Transmission System Planning Engineer I-Principal (Depends on Experience)

Grant County Public Utility District•Ephrata, WA

3h•$80,366 - $249,064•Hybrid

About The Position

This position performs technical transmission system planning functions, including developing and maintaining power flow base cases, conducting contingency analyses, evaluating study results, modeling and evaluating alternative solutions to mitigate identified system issues, performing transient stability simulations, supporting compliance with applicable NERC and WECC reliability standards, and developing recommendations for transmission system improvements and capital projects. Responsibilities and assignments will vary based on the level at which the position is filled. At developing levels, the position performs defined or routine assignments under the guidance of more experienced engineers while building knowledge of Grant PUD’s transmission system, planning practices, analytical tools, and reliability requirements. At experienced and senior levels, the position independently performs and leads increasingly complex transmission planning studies, exercises advanced engineering judgment, coordinates technical inputs, and develops well-supported recommendations. At the Principal Engineer level, the position provides expert-level technical leadership, serves as a recognized Subject Matter Expert, mentors other engineers, and acts as a trusted advisor on high-risk, enterprise-impacting, and strategic transmission planning matters.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree in an engineering field
Eng I: No prior professional engineering experience required.
Eng II: One year of power engineering experience.
Eng III: Three-five years of power engineering experience, including two years of transmission systems planning experience.
Eng IV: Six years of power engineering experience, including three years of transmission systems planning experience.
Eng V: Ten years of power engineering experience, including five years of transmission systems planning experience.
Principal: Ten plus years of progressively responsible transmission systems planning experience, including demonstrated technical leadership of complex, high-risk, or enterprise-impacting work.
Knowledge of – Power system engineering principles and their application to electric utility planning and operational practices.
Knowledge of – Electric transmission system modeling, power flow analysis, contingency analysis, voltage analysis, and transient stability analysis.
Knowledge of – Transmission planning studies performed for long-range planning, reliability compliance, system expansion, and connection of new load or generation.
Knowledge of – Transmission system equipment, configurations, electrical characteristics, operating considerations, and system interactions.
Knowledge of – Applicable NERC Reliability Standards, WECC criteria, regional planning requirements, and electric utility planning practices.
Knowledge of – Engineering methods used to identify system limitations and evaluate transmission system alternatives.
Knowledge of – Technical report preparation, study documentation, and development of engineering recommendations.
Knowledge of – At senior and Principal levels, advanced transmission planning methodologies, complex system interactions, emerging industry issues, and strategic planning considerations.
Skill in – Using power flow and stability software, with PowerWorld experience preferred.
Skill in – Developing, maintaining, validating, and troubleshooting transmission planning models and study data.
Skill in – Performing technical analyses accurately and with appropriate attention to detail.
Skill in – Evaluating study results, identifying system limitations, and developing technically sound alternative solutions.
Skill in – Applying engineering judgment and making well-informed decisions based on available technical information.
Skill in – Preparing clear, accurate, and professional technical reports, calculations, exhibits, and recommendations.
Skill in – Presenting technical study results and recommendations to engineers, management, customers, regulators, and other stakeholders.
Skill in – Communicating effectively through written, oral, and interpersonal communication.
Skill in – Coordinating assignments involving multiple internal and external stakeholders.
Skill in – Managing workflow, priorities, schedules, and multiple concurrent assignments.
Skill in – Utilizing Microsoft Office products and applicable engineering, modeling, data management, and analysis tools.
Skill in – At senior levels, leading complex studies, reviewing technical work, coordinating consultants, and guiding less-experienced engineers.
Skill in – At the Principal level, resolving novel or exceptionally complex technical issues, establishing technical direction, serving as a technical authority, mentoring others, influencing stakeholders, and building organizational technical capacity.
Ability to – Learn and apply Grant PUD’s transmission system information, planning practices, procedures, and analytical tools.
Ability to – Work independently at a level commensurate with experience and classification.
Ability to – Recognize when technical issues require consultation, escalation, or additional review.
Ability to – Collaborate effectively with engineering, operations, compliance, project development, financial, customer-service, and other internal functions.
Ability to – Work effectively with consultants, interconnected utilities, regional planning organizations, customers, and other external stakeholders.
Ability to – Perform work in field and construction environments when necessary.
Ability to – Adapt to evolving assumptions, priorities, regulatory requirements, technologies, and system conditions.
Ability to – At the Principal level, serve as a final or senior technical authority on high-risk and enterprise-impacting decisions.

