Senior Transmission Planning Engineer

New Leaf Energy • Chicago, IL

13d • Hybrid

About The Position

The Senior Transmission Planning Engineer performs transmission modeling and analysis to identify promising locations for new utility-scale projects and opportunities to leverage available capacity. This analysis informs the utility-scale project development team’s land prospecting strategy. The engineer works with project developers throughout the project development cycle to evaluate utility study deliverables, assess potential upgrades and queue attrition scenarios, and guide projects forward. The role collaborates internally with Project Development, Policy, and Interconnection teams, and externally with third-party consultants, utility and ISO engineers, and other industry professionals to advocate for New Leaf Energy’s utility-scale portfolio. The position reports to the Senior Director of Grid Analytics.

The role is approximately 70% project-task work and 30% higher-level project management, standards and SOP maintenance, and cross-functional collaboration and training. It may be based in the Boston, Lowell, Oakland, Troy, or Chicago offices. The hybrid work arrangement requires employees to work in the office at least two of Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday, with the option to work from home or the office on other days.

Requirements

• At least 5 years of power engineering experience, specializing in transmission planning.
• Bachelor’s degree in Electrical Engineering or a similar relevant field of study.
• Advanced knowledge of power systems and transmission planning practices, with the ability to build expertise in specific ISO territories.
• Advanced knowledge of planning software for transmission system analysis, including steady-state power flow, stability, and transfer analysis.
• Ability to read and interpret ISO study deliverables and understand their impact on New Leaf Energy projects.
• Advanced ability to work with multiple software programs, such as PSSE and TARA.
• Ability to represent New Leaf Energy from an engineering standpoint on ISO scoping calls.
• Strong understanding of New Leaf Energy’s VSM and development strategy.
• Strong understanding of regional ISO study practices and ability to research and learn regional ISO standards for new markets.
• Ability to teach less experienced engineers how to perform transmission analysis.
• Ability to learn and demonstrate project management fundamentals.
• Well-organized self-starter with a genuine drive for success.

Nice To Haves

• Master’s degree.

Responsibilities

• Perform transmission analysis with little or no supervision from a Lead TPE or Manager.
• Create scopes of work for third-party engineers or internal TPEs to support business operations.
• Review deliverables created by internal TPEs or third-party engineers.
• Create and maintain SOPs for team study methodologies.
• Serve as the transmission planning engineering lead for multiple ISO territories, helping project developers navigate the transmission network and identify competitive, efficient interconnection locations.
• Evaluate ISO and utility impact studies; where appropriate, challenge study methodologies and propose alternative approaches.
• Help project developers evaluate potential project sites, including estimating potential network upgrades and costs.
• Participate in technical policy working groups to advocate for policies and standards that further New Leaf Energy’s mission and goals.
• Onboard and manage third-party consultants supporting engineering analysis.
• Contribute to project management, standards creation and maintenance, cross-functional collaboration, and training.

Benefits

• Medical, dental, and vision coverage.
• 401(k) plan with immediate vesting and company match: 100% of the first 3% of pay and 50% of the next 2% contributed.
• Open, self-managed paid time-off policy.
• Hybrid work policy supporting work from home for part of the week.
• Parental leave for birthing and non-birthing parents, available immediately upon hire.
• Professional development and education assistance.
• Above-market variable compensation and an equity-like ownership program.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Senior