2027 Spring Co-op - Operations Planning Engineer

Midcontinent Independent System Operator (MISO); Saint Paul (MN); On-site; USD 26,000 - 34,000; Full time

Job summary

Midcontinent Independent System Operator (MISO) seeks an Operations Planning Engineer Co-op in Eagan, MN. You’ll assist outage planning, run power flow studies, and help evaluate how planned outages affect the Bulk Electric System. You’ll work alongside experienced engineers across planning and operations to support reliable grid operation.

The role emphasizes hands-on modeling, analysis of contingencies, and real-world grid challenges, with a capstone-style presentation at the end of the term.

Qualifications

• Completion of core Electrical Engineering coursework.
• Undergraduate (juniors or seniors) pursuing Electrical Engineering.
• Programming experience in Python, MATLAB, or C++ preferred.

Responsibilities

• Support outage planning processes for a large multi-state electric system.
• Assist with power flow studies and contingency analysis.
• Review models and evaluate planned outages for grid impact.
• Contribute to reliability analyses and grid studies with engineers.

Skills

Python

MATLAB

C++

Electrical Engineering

Education

Electrical Engineering

Job description

Rate: $22 USD per hour

What You’ll Do:

As our Operations Planning Engineer Co-op, you’ll get a front-row seat to how one of the world’s largest electric grids is planned and operated. Think of Operations Planning a little like state patrol officers monitoring a busy interstate. They watch traffic conditions, identify congestion, help keep things moving safely, and respond when challenges arise. Our team does something similar with electricity — monitoring conditions across the Bulk Electric System (BES), evaluating how power can safely move across the grid, and helping to ensure electricity continues to flow reliably to the millions of people who depend on it.

You’ll support the outage planning processes for a complex electric system spanning 15 states, analyzing future grid conditions and helping determine safe and reliable paths for maintenance, construction, and other changes to the system.

You’ll Gain Hands-on Experience With:

• Power system analysis tools and industry-standard grid modeling software
• Real-world contingency analysis and system studies
• Transmission outage planning and reliability analysis
• Model validation and operational project support
• Tools and technologies used every day to support real-world grid operations

A Great Day In This Role Means:

You’ll spend time running power flow studies, reviewing system models, and evaluating how planned transmission outages could affect the grid. You’ll work alongside experienced engineers to analyze contingencies, identify potential reliability concerns, and determine what actions may be needed to keep electricity flowing safely and reliably.

This is a fast-paced environment where the work can have an immediate and meaningful impact. You’ll see how your analysis helps MISO plan maintenance, support new infrastructure projects, manage changing grid conditions, and prepare for challenges before they happen.

This Is a Unique Opportunity Because:

The electric grid is incredibly complex, and there is a lot to learn — but you won’t be learning it from a textbook alone.

You’ll work alongside teams across Operations Planning, Real-Time Operations, Day Ahead Market Operations, Transmission Planning, and other areas responsible for maintaining system reliability and supporting MISO's energy markets.

That cross-functional exposure will help you understand not only how the grid works, but how engineering, operations, and markets come together to keep electricity moving across a massive interconnected system.

What You’ll Be Proud To Share:

• Supported power system studies evaluating future grid conditions, transmission outages, and reliability risks
• Gained hands-on experience with industry-standard grid modeling and power flow analysis tools
• Learned how engineers manage congestion and changing conditions across the Bulk Electric System
• Collaborated with engineering and operations teams responsible for keeping electricity reliable across the MISO region
• Applied classroom engineering concepts to real-world challenges affecting millions of electricity consumers

As part of your capstone experience, you’ll also present a concise summary demonstrating how your project contributes to the daily operational needs of grid management — giving you an opportunity to showcase what you learned and the real-world impact of your work.

Qualifications At a Glance:

Term: January 13 – April 30, 2027 | Full-time | Paid

Location: Eagan, MN | Housing available for qualified students

Academic Level: Undergraduate (Juniors or Seniors)

Degree: Electrical Engineering

Required Technical Skills:

• Completion of core Electrical Engineering coursework

Preferred Skills:

• Coursework in Power Systems Analysis
• Programming experience such as Python, MATLAB, or C++
• Hands-on projects or internships related to grid modeling or system studies

By the End of Your Co-op, You’ll Walk Away With:

• A foundational understanding of the Bulk Electric System and how a large-scale electric grid operates
• Hands-on experience with contingency analysis, outage planning, and power system modeling tools
• A better understanding of MISO's role in maintaining reliability and operating energy markets
• The ability to connect your Electrical Engineering coursework to real-world grid challenges
• Professional experience collaborating across engineering, operations, planning, and market teams

About MISO

MISO manages the electricity superhighway in the Central U.S. Through groundbreaking research and advanced technology, our highly skilled employees ensure that power flows reliably to 47 million customers. Operating the electricity grid, running a robust energy market, and planning for a bright future — it’s what our immensely talented and dedicated team does every day.

Job Category

Engineering

Full-Time

Equal Opportunity Employer

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