Nice To Haves

Bachelor’s degree in electrical engineering with a power systems emphasis.
Engineer-in-Training certification or successful completion of the Fundamentals of Engineering examination, particularly for Engineer I through Engineer III candidates.
Professional Engineer licensure, particularly for Engineer IV through Principal Engineer candidates.
Electric utility experience involving transmission system planning, power system analysis, system operations, generation or load interconnections, or reliability compliance.
Electric utility experience, including technical leadership of complex transmission planning studies, reliability standards or compliance activities, or enterprise-critical transmission system initiatives.

Responsibilities

Assist with the development and maintenance of data, models, and supporting documentation used in long-range transmission planning.
Assist with development and maintenance of power flow base cases under the guidance -of more experienced engineers.
Perform defined portions of routine contingency, power flow, voltage, and related transmission planning analyses using established procedures.
Review study inputs and results for completeness, accuracy, and consistency, and communicate identified discrepancies.
Support the modeling and preliminary evaluation of transmission system alternatives intended to address identified reliability or capacity issues.
Develop proficiency in the use of power flow, transient stability, voltage stability, and other related transmission planning applications.
Develop knowledge of applicable NERC Standards, WECC System Performance Criteria, and Grant PUD transmission planning guidelines, and apply them under guidance.
Assist with feasibility, system impact, load service, generation interconnection, and other transmission planning studies.
Prepare technical calculations, study documentation, exhibits, and summaries for review by more experienced engineers.
Participate in internal and external transmission planning meetings as assigned.
Develop working knowledge of Grant PUD’s electric transmission system configuration, electrical characteristics, and interaction with the interconnected transmission network.
Contribute to the development and maintenance of long-range transmission plans in accordance with NERC Planning Standards, WECC System Performance Criteria, and Grant PUD guidelines.
Develop and maintain power flow base cases and supporting study data using established processes and procedures.
Perform routine contingency, power flow, voltage, and related transmission planning analyses with general supervision.
Evaluate routine study results and model alternative solutions to mitigate identified reliability, capacity, or performance issues.
Perform engineering analyses of defined transmission projects and system requirements using established methods.
Maintain working proficiency in the use of power flow, transient stability, voltage stability, and other related transmission planning applications.
Maintain working knowledge of applicable NERC Standards, WECC System Performance Criteria, and Grant PUD transmission planning guidelines, and apply them to assigned work.
Perform defined portions of feasibility, system impact, load service, generation interconnection, and other transmission planning studies.
Coordinate study data and technical inputs with internal departments, consultants, interconnected utilities, and other stakeholders as assigned.
Prepare technical reports and recommendations for review by more experienced engineers.
Participate in regional transmission planning meetings with WECC, regional planning groups, and other utilities as assigned.
Develop and maintain knowledge of Grant PUD’s electric transmission system configuration, electrical characteristics, and interaction with the interconnected transmission network.
Independently perform assigned portions of long-range transmission planning in accordance with NERC Planning Standards, WECC System Performance Criteria, and Grant PUD guidelines.
Develop, maintain, and validate power flow base cases and supporting planning models.
Independently perform moderately complex contingency, power flow, transient stability, voltage stability, and related transmission planning analyses.
Evaluate study results, identify system limitations, model alternative solutions, and develop technical recommendations for transmission system improvements.
Perform engineering analyses of future transmission projects and requirements, including evaluation of reliability, capacity, operational, and system-performance considerations.
Maintain proficiency in the use of power flow, transient stability, voltage stability, and other related transmission planning applications.
Interpret and apply applicable NERC Standards, WECC System Performance Criteria, and Grant PUD transmission planning guidelines to assigned studies.
