Transmission Planning Engineer, or Staff, or Senior Engineer

Xcel Energy • Denver, CO

1d • $70,000 - $145,400 • Hybrid

About The Position

Xcel Energy is hiring a Transmission Planning Engineer at the Entry, Staff, or Senior level, based on the candidate’s experience, qualifications, and interview. The position is based in Denver, Colorado, and follows a hybrid schedule of three days per week in the office. The role supports transmission planning, power-system studies, regulatory compliance, resource interconnections, and reliable integration of new technologies and energy resources. The level-specific starting salary ranges are $70,000–$88,666 for Entry, $81,800–$106,266 for Staff, and $97,000–$129,266 for Senior. The posting also gives an anticipated starting base-pay range of $70,000–$145,400 per year.

The position performs or supports power-system planning studies, including load-flow, short-circuit, protection coordination, stability, electromagnetic transient, and geomagnetic-induced-current analyses. It also supports NERC and FERC compliance, model validation, inverter-based resource integration, regional transmission planning, interconnection and transmission-service studies, and evaluation of grid-enhancing technologies. The role may develop Python automation for study workflows, prepare technical reports and regulatory filings, represent Xcel Energy in industry and regional forums, mentor less-experienced personnel, and support capital budgets, conceptual transmission projects, and economic analyses.

Responsibilities and level of independence vary by level. Entry-level engineers work under supervision on established procedures and studies, developing technical skills and contributing to larger projects. Staff engineers work under general direction, independently developing approaches to solutions and potentially leading smaller or medium-sized projects. Senior engineers work with considerable latitude, lead complex studies and projects, serve as technical advisors, improve procedures, coordinate work, and mentor others.

Xcel Energy describes its culture through the values Connected, Committed, Trustworthy, and Safe, and employee commitments to meaningful work, teamwork, growth opportunities, and rewards. The position is non-bargaining. Employees and contractors share responsibility for protecting company information and systems by following cybersecurity policies, standards, and practices.

Requirements

• Entry level: Bachelor’s degree in Electrical Engineering and/or Physics from an ABET-accredited curriculum or recognized equivalency.
• Entry level: 0 or more years of relevant engineering experience.
• Staff level: Bachelor’s degree in Engineering and/or Physics from an ABET-accredited curriculum or recognized equivalency.
• Staff level: At least 2 years of demonstrated experience.
• Staff level: Experience with at least one power-system transmission analysis tool, such as PSSE, TARA, EMS, ASPEN, CAPE, PROMOD, PLEXOS, PowerWorld, or PSCAD, or similar software.
• Staff level: Broad knowledge and proficiency in power-system studies or transmission planning, knowledge of related specialties, and general knowledge of related disciplines.
• Senior level: Bachelor’s degree in Engineering and/or Physics from an ABET-accredited curriculum or recognized equivalency.
• Senior level: At least 5 years of experience with nationally recognized certification, or at least 7 years without certification.
• Senior level: Experience with multiple power-system transmission analysis tools, such as PSSE, TARA, EMS, ASPEN, CAPE, PROMOD, PLEXOS, PowerWorld, or PSCAD, or similar software.
• Communicate technical concepts clearly to technical and non-technical stakeholders through meetings, virtual discussions, presentations, and written reports.
• Follow applicable cybersecurity policies, standards, and best practices to protect company information and systems.

Nice To Haves

• Entry level: EIT/FE (Engineer in Training/Fundamentals of Engineering) qualification.
• Entry level: Graduate degree in the relevant fields.
• Entry level: Coursework in Introduction to Power Systems or a similar course.
• Entry level: Internship experience within the power industry.
• Staff level: EIT/FE qualification, strongly preferred.
• Staff level: Graduate degree in the relevant fields.
• Senior level: EIT/FE and/or PE (Professional Engineer) registration.
• Senior level: Graduate degree in the relevant fields.
• Senior level: PE (Professional Engineer) registration.

Responsibilities

• Perform comprehensive power-system planning studies, including steady-state load-flow analyses under normal and contingency conditions, short-circuit and protection coordination studies, dynamic performance assessments, electromagnetic transient analyses, and geomagnetic-induced-current studies.
• Develop mitigation strategies for system limitations and assess equipment ratings, relay coordination, breaker duty, stability, voltage recovery, and oscillatory damping.
• Support regulatory compliance activities, including NERC TPL-001-5.1 assessments and applicable extreme-event, physical-security, wide-area event, and black-start restoration studies.
• Support dynamic model validation under WECC and NERC MOD standards for generator, inverter, and composite-load models.
• Conduct inverter-based resource integration studies, assess grid-forming and grid-following technologies, apply IEEE 2800 requirements, and develop strategies for high renewable penetration.
• Coordinate with regional planning bodies, working groups, interconnection groups, and other utilities on transmission expansion planning, regional compliance, and reliability initiatives.
• Perform System Impact Studies and Facility Studies for resource interconnections and transmission service, and recommend transmission reinforcements, upgrades, or operational solutions.
• Evaluate grid-enhancing technologies, including dynamic line rating, advanced power-flow controllers, and topology optimization; support cost-benefit assessments and pilot implementations.
• Develop and maintain Python-based automation tools and digital workflows for power-system simulations, scenario management, and results post-processing.
• Author technical reports, regulatory filings, and executive summaries, and present study findings to leadership, stakeholders, regulators, and industry audiences.
• Represent Xcel Energy in NERC, IEEE, WECC, WestConnect, and other relevant industry groups, committees, and task forces.
• Mentor engineers, interns, and analysts; provide technical leadership and training; and contribute to planning documentation, procedures, and standards.
• Support development of capital budgets, conceptual transmission projects, and economic analyses in joint planning contexts.
• At the Entry level, perform model development, modeling reviews, design, and analysis of Xcel Energy assets using power-system tools under the direction of a higher-level engineer or supervisor.
• At the Entry level, develop study documentation, assist with procedures, coordinate the work of interns and technicians, and explore or implement process improvements for the Integrated System Planning department.
• At the Staff level, scope or perform power-system simulations to evaluate reliability, develop study documentation, support NERC and FERC compliance evidence, and exchange information with internal groups and external entities.
• At the Staff level, coordinate model development to meet RTO/RE and internal criteria or develop scopes of work for long-range transmission plans.
• At the Senior level, lead and perform steady-state and stability modeling and analyses, develop and coordinate scopes for long-range transmission studies, communicate results, improve procedures, resolve technical and business problems, and implement compliance activities as a subject-matter expert.
• At the Senior level, assign and review work and mentor and train lower-level engineers, interns, and technicians.

Benefits

• Annual Incentive Program
• Medical/pharmacy plan
• Dental insurance
• Vision insurance
• Life insurance
• Dependent Care Flexible Spending Account
• Health Care Flexible Spending Account
• Health Savings Account, if enrolled in an eligible health plan
• Limited-Purpose Flexible Spending Account, if enrolled in an eligible health plan and HSA
• Transportation Reimbursement Account
• Short-term disability
• Long-term disability
• Employee Assistance Program
• Fitness Center Reimbursement, if enrolled in an eligible health plan
• Tuition reimbursement
• Transit programs
• Employee recognition program
• Pension
• 401(k) plan
• Paid time off
• Holidays
• Volunteer Paid Time Off
• Parental Leave

What This Job Offers

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