Power Systems Modeling Engineer - Distribution (Staff or Senior)

Xcel Energy•Denver, CO

3d•Onsite

About The Position

Xcel Energy's Integrated System Planning (ISP) department coordinates planning across all aspects of its utility operations — generation, transmission, distribution, and natural gas — in preparation for a carbon‑neutral future. Within ISP, the modeling team supports long term, cross functional planning with technical power systems modeling expertise. This role focuses on maintaining and validating power flow models, performing hosting capacity analysis, and supporting grid modernization and regulatory filings. The job summary and responsibilities reflect the senior engineer level role, with placement at the staff or senior level determined by the candidate's skills and experience. The senior engineer role involves applying extensive technical expertise, acting as a staff advisor, performing complex assignments, and representing the organization as a technical contact. Work is largely self-directed and expected to result in new or improved techniques and procedures. The role may involve directing other personnel and leading multiple projects. The staff engineer level requires a Bachelor's degree in engineering with 2+ years of relevant experience, while the senior engineer level requires a Bachelor's degree with 5+ years of experience (or 7+ without EIT/FE) and potentially a PE registration.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree in engineering from ABET accredited, electrical engineering degree with specialization in power systems preferred.
Staff Engineer Level: 2+ year's relevant engineering experience.
Senior Engineer Level: 5+ years relevant engineering experience with EIT/FE (Engineer in Training/Fundamentals of Engineering) required; 7+ years relevant engineering experience without EIT/FE.
Demonstrated broad knowledge & proficiency in specialty area, knowledge of related specialties, & general knowledge of other related disciplines.
Ability to demonstrate the unique technical skills & core competencies for this engineering level established & documented by the organization.
EIT/FE (Engineer in Training/Fundamentals of Engineering) strongly preferred for Staff Engineer.
Ability to demonstrate the unique technical skills and core competencies for this engineering level established & documented by the organization for Senior Engineer.

Nice To Haves

Experience performing distribution system planning and interconnection studies
Experience with distribution modeling tools such as CYME, Synergi, OpenDSS, or similar
Proficiency in Python
Familiarity with power system data models and standards, such as the Common Information Model (CIM)
Preferred PE (Professional Engineer) registration may be required depending on business need for Senior Engineer.

Responsibilities

Maintain up-to-date power flow models as data and conditions change.
Work with model consumers to develop modeling standards that meet requirements for interconnection and planning studies and ensure consistent and repeatable modeling practices.
Stay current on industry best practices, emerging technologies, and advanced modeling techniques to continuously enhance analytical capabilities and planning outcomes.
Ensure accurate models through a standard model validation process.
Work to resolve data quality issues in upstream source data systems.
Work with ISP's data science team to build and validate ETL workflows in Xcel’s data management platform (Databricks).
Assess the capabilities of the distribution grid via hosting capacity analysis using EPRI DRIVE.
Publish distribution system capacity maps.
Incorporate stakeholder feedback to improve HCA map user experience.
Support Xcel's Distribution System Plans and other regulatory filings.
Support grid modernization efforts, such as beneficial electrification, non-wire alternatives, proactive grid upgrades, and dispatchable distributed generation.
Work to integrate distribution planning efforts with transmission, resource, and gas planning.
Applies extensive technical expertise and has an understanding of the basic principles of other related disciplines.
Fully demonstrates the unique technical skills and core competencies for this engineering level by applying technical standards, principles, theories, concepts, and techniques to lead projects of moderate to large size, scope and complexity.
Supports the development of technical documentation (including but not limited to designs, testing, calculations, reports, standards, etc.).
Provides field engineering oversight and direction for activities such as support, testing, installation, inspections, commissioning etc.
Coordinates/leads multiple projects or portions of projects (including phases such as research, design, equipment selection, procurement, installation and commissioning).
Represents the organization as the prime technical contact in the bid/evaluation processes including preparation of bid documents, completion of technical evaluations for proposals and providing recommendations for selection.
Interacts with senior external personnel on significant technical matters often requiring coordination with internal and external organizations.
Effectively and with precision resolves difficult technical/business matters both inter-organizationally and with outside customer/vendors with all formats of communication.
May assign tasks to and/or direct engineers, technicians, craft personnel and other support staff including coordination and review of work assignments.
Provides guidance and mentoring to less experienced engineers.
Responsible for continuous self-development of technical skills and competencies.
Leads activities such as budgeting, estimating, forecasting, accounting, work order management, in support of engineering projects.