Engineer Specialist, Reliability Standards

Alberta Electric System Operator (AESO); Calgary; Hybrid; CAD 160,000 - 200,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Hybrid work environment

Job summary

Alberta Electric System Operator (AESO) seeks a senior professional to lead ARS initiatives for the Alberta Interconnected Electric System. You will guide standards development, engage with stakeholders, and represent AESO in NERC/WECC forums while ensuring regulatory alignment and reliable system operation.

The role emphasizes independent judgment, strategic thinking, and mentoring, with a hybrid work model and ongoing professional development opportunities within AESO's regulatory framework.

Qualifications

• 17+ years of electricity industry experience in transmission planning, facilities design, grid operations or regulatory compliance.
• Proven record of leading large, complex stakeholder engagements and facilitating technical and regulatory discussions.
• Strong knowledge of electricity-industry rules, reliability standards and compliance frameworks, including interpretation and auditing considerations.

Responsibilities

• Lead ARS development initiatives and the continuous improvement of AESO documents.
• Develop ARS strategies and engagement approaches considering technical, operational, economic and stakeholder impacts.
• Establish and lead ARS technical working groups to resolve complex issues and achieve defensible regulatory outcomes.
• Oversee development of clear, defensible technical, regulatory and engagement materials for stakeholders.
• Represent the AESO as a subject matter expert in North American standards forums.
• Monitor and interpret industry developments and prepare future requirements.
• Lead implementation readiness by developing guidance and resolving stakeholder questions.
• Provide technical leadership and mentoring to strengthen organizational capability.

Skills

Stakeholder engagement

Project management

Regulatory compliance

Electrical engineering knowledge

Education

Bachelor's degree in electrical engineering

Professional Engineer (P.Eng.) with APEGA

Job description

The Alberta Electric System Operator (AESO) is responsible for the safe, reliable, and economic planning and operation of the Alberta Interconnected Electric System. We provide open and non-discriminatory access to Alberta’s interconnected power grid and also facilitate Alberta’s competitive wholesale electricity market. The AESO strives to foster an inclusive, diverse and equitable workplace where people feel respected and welcomed for who they are, together we deliver high performance and innovative results.

Job Description

Alberta Reliability Standards (ARS) establish requirements for the planning and operation of the Alberta Interconnected Electric System (AIES). The AESO develops and maintains ARS by adapting North American Electric Reliability Corporation (NERC) and Western Electricity Coordinating Council (WECC) standards to Alberta’s legislative framework, regulatory structure and reliability needs.

Signs you will enjoy the position

• You enjoy applying deep electricity industry expertise to complex and evolving reliability and regulatory matters.
• You are energized by developing standards, guidance, and recommendations that support the reliable planning and operation of the AIES.
• You like balancing technical, operational, economic, and stakeholder considerations to reach clear, defensible outcomes.
• You are comfortable facilitating technical discussions, engaging with industry participants and representing the AESO in external forums.
• You enjoy monitoring emerging industry developments and translating them into practical positions, requirements and implementation guidance
• You value work that requires independent judgment, sound analysis, transparency, and strong written communication.
• Signs you will enjoy working in this team
• You enjoy providing technical expertise and mentoring others to strengthen their knowledge and capability.
• You can informally guide complex work, review technical and regulatory materials in advance of leadership reviewing.
• You are confident in bringing together diverse perspectives from working groups toward practical, defensible decisions for presentation to leadership.
• You enjoy mentoring colleagues and sharing specialist expertise across the organization.
• You can prioritize multiple initiatives and maintain momentum toward agreed outcomes.

Your Main Accountabilities

• Lead ARS development initiatives and the continuous improvement of related AESO authoritative documents, using independent judgment and providing specialist guidance on ARS requirements.
• Develop strategies and engagement approaches for ARS initiatives, considering technical, operational, economic and stakeholder impacts while aligning outcomes with the AESO’s mandate and regulatory direction.
• Establish and lead ARS technical working groups to resolve complex issues and achieve defensible regulatory outcomes.
• Oversee the development of clear, defensible technical, regulatory, and engagement materials for stakeholders.
• Develop and deliver ARS stakeholder engagement strategies that promote transparency, trust, and informed participation across the electricity industry.
• Represent the AESO as a subject matter expert in NERC, WECC and other North American standards forums.
• Monitor and interpret emerging industry and technical developments, recommend AESO positions, and prepare future requirements.
• Support implementation and compliance readiness for approved ARS by developing guidance materials, interpreting requirements, and resolving stakeholder questions.
• Lead complex technical and risk-based analysis to support defendable recommendations and executive or regulatory decisions.
• Provide technical leadership and quality oversight by reviewing work, mentoring staff, and strengthening organizational capability.

What You Need

Qualifications and experience

• 17+ years of electricity industry experience, with deep expertise in one or more areas such as transmission system planning, facilities design, grid operations or regulatory compliance.
• A proven record of leading large, complex stakeholder engagements, facilitating technical and regulatory discussions, aligning diverse interests and driving decisions in collaborative and high-conflict environments.
• Demonstrated experience applying project management practices, prioritizing across multiple initiatives and delivering outcomes.
• Strong working knowledge and practical application of electricity-industry rules, reliability standards and compliance frameworks, including experience interpreting requirements, supporting implementation and informing audit or regulatory processes.

Education and professional designation

• A bachelor’s degree in electrical engineering from an accredited college or university.
• Professional Engineer designation (P. Eng.) with APEGA.

Why work with us

This full-time opportunity offers a competitive salary, along with paid vacation and flex time, health and dental benefits, mental health support, a defined contribution pension plan, and learning and development opportunities as part of the overall compensation package.

We support a hybrid work environment. The team is in the office on Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays, with flexibility to work where you are most effective on Mondays and Fridays.

Application deadline

October 12, 2026

If you are contacted for a pre-screening and/or interview, please advise of any accommodation measures required to enable you to fully participate. Information received relating to accommodation measures will be addressed confidentially.

The Alberta Electric System Operator is unable to accept unsolicited agency resumes.

The Alberta Electric System Operator, and its members, officers, employees and agents (collectively, "AESO") is committed to protecting personal information provided to it. When you submit your personal information to the AESO for the purpose of pursuing employment with the AESO, the collection, use and disclosure of personal information is in accordance with the provisions of the Protection of Privacy Act (POPA) of Alberta.

As noted, the AESO is mandated to maintain the safe and reliable operations of the provincial power grid. As part of meeting its obligations, the AESO may require the successful candidate to undergo a criminal background check for the position. This collection of personal information for the purposes of a check will be conducted in accordance with Section 4 of POPA.