Perform moderately complex feasibility, system impact, load service, generation interconnection, and other transmission planning studies.
Coordinate assigned study work with internal departments, consultants, interconnected utilities, customers, and other stakeholders.
Prepare complete technical reports, study findings, and capital project recommendations for review and approval.
Represent Grant PUD in selected regional transmission planning meetings with WECC, regional planning groups, and other utilities.
Develop and maintain thorough knowledge of Grant PUD’s electric transmission system configuration, electrical characteristics, and interaction with the interconnected transmission network.
Provide technical assistance and informal guidance to less experienced engineers.
Lead complex assigned components of long-range transmission plans in compliance with NERC Planning Standards, WECC System Performance Criteria, and Grant PUD guidelines.
Develop and recommend updates to Grant PUD transmission planning processes, methodologies, and guidelines.
Lead complex contingency, power flow, transient stability, voltage stability, and related transmission planning studies.
Evaluate complex study results, identify system risks and limitations, develop and compare alternative solutions, and formulate well-supported recommendations for transmission system improvements and capital projects.
Perform complex engineering analyses of future transmission projects and requirements, including projects involving multiple system constraints, stakeholders, or planning objectives.
Maintain advanced proficiency in the use of power flow, transient stability, voltage stability, and other related transmission planning applications.
Interpret and apply applicable NERC Standards, WECC System Performance Criteria, and Grant PUD planning guidelines, and ensure their consistent application within assigned studies.
Lead complex feasibility, system impact, load service, generation interconnection, and other transmission planning studies.
Coordinate or direct consultants performing assigned study work on Grant PUD’s transmission system and review consultant deliverables for technical adequacy.
Lead coordination of technical inputs from internal departments, customers, interconnected utilities, regional planning organizations, and other stakeholders.
Represent Grant PUD in regional transmission planning meetings with WECC, regional planning groups, and other utilities.
Develop and maintain advanced knowledge of Grant PUD’s electric transmission system configuration, electrical characteristics, operating considerations, and interaction with the interconnected transmission network.
Provide technical guidance, review work products, and support the development of less-experienced engineers.
Develop long-range transmission plans in compliance with NERC Planning Standards, WECC System Performance Criteria, and Grant PUD guidelines.
Develop and/or update Grant PUD's transmission planning processes and guidelines.
Perform engineering analysis of future transmission projects and requirements.
Maintain an effective level of expertise in the use of power flow, transient and voltage stability, and other related applications to perform transmission planning duties.
Maintain an effective level of expertise and understanding of applicable NERC Standards, WECC System Performance Criteria, and Grant PUD planning guidelines, and ensure their consistent application to Grant PUD planning processes.
Perform transmission system feasibility, system impact, and other studies related to load service and generation interconnection requests.
Conduct or direct consultants performing study work on Grant PUD's transmission system.
Participate in regional transmission planning meetings with WECC, regional planning groups, and other utilities.
Develop and retain expert-level knowledge of Grant PUD's electric transmission system configuration, electrical characteristics, and interaction with the interconnected network.
Train and mentor junior engineers on transmission planning principles.
Lead development of long-range transmission plans and planning recommendations.
Perform engineering analysis of future transmission projects and requirements involving multiple constraints and stakeholders.
Serve as the designated Subject Matter Expert (SME) for transmission system planning, including power flow and stability studies, long-range transmission plans, reliability criteria, interconnect and load service studies, and planning-driven capital recommendations.
Provide expert recommendations on transmission system risk mitigation and long-term reliability, mentor Engineers I-V, coach cross-functional teams, and model technical excellence across Transmission Planning.