Wildfire Risk Engineer / Senior Wildfire Risk Engineer - Oahu

Hawaiian Electric Companies•Honolulu, HI

About The Position

We recognize our competitive advantage -- our people. We believe in our people, who share our vision of meeting the needs of our employees, customers, and communities and who carry out the continued success of the company. Our employees are committed to the company's foundational values: integrity, excellence, teamwork, environmental stewardship, and community commitment. In turn, we invest in our employees, providing opportunities for challenge and advancement and offering a competitive compensation package. Posting End Date: This position will remain open until filled. Early applications are highly encouraged. BRIEF POSTING DESCRIPTION: The P WR WILDFIRE STRATEGY Department of the P WILDFIRE STRATEGY Division at Hawaiian Electric Company has 2 Management vacancies available. (Role: Professional) This posting seeks to fill at either the Wildfire Risk Engineer or Senior Wildfire Risk Engineer; whichever level is most suited to the qualifications of the applying candidate. WILDFIRE RISK ENGINEER JOB FUNCTION: Supports the development and application of wildfire risk models for strategic planning and regulatory reporting. Incorporates system asset characteristics and performance, geospatial and forecast data to continually assess wildfire risks and prioritization of mitigation solutions. Supports streamlining, validation, and effectiveness of risk modeling. Recommends adjustments to the valuation workflows and identifies and supports implementation of enhancements to asset data to support wildfire risk mitigation. SENIOR WILDFIRE RISK ENGINEER JOB FUNCTION: Develops advanced wildfire risk models to support data-driven mitigation planning and strategic decision-making. Uses statistical modeling, risk management techniques, GIS and asset data integration to produce actionable risk insights. Maintains and updates risk and mitigation scoring to support risk-prioritized solution evaluation and assessment. Streamlines, validates, documents, and ensures audit-readiness of risk modeling and supporting data.

Requirements

Working knowledge of distribution and transmission grid design and operation.
Working knowledge of industry wildfire risk assessment and prioritization techniques and modeling, mitigation planning, engineering and equipment specifications.
Basic knowledge of wildfire risks across Hawaiian Electric’s territories, including the regulatory, technical, operational, and public-facing dimensions.
Basic knowledge of electric system modeling and analysis tools, including the use of Python, Excel, GIS, and Monte Carlo or other statistical tools.
Familiarity with GIS integration, asset performance data and processes, statistical analysis, and utility risk frameworks.
Ability to synthesize multiple and complex datasets in the development of analysis that supports wildfire risk modeling and application.
Ability to manage and identify issues with large complex datasets related to wildfire and grid analysis.
Ability to clearly convey technical insights to strategy, compliance, and regulatory stakeholders.
Ability to remain flexible in a demanding work environment and adapt to rapidly changing priorities.
Ability to conceptualize new ideas quickly.
Excellent written, oral and presentation skills in order to effectively communicate with all levels of the organization, which often includes dealing with sensitive, difficult or confrontational issues.
Analytical, conceptual and administrative skills to assess the demands of the job, recommend proper actions, and handle multiple systems, projects and programs with minimal supervision.
Strong interpersonal skills and the ability to work with a variety of individuals at all levels within and outside the company using tact, courtesy and discretion.
Multiple l (5-7) years of experience in system and engineering analysis, risk modeling, quantitative analysis, or wildfire-related research.
Bachelor’s degree in Data Science, Engineering, Environmental Science, or a related field.
Basic understanding of industry wildfire risk assessment techniques, mitigation planning, and prioritization techniques.
Basic understanding of wildfire risk across Hawaiian Electric’s territories, including the regulatory, technical, operational, and public-facing dimensions.
Working knowledge of statistical modeling, quantitative risk methods, and/or enterprise risk frameworks.
Familiarity with wildfire mitigation strategies, utility infrastructure, and regulatory compliance.
Ability to understand and apply statistical analysis in the development of risk models.
Ability to manage and ensure the integrity of large data sets for use in complex analyses.
Ability to develop and streamline data and modeling techniques using a variety of public and private datasets.
Ability to understand and apply machine learning and other related techniques.
Ability to effectively communicate complex topics both in presentations and written documents.
Prepares clear, well-documented outputs for use in audits, filings, and stakeholder reporting.
Ability to work effectively across strategy, compliance, and operations teams.
Ability to remain flexible in a demanding work environment and adapt to rapidly changing priorities.
Ability to apply standardized data and tools, as well as assess emerging techniques from various external vendors.
Experience with GIS and other visualization tools.
Ability to conceptualize new ideas quickly.
Excellent written, oral and presentation skills in order to effectively communicate with all levels of the organization, which often includes dealing with sensitive, difficult or confrontational issues.
Analytical, conceptual and administrative skills to assess the demands of the job, recommend proper actions, and handle multiple systems, projects and programs with minimal supervision.
Strong interpersonal skills and the ability to work with a variety of individuals at all levels within and outside the company using tact, courtesy and discretion.
Extensive (8+) years of experience in quantitative risk modeling, preferably in a utility or emergency management setting.
Demonstrated experience with GIS, scenario forecasting, and automation of risk analysis workflows.

