Senior Engineer - Grid Modernization

BC Hydro; Vancouver; On-site; CAD 110,000 - 150,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Flexible work model

Training and development courses

15+ paid vacation days

Job summary

BC Hydro is seeking a Senior Engineer to support Grid Modernization initiatives across multiple technology and business domains. The role involves developing business cases, deployment plans, and governance structures, while coordinating with Transmission, Distribution, and Technology teams.

The position emphasizes cross-functional collaboration, program delivery, and continuous improvement to advance BC Hydro’s modernization vision and climate resilience of the grid.

Qualifications

• Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
• Strong engineering judgement and problem-solving abilities.
• Ability to engage constructively with technical specialists and cross-functional teams.

Responsibilities

• Support development and implementation of Grid Modernization initiatives and portfolio.
• Develop modernization business cases, investment recommendations, and implementation plans.
• Document current- and future-state processes, governance structures, and operating models.
• Develop deployment plans and program roadmaps integrating technical and business considerations.
• Monitor progress and support modernization reporting and governance materials.

Skills

Communication skills

Analytical thinking

Team collaboration

Education

Bachelor’s degree in Electrical Engineering recognized by EGBC

Job description

Hours of work: Full-time (37.5 hrs/week) (unless otherwise)

No. of positions: 2

About the job:

The Grid Modernization team leads strategic stewardship, governance, coordination, and enablement of modernization initiatives across BC Hydro, ensuring that diverse stakeholders work together to deliver an integrated and coherent modernization vision.

Reporting to the Technical Strategic Principal, Grid Modernization, the Senior Engineer supports modernization initiatives across multiple technology and business domains including Distribution Automation (DA), Battery Energy Storage Systems (BESS), Distributed Energy Resources (DER), Virtual Power Plants (VPP), grid visibility technologies, climate resilience initiatives, and future modernization opportunities.

This position provides an opportunity to work across organizational boundaries and contribute to some of BC Hydro's most significant modernization initiatives.

What you’ll do:

• Support development and implementation of Grid Modernization initiatives across the modernization portfolio.
• Support development of modernization business cases, investment recommendations, implementation plans, and strategic initiatives.
• Assist in documenting current-state and future-state business processes, governance structures, stakeholder interfaces, and operating models.
• Develop deployment plans, program roadmaps, implementation strategies and recommendations that integrate technical, operational, asset-management and business considerations.
• Gather and synthesize information from stakeholders across Transmission and Distribution Planning, Sustainment, Engineering, System and Field Operations, Telecommunications, Technology, and Project Delivery.
• Identify and manage technical, operational, schedule, resource and organizational dependencies,resolving issues within the workstream and escalating significant decisions or conflicts when required.
• Support process improvement initiatives that enhance coordination, accountability, organizational effectiveness, and modernization outcomes.
• Monitor implementation progress, maintain initiative tracking information, and support modernization reporting activities.
• Contribute to development of performance measures, benefits realization approaches, and continuous improvement initiatives.
• Prepare clear recommendations, decision materials, progress reports, risk assessments and presentations for management and program governance.
• Develop technical reports, presentations, briefing materials, and recommendations for a variety of technical and business audiences.
• Conduct technical research, utility benchmarking, technology assessments, and engineering analyses to support modernization decision-making.
• Support research, pilots, demonstrations, technology-transfer activities, and modernization assessments.
• Monitor utility best practices, emerging technologies, industry developments, and regulatory trends, and provide recommendations regarding potential opportunities, risks, gaps, and future modernization requirements for BC Hydro's modernization portfolio.
• Support the assessment, planning, and implementation of initiatives to improve the climate resilience of BC Hydro's transmission and distribution systems.
• Maintain awareness of modernization initiatives across the portfolio and support tracking of priorities, risks, dependencies, implementation status, benefits realization, and emerging opportunities.
• Support coordination and alignment of modernization activities across multiple business units to help ensure initiatives are delivered in accordance with BC Hydro's modernization objectives and priorities.
• Support development of inputs to the annual capital plan process, Integrated Resource Plan, Revenue Requirements Application, and other regulatory, investment-planning, and strategic initiatives.

What you bring:

• Bachelor’s degree in Electrical Engineering recognized by EGBC and/or Canadian Universities. Consideration may be given to other recognized and accredited degrees (such as Integrated Engineering, Mechatronic Systems Engineering, Engineering in Smart Grid Systems and Technologies, etc.) with a demonstrable focus in Electrical Engineering subjects
• Minimum of eight (8) years of experience in a relevant field ideally in an electricity utility. Applicants who do not meet the full qualifications or those with lesser work experience may be considered for a lower-level position.
• Registered, or eligible for immediate registration, as a Professional Engineer with Engineers and Geoscientists of BC (EGBC).
• Ongoing development such as self-study, attendance at technical and administrative courses and participation in technical and professional societies

Knowledge and understanding of:

• Climate change science and climate resiliency methodologies in the utility space.
• Distribution Automation, its integration and impact on distribution system
• Utility systems and platforms such as GIS, SCADA, ADMS, OMS or DERMS
• Distribution, station or transmission systems and one or more relevant areas such as system planning, protection and control, grid automation, grid operations, operational technology, asset management, power system studies or project implementation
• Utility asset management, capital planning, project delivery and operational processes
• Evaluating technologies and investments from lifecycle, reliability, operational, implementation and business perspectives

The ability to:

• Think forward by understanding utility best practices and emerging trends in industry, technology, and regulation that may impact BC Hydro. Assess opportunities, risks, gaps, and requirements, and provide informed input to modernization strategies, plans, and initiatives.
• Think conceptually, anticipate and assess complex issues, and balance competing priorities to reach optimal decisions.
• Work collaboratively and cooperatively within the team and with cross functional teams.
• Prioritize enhancement of our customers and their experience in a rapidly evolving technology landscape.
• Understand and monitor industry Future Grid trends and developments.

Demonstrates:

• Excellent written and verbal communication, presentation, facilitation and relationship management skills.
• Strong engineering judgment, analytical thinking, systems thinking, problem-solving and decision-making skills.
• An ability to engage constructively with technical specialists, operating groups, managers, vendors and external partners.
• Sound business acumen and an ability to connect technical capabilities with reliability, resilience, operational and customer outcomes.
• Proven capability to influence actions across non-direct reporting lines.

What we offer:

• A minimum of 15 paid vacation days
• Flexible work model, depending on your role type
• Training and development courses

For more information on the benefits we offer, visit bchydro.com/benefits.

What else you should know:

• This posting is for two (2) Full Time Regular positions.
• Applicants who do not meet the full qualifications or those with lesser work experience may be considered for a lower level position.
• Occasional travel within BC, including remote locations and sometimes outside the province/country, may be required.
• Part of the interview process may include a written assignment, details to be discussed in the recruitment process.
• A condition of employment for this job is that you maintain your Class 5 Driver's License: In good standing.
• A condition of employment for this job is that you maintain good standing with Engineers & GeoScientists BC (EGBC).
• Please be advised that this role has been assessed as safety sensitive and pre-qualification alcohol and drug testing will be required as a pre-condition to employment.
• Don't forget to update your Candidate Profile with your current resume and copies of your certifications. If applicable, include your Trades Qualification. This will ensure we have all the necessary information to assess your application without any delays.