Electric Transmission Planning Lead

AECO; Chicago (IL); Hybrid; USD 125,000 - 165,000; Full time

Job summary

AECOM is seeking an experienced Electric Transmission Planning Lead to strengthen and expand our transmission planning, grid modernization, and power system analysis capabilities across North America. This role combines technical leadership with client engagement, business development, and project leadership across a diverse client base.

The successful candidate will lead complex transmission planning studies, mentor engineers, and shape strategies for grid expansion, renewable integration, and

Qualifications

• Minimum: BA/BS in Electrical Engineering or Power Systems Engineering with 8 years of related experience or equivalent
• 8 years of experience in transmission planning, power system analysis, or related utility/consulting work
• Demonstrated experience leading transmission planning and/or interconnection studies
• Demonstrated client-facing leadership and experience developing or expanding client relationships

Responsibilities

• Lead transmission planning, system reliability, grid expansion, and interconnection engagements
• Provide technical direction for steady-state power flow, contingency, dynamic stability, and related studies
• Lead long-range transmission expansion and scenario planning with load growth and electrification
• Direct generator, storage, and large-load interconnection studies and transmission service assessments
• Develop study methodologies, assumptions, planning criteria, and technical approaches
• Review QA/QC of models, analyses, reports, and recommendations

Skills

Transmission planning

Power system analysis

Client-facing leadership

Project leadership

Interconnection studies

Regulatory knowledge

Education

BA/BS in Electrical Engineering or Power Systems Engineering

Tools

PSSE

PSLF

PowerWorld

TARA

Python

Job description

• Legal Entity: AECOM Technical Services Inc
• Business Line: Energy
• Work Location Model: Hybrid
• Primary Location: US - Chicago, IL - 130 East Randolph
• Compensation: USD 125,000 - USD 165,000 - yearly

Company Description

Work with Us. Change the World.

At AECOM, we're delivering a better world. Whether improving your commute, keeping the lights on, providing access to clean water, or transforming skylines, our work helps people and communities thrive. We are the world's trusted infrastructure consulting firm, partnering with clients to solve the world’s most complex challenges and build legacies for future generations.

There has never been a better time to be at AECOM. With accelerating infrastructure investment worldwide, our services are in great demand. We invite you to bring your bold ideas and big dreams and become part of a global team of over 50,000 planners, designers, engineers, scientists, digital innovators, program and construction managers and other professionals delivering projects that create a positive and tangible impact around the world.

We're one global team driven by our common purpose to deliver a better world. Join us.

Job Description

AECOM is seeking an experienced Electric Transmission Planning Lead to strengthen and expand our transmission planning, grid modernization, and power system analysis capabilities across North America.

This individual will serve as a senior technical leader and seller-doer, supporting a diverse portfolio of clients including electric utilities, independent system operators (ISOs/RTOs), transmission owners, renewable energy developers, data center providers, industrial and commercial energy users, government agencies, and other infrastructure stakeholders. The role will involve identifying and pursuing strategic growth opportunities, developing innovative technical solutions, and leading complex transmission planning, interconnection, reliability, and energy transition studies.

The successful candidate will combine deep expertise in transmission system planning and power system analysis with strong client engagement, business development, and project leadership capabilities. This individual will serve as a trusted advisor to clients navigating grid expansion, renewable energy integration, electrification, reliability, resilience, and decarbonization challenges while providing technical direction, quality oversight, and mentorship across multidisciplinary project teams.

In addition to leading technical studies, this role will help shape AECOM's strategic growth in the rapidly evolving energy sector, supporting pursuits, developing client relationships, and collaborating across engineering, advisory, environmental, digital, and program management disciplines to deliver integrated solutions. The ideal candidate will possess a strong understanding of transmission planning, interconnection processes, energy policy and regulatory drivers, emerging technologies, and the long-term challenges associated with modernizing and expanding North America's electric grid.

