Principal Power Systems Data Scientist

AECOM•Chicago, IL

About The Position

AECOM is seeking a Principal Power Systems Data Scientist to support electric utilities, transmission owners, distribution companies, ISOs/RTOs, renewable developers, government agencies, and large energy users across North America. The role applies advanced analytics, data science, artificial intelligence, machine learning, and power systems expertise to challenges in transmission and distribution planning, grid operations, asset management, reliability, and grid modernization. The successful candidate will lead development of data-driven solutions for challenges including load growth forecasting, data center integration, distributed energy resources, renewable energy expansion, electrification, energy storage, resilience, and infrastructure investment planning. The role serves as both a technical leader and trusted advisor, guiding advanced analytical methods, predictive modeling, optimization, and digital solutions. It also requires communicating technical findings to utility leaders, regulators, engineers, planners, and non-technical stakeholders and helping grow AECOM’s power systems analytics and data science capabilities.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree in Electrical Engineering, Electrical and Computer Engineering, Computer Science, Data Science, Applied Mathematics, or a related field, plus six years of related experience; equivalent experience and/or education may be considered.
Six years of experience in power systems, utility analytics, data science, transmission planning, distribution planning, and grid operations.
Experience applying advanced analytics, statistical modeling, machine learning, or artificial intelligence to complex utility or energy industry challenges.
Knowledge of electric utility operations, transmission and distribution systems, planning processes, and grid modernization initiatives.
Experience working with large and complex utility operational, asset, customer, market, reliability, or planning datasets.
Proficiency in Python, R, SQL, or similar programming languages for data analysis, machine learning, and predictive modeling.
Experience developing forecasting models, optimization algorithms, scenario analyses, or decision-support tools.
Experience designing and developing dashboards, visualizations, and analytical tools using Power BI, Tableau, or similar technologies.

Nice To Haves

Master’s degree in Electrical Engineering, Electrical and Computer Engineering, Computer Science, Data Science, Applied Mathematics, or a related field.
Experience supporting electric utilities, ISOs/RTOs, transmission owners, regulatory agencies, or large energy users.
Knowledge of power system analysis tools such as PSS®E, TARA, PSLF, PowerWorld, CYME, Synergi, OpenDSS, or similar platforms.
Experience with cloud-based analytics environments, big data platforms, data engineering pipelines, or enterprise data architectures.
Expertise in load forecasting, large-load and data center planning, DER hosting capacity analysis, grid resilience, or transmission and distribution planning analytics.
Familiarity with NERC reliability standards, regional planning requirements, utility regulatory processes, and industry best practices.
Published research, industry presentations, patents, or demonstrated thought leadership in power systems analytics, artificial intelligence, or grid modernization.
Professional Engineer (PE) license or advanced professional certifications related to analytics, data science, cloud technologies, or power systems.

Responsibilities

Lead development and application of advanced analytics, machine learning, and artificial intelligence solutions for transmission and distribution planning challenges.
Analyze large utility datasets—including load, outage, SCADA, AMI, DER, market, asset, and operational data—to identify trends, risks, and planning opportunities.
Develop forecasts for load growth, electrification, distributed energy resources, electric vehicles, data centers, and other emerging grid impacts.
Collaborate with planners and engineers to apply data-driven approaches to reliability, resilience, asset health, capacity, and risk assessments.
Support large-load and data center integration studies by evaluating growth scenarios, infrastructure requirements, and system impacts.
Design and implement predictive models, optimization frameworks, and scenario analyses for long-term transmission and distribution investment planning.
Develop analytical methodologies to assess renewable energy, energy storage, grid modernization, and changing customer demand patterns.
Create dashboards, visualization tools, and decision-support applications that translate technical analyses into actionable business insights.
Evaluate emerging technologies, analytics platforms, and digital solutions to improve utility planning, operations, and asset management.
Mentor engineers and analysts and help build AECOM’s Grid Modernization practice.
Support business development, proposal preparation, thought leadership, and client engagement in grid analytics, digital transformation, and power system planning.
Apply industry best practices and standards while integrating advanced analytical techniques into utility planning, reliability, and modernization programs.