Transmission Planning Engineer I, II, III, or Senior

Western Farmers Electric Cooperative•Moore, OK

7d•Onsite

About The Position

Under the general supervision of the Manager, Transmission & Distribution Planning, the Transmission Planning Engineer develops long-range transmission plans in compliance with NERC Standards, provides system operating support, performs complex system studies including power flow, transient stability, short-circuit, contingency analysis, generation dispatch, and others to determine the feasibility of interconnections, planned transmission upgrades, generation additions, facilities necessary to accommodate Southwest Power Pool (SPP) transmission service requests, generation interconnection requests, and others as needed.

Requirements

Bachelor's degree in Electrical (preferred), Civil, or Mechanical Engineering or a related field.
A minimum of two (2) years of qualifying engineering experience in an electric utility environment (for Engineer II).
Five (5) years of qualifying experience, of which three (3) years must be engineering experience in an electrical utility environment (for Engineer III).
Certification as a Professional Engineer (P.E.) (for Senior Level).
Eight (8) years of professional engineering experience, of which three (3) years must be engineering experience in an electric utility environment (for Senior Engineer).
Ability to read, analyze, and interpret general business periodicals, professional journals, technical procedures, or governmental regulations.
Ability to write reports, business correspondence, and procedure manuals.
Ability to effectively present information and respond to questions from groups of employees, managers, clients, customers, and the general public.
Ability to work with mathematical concepts such as probability and statistical inference, and fundamentals of plane and solid geometry, trigonometry, calculus and differential equations.
Ability to apply concepts such as fractions, percentages, ratios, and proportions to practical situations.
Ability to solve practical problems and deal with a variety of concrete variables in situations where only limited standardization exists.
Ability to interpret a variety of instructions furnished in written, oral, diagram, or schedule form.
Working knowledge of applicable computer programming languages related to electrical engineering such as PSS/E, Milsoft, and Aspen.
Proficient at operating personal computers using Microsoft Office Suite.
This position requires a current driver's license.

Nice To Haves

P.E. is required for employment at the Senior Level.

Responsibilities

Conduct system planning studies, including power flow and short-circuit studies, using seasonal models from the present day extending many years into the future. These studies assess system conditions under both normal and contingency scenarios to identify any potential System Operating Limits (SOL) violations, and they develop corrective action plans or operating procedures to ensure compliance with NERC standards.
Perform real-time studies as required to maintain SOL compliance with NERC standards at the request of operations personnel.
Develop and maintain technical documentation, planning guidelines, and related reports while applying knowledge of the technical environment and governing regulations, including NERC, SPP, and FERC requirements.
Develops company work plans (long-range and construction) to ensure reliable power supply, while coordinating with member systems to interpret service requests, monitor facility needs, and align planned upgrades with WFEC policies, processes, and regional reliability requirements.
Provide project justifications for RUS submittals, incorporating detailed cost tracking, historical project data, and supporting documentation to ensure alignment with WFEC policies.
Actively participate in SPP advisory groups, task forces, and working groups, striving to obtain and maintain voting-member status where appropriate, while coordinating with internal teams and external stakeholders to support agreements, policy alignment, and timely responses to member cooperatives and regional transmission planning initiatives.
Collaborate with internal stakeholders to support planning activities and continuously improve workflows, processes, and procedures associated with transmission planning, interconnection, and load connection requests.
Provide technical and policy-related support to WFEC staff and member cooperatives, interpreting complex requests, addressing inquiries through presentations and discussions, and delivering clear guidance on planning, policies, processes, and agreements, as applicable.
Create and maintain system data that is used by PSSE, ASPEN, One-Liner, and other software tools used for system studies.
Update the SPP modeling database as changes occur in the WFEC system.
Engage in all aspects of SPP regional transmission planning, including ITP, CPP, transmission assessments, and related stakeholder initiatives.
When requested, respond to customer and member cooperative requests regarding load growth and system impacts, while proactively monitoring facility needs, supporting planning efforts, and ensuring timely, well-coordinated responses aligned with system capabilities and WFEC policies.
Support budget estimates for planned projects by tracking project related expenses, monitoring budget status, and ensuring expenditures aligned with approved budgets, WFEC financial policies, and project requirements.
Stay informed of and evaluate emerging technologies, including smart grid solutions, Grid-Enhancing Technologies (GETs), renewable energy resources, and energy storage systems, and support their integration into transmission planning activities where appropriate.
Support contract and agreement processes by supporting the development, analysis, and execution of agreements (e.g., GIAs, third-party MOUs, and DPAs) and coordinating with internal and external stakeholders to support transmission planning and operations.