activities that provide electric and gas services to customers. The Transmission Planning Engineer is responsible for modeling, analyzing and the strategic development of the electric transmission system for the near-term and long-term planning horizons to ensure safe, reliable, and cost-effective delivery of power. The engineer performs tasks in four major functional classifications including modeling, analysis, regulatory/compliance and coordination of interconnections to the transmission system. The engineer performs technical studies to define the need for capital projects, tracks those projects for modeling and budgeting purposes, develops interconnection agreements with external stakeholders, develops and maintains software, databases and associated data, and ensures adherence to all national, state, and local electrical grid requirements. The role requires strong analytical ability, engineering judgment, and collaboration with internal departments, external customers and developers, neighboring service providers, regional entities, and regulatory bodies.

Requirements

Basic knowledge of fundamental engineering concepts, practices and procedures
Ability to work in a team environment, coordinating with other related areas to complete tasks and projects
Effective interpersonal skills and written communication skills to work with all levels of personnel within the organization
Ability to perform multiple work activities with a minimum of supervision and prioritize workload effectively
Ability to use personal initiative to recognize needs and research skills to solve problems when necessary
Ability to work call duty and occasional unscheduled work in the evenings, weekends, or holidays after experience level permits
Ability to travel occasionally, to off-site work, to seminars, manufacturing plant inspections, etc.
Ability to obtain Professional Engineer License in State of Texas
Proficient in Microsoft Office Package, including word processing, spreadsheets, database, presentation software, electronic mail and scheduling

Nice To Haves

Bachelors of Science degree or higher in Electrical Engineering from an ABET-accredited four-year college or university
Ability to receive Professional Engineering Licensure from Texas Board of Professional Engineers
Experience with the Bulk Electric System
Knowledge of power system analysis fundamentals and power systems analysis software (PSSE, PowerWorld, or DSATools)
Technical writing experience or college course work in technical writing
Experience with Computer Aided-Drafting systems and Bentley Microstation software
Experience with project management and contract development
Experience in database applications and/or programming (Python, SQL, Visual Basic)
Experience with NERC audits and reliability standards
Experience with ERCOT policies, protocols and guides

Responsibilities

Utilize established procedures and processes to perform assigned tasks under direct supervision
Assist with gathering information for both internal and external customers
Attend seminars and other continuing education opportunities for professional development
Design and update database and other software applications
Support, create and maintain organizational project and process improvement initiatives
Provide standby support to system operations
Ensures the on-time, on-budget quality delivery of projects
Processes content that is complex with diverse issues and problems
Perform other duties as assigned
Ensure all planning studies and documentation meet applicable NERC Standards (e.g., CIP, FAC, MOD, NUC, PRC, TPL).
Monitor and assess changes to NERC reliability requirements and support audit preparation and evidence development.
Participate in regional planning processes with ERCOT and ERCOT stakeholders.
Prepare and support materials for regulatory filings, stakeholder meetings, and public processes.
Follow established organizational procedures and assist in developing and improving internal planning processes.
Participate in required training, seminars, and continuing education to maintain compliance knowledge.
Build, maintain, and validate transmission planning models using tools such as PSS®E, PowerWorld, PSCAD, DSA Tools, and other platforms as needed.
Ensure accurate integration of planning models with operational models and data systems.
Develop new modeling cases, track project inputs, and contribute to operator training scenarios including assisting operational planning studies as needed.
Maintain supporting databases and software applications used for system modeling and analysis.
Analyze historical load, forecast future demand, and determine long range transmission system needs.
Perform steady state, short-circuit, dynamic stability, and other reliability assessments.
Conduct technical studies to support the near- and long-term planning horizon
Identify system deficiencies and recommend corrective action plans that include capital projects, including scope and cost justification.
Evaluate impacts of inverter-based systems, renewable integration, distributed energy resources, storage, and electrification trends.
Prepare technical reports, study results, and planning recommendations in support of proposed corrective action plans.
Assess interconnection requests for new transmission, generation, and major load additions.
Determine necessary upgrades and system reinforcements to accommodate new connections.
Coordinate interconnection related studies with ERCOT, neighboring transmission owners, customers and developers.
Respond to internal and external stakeholders regarding interconnection data, study results, planned projects, and related requirements.
Participate in ERCOT working groups and stakeholder forums as the organization’s representative.