Senior or Principal Engineer - Integrated System Planning (Electric)

Xcel Energy•Denver, CO

6d•$97,000 - $156,600•Onsite

About The Position

We are seeking a forward‑thinking Principal or Sr. Engineer to join our Integrated System Planning team to support many of the crosscutting long-term planning initiatives at the intersection of our gas and electric distribution systems. As an Integrated System Planning Engineer, you will help chart the path toward a modernized energy system by developing data‑driven strategies that aim to align electric and gas planning, enable clean energy adoption, and support customer choice. This is a highly cross functional role that will require the successful candidate to develop, coordinate, and drive analysis and strategy related to long-term planning in close collaboration with partners in Xcel’s operations, customer, and regulatory organizations. The successful candidate will work on modeling, analysis, and strategy development supporting the Company’s Colorado Distribution System Plans (DSPs) and other long-term infrastructure plans at the intersection of generation, transmission, distribution and gas LDC planning. This will include distilling policy and trends into planning inputs (e.g. scenario analysis), advancing the use of non-traditional solutions, and coordinating DSPs with other cross-commodity planning and regulatory requirements (e.g. Clean Heat Plans).

Requirements

Required bachelor’s degree in engineering from ABET accredited curriculum
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.
Principal Engineer Level: 9+ years relevant engineering experience with PE (Professional Engineer) registration required; 15+ years relevant engineering experience without PE.
Ability to demonstrate the unique technical skills and core competencies for this engineering level established & documented by the organization.

Nice To Haves

Preferred PE (Professional Engineer) registration may be required depending on business need.
Previous experience working directly for an electric or combination (gas/electric) utility or in a consulting/advisory role to a utility
Demonstrated ability to thrive in a cross-functional, highly collaborative role
Ability to distil complex and ambiguous problems and challenges into solutions
Familiarity/Proficiency and/or direct experience with distribution system forecasting and modeling tools (e.g. LoadSEER, CYME, etc.)
Familiarity/Proficiency and/or direct experience conducting long-term planning and/or scenario modeling
Experience using both structured and unstructured data and data tools (e.g. Databricks) to drive insights and recommendations

Responsibilities

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.
Largely self-directed work is expected to result in the development of new or improved techniques, procedures and standards.
Supports the development of technical documentation (including but not limited to designs, testing, calculations, reports, standards, etc.)
Without appreciable direction exercises considerable latitude in determining ongoing technical support for project activities within areas such as Operations, Maintenance, Testing/diagnostics and Regulatory.
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).
May lead more critical projects with oversight of a higher-level engineer or supervisor.
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.