Principal Electrical Engineer (Transmission and Distribution Planning)

City of Palo Alto•Palo Alto, CA

1d•Hybrid

About The Position

This position is responsible for long-term electric system planning, load forecasting, standards development, and analysis of transmission and distribution capacity and reliability needs. Incumbents serve as the City’s technical expert for distribution and sub-transmission planning, distributed energy resource (DER) integration, reliability analysis, and capital investment strategy. Work is performed with significant independence and requires expert-level engineering judgment that directly affects the reliability, resiliency, and safety of the City’s electric system.

Requirements

Licensed Electrical Professional Engineer (PE) in the State of California
Significant experience in the design and operation of transmission and distribution systems
Ability to lead electric utility capital improvement programs
Strong expertise in power systems, utility infrastructure design, construction management, budgeting, and long-range system planning.
Communicate effectively with technical and non-technical stakeholders
Collaborate across departments and agencies
Apply sound engineering judgment to support reliable, safe, and resilient utility operations.
BSEE and six years of related experience; or, an equivalent combination of education and experience sufficient to successfully perform the essential duties of the job.
Registration as a Professional Engineer in the State of California (Electric preferred)
Project Management Professional (PMP) certification (preferred but not required)

Nice To Haves

Talent for mentoring engineering staff.
Master’s degree in electrical engineering, Power Systems, or related field is desirable.
Progressively responsible professional electric utility engineering experience, including substantial experience with substation design, protection, and capital project delivery.
Progressively responsible engineering experience in electric utility T&D planning, system modeling, or system engineering.
Experience in a municipal utility or public sector environment is desirable.

Responsibilities

Lead the development of comprehensive long-term T&D system plans, including 2-year, 5-year, and 10-year planning horizons to align infrastructure development with technical standards and the City’s long-range energy strategy.
Using Engineering Analysis tools, oversee complex power system analyses including load flow, contingency analysis, voltage and thermal assessments, hosting capacity studies, and protection coordination reviews.
Perform load forecasting at the system, transmission, substation, feeder, and transformer levels incorporating customer usage trends, DER penetration, economic growth, and distributed load patterns.
Evaluate system capacity constraints and recommend capital improvements including project justifications, scope, timelines, and cost estimation.
Oversee DER interconnection studies for solar PV, energy storage systems, EV fast chargers, customer loads, and emerging technologies to ensure compliance with applicable interconnection requirements and best utility practices.
Prepare and present technical reports, planning studies, maps, and recommendations to management, Utilities Advisory Commission (UAC), and City Council as needed.
Mentor engineers, analysts, and technical staff; provide training on planning methodologies, modeling techniques, and engineering best practices.

Benefits

Retirement: CalPERS 2% @ 60 formula for Classic employees; 2% @ 62 formula for New Members
Medical Plan: Plan options available.
Dental and Vision Plans: Fully paid.
Life and AD&D Insurance: fully paid up to annual salary.
Flexible Spending Accounts: Daycare and Health Care.
Deferred Compensation Plan: 457 Plan available.
Leave: Includes Vacation, Holidays, Management, Sick, and Paid Parental.
Annual Day of Recognition: Floating holiday which can be used for individual days of cultural significance.
Flexible Work Schedule: 9/80 work schedule available.
Commuter Benefits
Gold Standard EAP Program
Childcare & Educational Benefits: Up to $10,000 for childcare at eligible facilities in Palo Alto.
Employees may also apply for their children to attend Palo Alto Unified Schools.