Nice To Haves

Experience supporting utilities, emergency planning, or risk strategy teams preferred.
Master’s degree preferred.

Responsibilities

Risk Management & Analysis Provides electric system engineering expertise and support for development and maintenance of wildfire risk models, and application to wildfire mitigation strategies.
Supports system engineering and asset performance analysis through the evaluation of ignition risks during various system conditions (e.g., PSPS events, extreme weather, enhanced fast trip, etc.).
Supports wildfire risk map updates based on ongoing risk model improvements and new data inputs (e.g., events experience, system performance, asset conditions, vegetation conditions, weather trends, etc.).
Validates and documents system engineering and asset related modeling inputs, assumptions, and outputs.
Supports advancement of risk analysis workflows and tools for efficiency and accuracy.
Assists with regulatory filings and reporting that include wildfire risk methodologies.
Integrates modeling outputs into annual WSS strategy updates.
WSS Plan Development, Prioritization and Execution Contributes engineering and asset performance risk impacts to support annual WSS updates.
Supports development and communication of risk-informed scope specifications for wildfire mitigation programs, projects, and operational initiatives aligned with WSS objectives.
Develops prioritization processes supported by modeling results and quantitative insights.
Tracks and analyzes ongoing effectiveness of wildfire mitigations and system performance to support ongoing adjustments and improvements to risk modeling and assessment processes.
Supports regulatory compliance by ensuring risk informed mitigation strategies are aligned with compliance requirements.
Supports stakeholder communications by preparing technical studies and reports for internal and external stakeholders.
Supports WSS continuous improvement by recommending improvements to risk methodologies, asset and performance data, and tool enhancements.
Participates in Company emergency response activities as assigned, including any activities required to prepare for such emergency response.
Develops and maintains quantitative wildfire risk models.
Analyzes data to support risk modeling including the evaluation of ignition risks, reliability impacts, fire spread modeling, probability and consequence calculations, and mitigation solutions under various system conditions (e.g., PSPS events, extreme weather, enhanced fast trip, etc.).
Integrates GIS and spatial data into risk assessment models to evaluate regional vulnerabilities.
Supports continuous improvement of risk analysis across various tools used in risk model analysis.
Validates and documents data, modeling assumptions, inputs and outputs, and methodologies.
Translates complex risk analysis into actionable insights for the WF team to enable WSS refinement and implementation.
Contributes actionable risk information to support annual WSS updates.
Supports development and communication of risk-informed scope specifications for wildfire mitigation programs, projects, and operational initiatives aligned with WSS objectives.
Supports prioritization processes with modeling results and quantitative insights.
Maintains awareness of WSS execution and ongoing system performance for incorporation into risk modeling and assessment processes.
Supports regulatory compliance by interpreting new requirements and ensuring program objectives and goals are risk-informed and aligned with compliance requirements.
Supports stakeholder communications by preparing risk analyses and reports for internal and external stakeholders.
Supports WSS continuous improvement by recommending improvements to risk methodologies, modeling data, and tool enhancements.