Engineer I-IV, Distribution Planning

Liberty; Joplin (MO); On-site; USD 90,000 - 130,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical, Dental, Vision

401K with 5% match

Annual bonus

Life insurance & disability

Employee Stock Purchase Program

Headspace account

3 weeks vacation + holidays

Job summary

Algonquin Power & Utilities Corp., parent company of Liberty, seeks a Distribution Planning Engineer to lead planning and optimization of the electrical distribution network. You will collaborate with a skilled Technical Services team to ensure safety, reliability, and cost-effectiveness of system enhancements.

The role requires analyzing load flow, fault current, and power quality while coordinating with transmission planning and regulators. Travel up to 15% is possible as needed.

Qualifications

• BS in Electrical Engineering or equivalent.
• 5+ years utility planning experience with strong distribution systems background.
• EIT or PE license preferred.
• Experience with distribution load flow, power quality, and fault-current analyses.
• Hands-on CYMEDIST or similar software experience.
• Strong written and verbal communication for technical reports.

Responsibilities

• Develop and implement plans for efficient distribution additions, reinforcements, and interconnections.
• Perform load flow, fault current, power factor, and power quality studies to assess and improve performance.
• Collaborate with transmission planning to mitigate impacts from new loads and DERs.
• Prepare project scopes, cost estimates, and cost-benefit analyses for Construction Budget.
• Submit data and reports to state public service commissions and ensure regulatory compliance.
• Analyze power quality concerns and propose reliability improvements.

Skills

5+ years experience

Power systems

Process improvement

Technical communication

Analytical thinking

Travel 15%

Load flow studies

Fault current analysis

Power quality analysis

Regulatory reporting

Education

Bachelor of Science in Electrical Engineering

EIT or PE license preferred

Tools

CYMEDIST

Job description

Algonquin Power & Utilities Corp. (AQN), parent company of Liberty, is a diversified international generation, transmission, and distribution utility. AQN is committed to providing safe, reliable, and cost-effective energy and water solutions through our portfolio of utility investments to over one million customer connections, largely in the United States and Canada.

At Algonquin, our vision is to be the most trusted utility service provider in North America - a premium regulated utility, known for our customer focus, commitment to sustainability, and strong community partnerships. Our employees are at the heart of that vision. We believe that when people are empowered to learn, grow, and contribute their ideas, we can achieve remarkable results together.

We are building a culture that values integrity, inclusivity, and innovation. By joining Algonquin, you’ll be part of a team that is shaping the future of energy and water, while creating long-term value for our customers, communities, employees, and shareholders.

Purpose

At Liberty, you’ll have the opportunity to work in a collaborative and innovative environment where your contributions directly impact our communities. We're committed to fostering a culture of inclusion, growth, and continuous learning. If you're passionate about leveraging your technical expertise to create a positive impact, we'd love to hear from you.

Accountabilities

As a Distribution Planning Engineer, you will be part of our Technical Services team, take a leading role in ensuring the safety, reliability, and efficiency of Liberty’s electrical distribution system. You will have the opportunity to leverage your expertise in electrical engineering to analyze, plan, and optimize our distribution network while collaborating with a talented and dynamic team. You will report to the Director, System Performance.

• Develop and implement plans for efficient distribution system additions, reinforcements, and interconnections to provide a reliable, safe, and cost-effective electrical system
• Perform load flow, fault current, power factor, and power quality studies to assess and enhance system performance
• Collaborate with transmission planning teams to mitigate impacts from new loads, distributed energy resources, or system reconfigurations
• Create and compile detailed project scopes, cost estimates, and cost-benefit analyses for inclusion in the Construction Budget
• Submit data and reports to state public service commissions as required, ensuring regulatory compliance and alignment with organizational goals
• Analyze power quality concerns and propose solutions to enhance system reliability and customer satisfaction
• Work with internal and external stakeholders to coordinate infrastructure changes and ensure seamless system integration
• Develop and implement new processes and standards for electrical distribution planning to enhance system efficiency across utilities
• Develop and manage databases for system studies, including load flow and short-circuit analyses
• Perform other responsibilities as requested by leadership

Education and Experience

• Bachelor of Science in Electrical Engineering or similar field
• 5+ years of utility planning experience with a strong foundation in distribution systems
• Engineer in Training (EIT) or Professional Engineer (PE) license preferred
• Proven ability to develop and implement new processes related to electrical distribution planning, particularly in environments without well-established procedures
• Hands-on experience with CYMEDIST or similar distribution load flow software and a thorough understanding of power system concepts, including power flow, stability, fault current, and voltage optimization
• Proven ability to evaluate complex problems, analyze data, and recommend actionable solutions
• Strong written and verbal communication skills to prepare technical reports and present findings effectively
• Up to 15% travel

What We Offer

As a valued member of our team, you will enjoy competitive pay that reflects your skills and experience. You will also have access to a comprehensive benefits package that includes:

• Medical, Dental, and Vision coverage & a 401K plan with a 5% match, effective day one
• Annual bonus and merit increase eligibility
• Life insurance and short-term & long-term disability
• Employee Stock Purchase Program
• Free Employee Assistance Program & Headspace account
• 3 weeks of vacation, paid sick days, 12 paid company holidays, & 3 paid volunteer days
• Tuition reimbursement, professional development opportunities, & reimbursement for certification costs
• Reward & recognition programs, service awards, a great company culture, and a collaborative & flexible work environment

Our purpose is sustaining energy and water for life, and it is demonstrated in everything we do as a business and as an employee team.

As the successful candidate

We provide safe, secure, reliable, cost-effective and sustainable energy and water solutions. Our mission is how we create value as an organization—it is what drives us every day to fulfill our purpose.

Our Vision

We better the lives of our customers and communities. Our vision is what we see as possible. It's where we aspire to be, what we want to achieve and how we'll make an impact. It guides and keeps us on the right path as we work towards fulfilling our purposes.

Our Guiding Principles

• Customer Centric
• Integrity
• Entrepreneurial
• Teamwork
• Owner mindset
• Outcome focused
• Continuous learning

We are focused on building a diverse and inclusive workforce. If you are excited about this role and are not confident you meet all the qualification requirements, we encourage you to apply to investigate the opportunity further.

We are an equal opportunity employer and value each person's unique background, diversity, experiences, perspectives and talents.

Full participation of all employees in a safe, healthy and respectful environment is key to individual and company success. We are committed to fully utilizing the abilities of all our employees and expect each of our employees to honour this commitment in their daily responsibilities.