JOB TITLE: Regional Transmission Planning Engineer, Senior, Principal
APPLICATION MATERIALS:
Applicants are required to submit a combined cover letter and resume in one document. Incomplete applications will not be considered.
Interested parties should submit their cover letter and resume to Chelsea.loomis@westernpowerpool.org by 8am PST Monday, April 10, 2023.
SALARY AND BENEFITS:
In addition to a competitive salary range of $80,000 to $170,000, Western Power Pool employees enjoy outstanding benefits including medical, dental, vision, short and long-term disability insurance, an insurance premium contribution, a flexible spending account contribution, 401k contribution, personal leave, and educational reimbursement.
The Western Power Pool (“WPP”) office is in Portland, Oregon. This position allows a remote or hybrid work schedule. Background on the WPP is available at https://www.westernpowerpool.org
JOB SUMMARY:
The Regional Transmission Planning Engineer is responsible for WPP region power systems data compilation, modeling, analysis, and training to support Northwest Power Pool (“NWPP”) member economic and transmission reliability planning requirements. The engineer performs member and stakeholder outreach and provides advice to internal staff, members, stakeholders, and government agencies as a technical expert, both within the NWPP member footprint and the western electrical interconnection. They are also responsible for managing the planning processes, modeling tools and systems that support the NWPP member requirements.
RESPONSIBILITIES:
Engineering:
Compile, analyze, and interpret power system component parameters and operational data
Model, analyze, and interpret economic attributes of the power system
Model and analysis power systems during steady-state, transient, and sub-transient conditions
Plans and leads projects, assignments, and technical investigations
Utilizes industry- and discipline-related knowledge to interpret and comply with regulations and standards as required by FERC, NERC and other applicable entities.
Engagement:
Manage NWPP member and stakeholder meetings
Represent the WPP in regional, interregional, western interconnection, and public industry forums
Develop and present training materials
Ongoing:
Maintain regular and predictable attendance
Perform related duties and responsibilities as required
Comply with WPP policies
QUALIFICATIONS AND REQUIREMENTS:
Full-time, permanent position.
Education Level: Bachelor of Science degree in engineering from an ABET accredited institution
Experience: Candidates with 0-5 years of related experience may qualify for Engineer, 6 or more years for Senior, and 10 or more for Principal Engineer
Profession engineer license preferred
Knowledge of:
Power generation, transmission, and distribution systems and operations
Power generation, transmission, and distribution system modeling and analysis
Resource production cost modeling and analysis
The western electrical interconnection and its operation
NERC Reliability Standards
Open Access Transmission Tariffs
FERC Orders
Skills in:
General knowledge of engineering principles; developing specific knowledge of power system operation and analysis.
Effective oral and written communication
Use of computers and software, e.g. power flow, transient, electromagnetic transient, production cost.
Manage and coordinate projects; establish and maintain effective working relationships; work both independently and with others; develop alternatives; analyze datasets.
Abilities to:
Work in the best interests of the members of the WPP
Work with a broad range of customers and stakeholders
Understand highly complex and interrelated subject matter and effectively communicate
Positively influence others to encourage appropriate actions without formal authority
Be an active listener
Personal Characteristics:
The Regional Transmission Planning Services Engineer needs to be good with people with the ability to tailor communication to the audience. They should be inclined to coordinate and facilitate groups and discussions and be comfortable in front of an audience. The Engineer should be naturally curious and interested in things with the will to self-motivate to develop solutions. The work being done at the Western Power Pool inherently involves a lot of decision making; the Engineer needs to have well-developed judgment as well as the ability to make decisions.
Language Skills:
Ability to read, analyze, and interpret common scientific and technical journals, financial reports, and legal documents. Ability to respond to common inquiries or complaints from customers, regulatory agencies, or members of the business community. Ability to write speeches and articles for publication that conform to prescribed style and format. Ability to effectively present information to top management, public groups, and/or boards of directors. Must be proficient in reading, writing and speaking English.
Reasoning Ability:
Ability to define problems, collect data, establish facts, and draw valid conclusions. Ability to interpret an extensive variety of technical instructions in mathematical or diagram form and deal with several abstract and concrete variables.
Complexity:
This position requires the ability to build knowledge of WPP Reliability programs, reliability metrics and modeling, power generation, transmission, distribution and their impact on the WPP, its customers, business relationships and stakeholders. The incumbent will have extensive relationships with NWPP member staff, external entities, including, but not limited to regulatory agencies and research centers. A variety of complex conceptual and mathematical models will be utilized to support decision-making. Additionally, knowledge of federal and state laws and regulations relating to the power industry is required.
Decision Making:
This position relies on experience, personal relationships, and judgment to plan and accomplish goals. Decisions impact multiple major programs and may involve multiple difficult or critical problems.
Physical Requirements:
Prolonged periods working on a computer.