The job responsibilities for the position will include but are not limited to:

• Lead transmission planning, system reliability, grid expansion, and interconnection engagements.
• Provide technical direction for steady-state power flow, contingency, dynamic stability, short-circuit, and related transmission studies.
• Lead long-range transmission expansion and scenario planning associated with load growth, electrification, renewable generation, energy storage, generation retirements, and emerging large loads.
• Direct generator, storage, and large-load interconnection studies and transmission service assessments.
• Develop study methodologies, assumptions, planning criteria, and technical approaches.
• Review and provide QA/QC of models, analyses, technical reports, and recommendations.
• Identify transmission constraints and guide development and evaluation of mitigation alternatives.
• Serve as senior technical advisor for complex transmission planning issues.
• Maintain working knowledge of emerging areas such as inverter-based resources, grid-forming technologies, HVDC, advanced transmission technologies, and probabilistic planning.
• Develop and maintain relationships with utilities, ISOs/RTOs, developers, and other energy-sector clients.
• Identify and shape opportunities in transmission planning, interconnection, reliability, grid expansion, and renewable integration.
• Serve as technical lead for proposals, pursuits, interviews, and client presentations.
• Develop technical scopes, staffing approaches, schedules, and fee estimates.
• Work with AECOM account managers and Energy leadership to expand transmission planning opportunities with existing and prospective clients.
• Represent AECOM at industry conferences, workshops, and technical forums.
• Mentor and develop transmission planning engineers.
• Support recruitment of additional transmission planning resources as workload grows.
• Establish consistent study methodologies, modeling practices, technical standards, and QA/QC procedures.
• Integrate transmission planning with AECOM's transmission and substation engineering, program management, environmental, permitting, advisory, and energy-transition capabilities.

Qualifications

MINIMUM REQUIREMENTS:

• BA/BS in Electrical Engineering orPower Systems Engineering + 8years of related experienceor demonstrated equivalency of experience and/or education
• 8 years of related experience in transmission planning, power system analysis, or closely related utility/consulting work
• Demonstrated experience leading transmission planning and/or interconnection studies.
• Demonstrated client-facing leadership and experience developing or expanding client relationships
• Demonstrated experience leading multidisciplinary engineering projects

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS:

• Masters Degree in Electrical Engineering or Power Systems Engineering
• Professional Engineer (PE) license
• Strong technical background in power flow, contingency analysis, dynamic stability, transmission expansion planning, and system reliability
• Advanced experience with PSS®E, PSLF, PowerWorld, TARA, or comparable transmission planning software
• Experience leading technical teams and reviewing complex power-system studies
• Relevant industry experience in industrial, power generation, oil & gas, chemicals, LNG, terminals, or heavy industrial facilities
• Strong understanding of applicable NERC reliability standards and regional transmission planning requirements
• Experience working within one or more U.S. ISO/RTO or regional planning environments
• Prior consulting or utility transmission-planning leadership experience
• Existing relationships with electric utilities, ISOs/RTOs, developers, or other energy-sector clients
• Experience with generator, storage, and large-load interconnection studies
• Familiarity with EMT/IBR studies, PSCAD, production-cost modeling, HVDC, energy storage, or advanced transmission technologies
• Experience with Python or other automation/data-analysis tools

Additional Information

• Sponsorship for US employment authorization is not available now or in the future for this position.
• Relocation is not available for this position.

At AECOM, we are committed to maintaining a secure and trustworthy recruitment process and take any fraudulent hiring activity seriously. To support this commitment, all newly hired employees are required to attend an in-person Day 1 onboarding at an AECOM office location as a condition of employment.

About AECOM

AECOM is proud to offer comprehensive benefits to meet the diverse needs of our employees. Depending on your employment status, AECOM benefits may include medical, dental, vision, life, AD&D, disability benefits, paid time off, leaves of absences, voluntary benefits, perks, flexible work options,well-being resources, employee assistance program, business travel insurance, service recognition awards, retirement savings plan, and employee stock purchase plan.

AECOM is the global infrastructure leader, committed to delivering a better world. As a trusted professional services firm powered by deep technical abilities, we solve our clients’ complex challenges in water, environment, energy, transportation and buildings. Our teams partner with public- and private-sector clients to create innovative, sustainable and resilient solutions throughout the project lifecycle – from advisory, planning, design and engineering to program and construction management. AECOM is a Fortune 500 firm that had revenue of $16.1 billion in fiscal year 2025. Learn more at aecom.com.

What makes AECOM a great place to work

You will be part of a global team that champions your growth and career ambitions. Work on groundbreaking projects - both in your local community and on a global scale - that are transforming our industry and shaping the future. With cutting-edge technology and a network of experts, you’ll have the resources to make a real impact. Our award-winning training and development programs are designed to expand your technical expertise and leadership skills, helping you build the career you’ve always envisioned. Here, you’ll find a welcoming workplace built on respect, collaboration and community—where you have the freedom to grow in a world of opportunity.

As an Equal Opportunity Employer, we believe in your potential and are here to help you achieve it. All your information will be kept confidential according to EEO guidelines.

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