Senior Transmission Planning Engineer

SMUD•Sacramento, CA

1d•$156,000 - $206,606•Hybrid

About The Position

SMUD is seeking a highly engaged and experienced Senior Transmission Planning Engineer to support transmission planning and generation interconnection studies. This role is responsible for reliable planning for the current and future needs of the Bulk Electric System (BES) for SMUD and Balancing Authority of Northern California (BANC). The position provides technical expertise and leadership in transmission planning and generation interconnection studies, compliance support with FERC/NERC/WECC Reliability Standards and Criteria, and mentoring/oversight for lower-level engineers. The goal is to support the reliable and cost-effective planning of the BES generation and transmission assets for SMUD and BANC. The purpose of this role is to perform specialized professional technical and analytical functions in various planning areas, including generation, transmission, and contractual resources. This includes performing transmission planning studies and related engineering analyses and activities. The role also involves project management and representing SMUD to other utilities and external agencies to ensure SMUD's power requirements are met and power resource assets are managed to maximize benefits within SMUD's policies, and to ensure the reliable operation of the transmission/generation system for SMUD and its Control Area.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree in Electrical Engineering or related field from an accredited college or university.
At least five (5+) years of progressively responsible relevant work experience in electrical engineering for the power industry.
At least three (3+) of those years involved in transmission system planning or transmission operation with project leadership, management, and outside agency interface and inter-utility project involvement.
Knowledge of Western United States transmission and generation system adequacy and development and inter-utility relationships.
Mastery level knowledge of power system planning techniques including load flow, stability, and fault and economic analysis.
Knowledge of methods and techniques for planning, organizing and overseeing work activities.
Knowledge of practices for delegating, assigning and reviewing work assignments.
Knowledge of safety policies, practices and procedures.
Knowledge of standard operating procedures for modern office equipment including a computer and applicable software.
Knowledge of English grammar, punctuation and vocabulary standards.
Ability to perform system evaluations including transmission power flows, stability, fault and other engineering studies.
Ability to review, evaluate and comment on planning reports prepared by inter-utility work groups, WECC committees, regulatory bodies, and consultants.
Ability to understand and handle technical, political and corporate issues that are subject to change.
Ability to interact with others to influence and motivate.
Ability to compile and prepare technical, statistical and/or analytical reports and presentations.
Ability to develop and conduct oral presentations to internal/external audiences.
Ability to work effectively with other utilities and outside agencies to develop joint engineering projects.
Ability to interpret, assess and apply pertinent policies, procedures, regulations and requirements.
Ability to identify significant organizational issues, concerns and needs and develop strategies for rectifying them.
Ability to negotiate with external representatives on behalf of SMUD.
Ability to communicate effectively orally and in writing internally/externally.
Ability to establish and effective working relationships internally/externally.
Ability to utilize a personal computer and/or computer terminal, systems and software relevant to the job.

Nice To Haves

Professional Registration in Electrical Engineering in the State of California
Knowledge of SMUD policies, procedures, applicable MOUs and other special agreements.

Responsibilities

Provides technical support to co-workers, other departments and SMUD management by conducting studies and technical and economic evaluations, preparing written summaries, reports and recommendations for planning studies and SMUD projects, and responding to routine and time-critical inquiries.
Collects, verifies, organizes and maintains SMUD’s data on transmission lines and major electrical equipment to enable timely, accurate short circuit, load flow and stability studies.
Plans, coordinates, prioritizes, monitors, guides, reviews, and conducts work activities associated with department internal/external projects in accordance with established task objectives and schedule.
Conducts technical review of assessments, calculations, reports and recommendations prepared by less-experienced staff members and outside contractors/consultants and provides direction, guidance, suggestions and/or hands-on training.
Provides technical support and guidance/consultation to Energy Trading and Contracts, Resource Planning, Power Generation Project Development, Grid Asset and Distribution Planning and Operation, etc.
Represents SMUD’s positions, priorities and interests on multi-utility projects and to WECC subcommittees and regulatory bodies.
Reviews and directs the work done by contract consultants on selected projects.
Contributes to the development of technical expertise in transmission planning by preparing and/or arranging professional quality technical seminars and presentations.
Plans, coordinates, prioritizes, monitors, and guides work activities with work-unit employees to meet established task objectives and deadlines.
Provides strategic direction to SMUD management through participation and analysis of ISO / RTO / CEC / CPUC / EOB / CVP, etc., related policy directives and issues.
Provides support directly to operations and outage coordination through power system analysis and development of new programs that aid power system operators.
Performs other related duties as needed to include working outside of typical business hours when necessary.