Electrical Engineer

Cherryland Electric Cooperative; Traverse City (MI); On-site; USD 90,000 - 120,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Competitive salary

Medical, dental, and vision insurance

Matching 401(k)

Fully funded defined benefit pension

Paid time off and holidays

Professional development and education

Job summary

Cherryland Electric Cooperative in Traverse City, Michigan, invites an Electrical Engineer to join a team focused on safe, reliable, and affordable power. You will plan, design, operate, and modernize the distribution system in collaboration with Operations, Engineering, IT, and Member Services.

You’ll work across multiple engineering disciplines—load growth, protection, SCADA, DER interconnection, and grid modernization—and contribute to innovative projects that directly benefit members while

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Electrical Engineering from an ABET-accredited program.
• Engineer in Training (EIT) certification or the ability to obtain it within one year of hire.
• Professional Engineer (PE) license or the desire to pursue licensure.
• Experience in electric utility engineering, power systems, distribution engineering, SCADA, protection and control, or related fields.
• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
• Ability to build positive working relationships with employees, members, contractors, and business partners.
• Valid Michigan driver's license or ability to obtain one.

Responsibilities

• Plan, design, operate, and improve Cherryland's electric distribution system.
• Perform engineering studies including load growth, voltage regulation, system capacity, protection coordination, reliability analysis, and distributed generation interconnection studies.
• Design and support the integration of distributed energy resources, battery energy storage systems, transportation electrification initiatives, and other emerging technologies.
• Lead or participate in projects involving SCADA, distribution automation, communications infrastructure, advanced metering, and grid modernization.
• Support the design, implementation, maintenance, and continuous improvement of SCADA and distribution automation systems.
• Analyze system performance and operational data to identify opportunities to improve safety, reliability, and member service.
• Develop engineering recommendations, technical reports, specifications, standards, and capital improvement plans.
• Collaborate with internal departments, consultants, contractors, and equipment vendors on engineering projects and system improvements.
• Provide engineering support for system operations, including participation in system restoration efforts and occasional system operator responsibilities, as needed.
• Research, evaluate, and recommend new technologies that improve Cooperative operations and member service.

Skills

Analytical skills and problem solving

Communication skills

Independent work

Education

ABET-accredited Electrical Engineering degree

EIT certification

PE licensure

Job description

ELECTRICAL ENGINEER

Cherryland Electric Cooperative has earned a reputation as an employer of choice in Northern Michigan by investing in our people, embracing innovation, and creating a workplace where employees can build meaningful careers while maintaining a healthy work/life balance.

As a member-owned electric cooperative, our focus is simple: provide safe, reliable, affordable electric service while putting our members first. Our employees take tremendous pride in that mission, and it shows. Cherryland consistently delivers electric reliability exceeding 99.99%, and we believe that success starts with hiring exceptional people and giving them the opportunity to do meaningful work.

As our Cooperative continues to grow and our electric system becomes more advanced, we\'re adding an Electrical Engineer to our team.

This position offers the opportunity to work across a wide variety of engineering disciplines rather than being limited to a single specialty. Our engineers are involved in distribution planning, system design, grid modernization, distributed energy resources, SCADA, communications, transportation electrification, automation, and the evaluation of emerging technologies. If you enjoy solving complex problems, learning new technologies, and seeing the impact of your work firsthand, you\'ll find plenty of opportunities here.

We\'re also looking for someone who wants to continue growing professionally. Whether your future includes leading larger projects, mentoring others, or taking on broader technical and organizational responsibilities, Cherryland is committed to developing talented employees and providing opportunities for long-term career growth.

What You'll Do

As an Electrical Engineer, you\'ll help plan, design, operate, and improve Cherryland\'s electric distribution system while working closely with Operations, Engineering, IT, and Member Services.

• Plan, design, and support improvements to the Cooperative\'s electric distribution system.
• Perform engineering studies including load growth, voltage regulation, system capacity, protection coordination, reliability analysis, and distributed generation interconnection studies.
• Design and support the integration of distributed energy resources, battery energy storage systems, transportation electrification initiatives, and other emerging technologies.
• Lead or participate in projects involving SCADA, distribution automation, communications infrastructure, advanced metering, and grid modernization.
• Support the design, implementation, maintenance, and continuous improvement of SCADA and distribution automation systems.
• Analyze system performance and operational data to identify opportunities to improve safety, reliability, and member service.
• Develop engineering recommendations, technical reports, specifications, standards, and capital improvement plans.
• Collaborate with internal departments, consultants, contractors, and equipment vendors on engineering projects and system improvements.
• Provide engineering support for system operations, including participation in system restoration efforts and occasional system operator responsibilities, as needed.
• Research, evaluate, and recommend new technologies that improve Cooperative operations and member service.

What We\'re Looking For

The ideal candidate is technically curious, collaborative, and enjoys taking ownership of projects from concept through implementation. You should be comfortable working independently while also recognizing that the best solutions often come from working together.

Qualifications Include

• Bachelor\'s degree in Electrical Engineering from an ABET-accredited program.
• Engineer in Training (EIT) certification or the ability to obtain it within one year of hire is preferred.
• Professional Engineer (PE) license or the desire to pursue licensure is valued.
• Experience in electric utility engineering, power systems, distribution engineering, SCADA, protection and control, or related fields is preferred.
• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
• Ability to build positive working relationships with employees, members, contractors, and business partners.
• Valid Michigan driver\'s license or ability to obtain one.

Why Cherryland?

One of the things our employees appreciate most about Cherryland is the variety. On any given week, you may be evaluating a distributed energy interconnection, planning a system improvement, supporting a SCADA enhancement, collaborating with operations during a major storm restoration effort, or researching the next technology that will improve service for our members.

We also believe great people deserve great benefits. Cherryland offers:

• Competitive salary
• Excellent medical, dental, and vision insurance
• Matching 401(k)
• Fully funded defined benefit pension
• Paid time off and holidays
• Professional development and continuing education opportunities
• A culture built around safety, teamwork, and work/life balance

Located in beautiful Traverse City, Michigan, Cherryland employees enjoy all that Northern Michigan has to offer-from world-class outdoor recreation and freshwater beaches to vibrant downtown communities, wineries, trails, and year-round activities. It\'s an exceptional place to build both a career and a life.

Equal Opportunity Employer

Cherryland Electric Cooperative is an Equal Opportunity Employer. We are committed to creating a workplace where all qualified individuals have the opportunity to succeed. Employment decisions are based on qualifications, merit, and business needs, without regard to race, color, religion, sex, pregnancy, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, national origin, age, disability, genetic information, veteran status, or any other status protected by applicable law.