Grid Analytics Engineer

Brightsmith; United States; On-site; USD 100,000 - 140,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Employee equity program

Job summary

Brightsmith is seeking a Grid Analytics Engineer to join our growing utility-scale solar and storage practice. You will lead transmission studies, develop regional expertise, and build automated tools validating interconnection analyses across multiple ISOs.

The role emphasizes Python-based automation, data workflows, and cross-functional collaboration with development and operations teams. 2–5 years in transmission planning and interconnection, WECC/SPP familiarity preferred, willing to travel

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Electrical Engineering required; MS preferred.
• Experience in transmission planning, generator interconnection, or power system analysis (2–5 years).
• Familiarity with WECC and SPP transmission planning concepts.

Responsibilities

• Perform power flow, injection, contingency, and scenario studies.
• Build/maintain regional base cases for new generation, retirements, and upgrades.
• Execute screening-level and detailed transmission analyses to estimate costs.
• Validate ISO/TO study results under senior guidance.
• Support interconnection processes and project portfolio evaluation.
• Develop automated workflows to improve study efficiency.

Skills

Python scripting

Power system analysis

Transmission planning

Data analysis

Communication

Education

Bachelor's degree in Electrical Engineering

MS preferred

Tools

TARA

PSS/E

Job description

Our client is a fast-growing, U.S.-based utility-scale solar and storage developer with a distributed team across the country. The company has built a multi-gigawatt development pipeline of utility-scale solar-plus-storage and standalone BESS projects, sourced from the ground up in the high-growth SPP and WECC markets. Backed by significant platform growth capital, they are scaling quickly, taking projects from greenfield through construction and into operation while expanding the pipeline through new development and strategic acquisitions.

This is a rare opportunity to join a company at an inflection point, where your work will directly shape its trajectory and your career will grow alongside the business. Employees can also build long-term ownership through an employee equity program.

THE ROLE

Grid analytics is a core competitive advantage for the company, directly influencing where it develops projects, how it manages interconnection risk, and how it allocates capital. The Grid Analytics Engineer will be a key contributor to the in-house grid analytics capability, working closely with the Sr. Director of Grid Analytics to execute transmission studies, develop regional expertise, improve automation, and support generator interconnection efforts across multiple ISOs. This role is ideal for an engineer who enjoys solving complex technical problems, building innovative analytical tools, and growing into broader technical leadership.

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES

Transmission & Interconnection Analysis

• Perform power flow, injection, contingency, and scenario studies supporting greenfield prospecting, project development, acquisitions, and due diligence.
• Build, modify, and maintain regional power flow base cases reflecting future generation additions, retirements, transmission upgrades, and load growth.
• Execute screening-level and detailed transmission analyses to estimate available injection capability and network upgrade costs.
• Replicate and validate ISO, transmission owner, and consultant study results (e.g., System Impact Studies, Cluster Studies, SPP DISIS) under the guidance of the Sr. Director.
• Support shadow studies and independent evaluations of queued projects and interconnection studies.

Generator Interconnection Support

• Request, manage, and review technical models and supporting analyses for solar PV and BESS interconnection requests from third-party consultants.
• Support all phases of the interconnection process, including application preparation, study review, data requests, and technical due diligence.
• Monitor interconnection queue activity and evaluate how new projects, withdrawals, and study results affect the portfolio.
• Maintain current knowledge of interconnection procedures and transmission planning processes across assigned regions, including attending relevant ISO/TO stakeholder meetings.

Automation, Analytics & Tool Development

• Develop and maintain automated analytical workflows using Python or other scripting languages.
• Build tools that improve the speed, repeatability, and consistency of transmission analysis.
• Support development of internal databases, dashboards, and analytical tools for project screening and portfolio management.
• Identify opportunities to leverage AI-assisted tools to improve data processing, study execution, and analytical efficiency.
• Continuously improve modeling workflows and reduce manual effort through automation.

Strategic Project Support

• Translate technical study results into concise summaries for leadership and development teams.
• Support regional project screening by identifying transmission constraints, interconnection risks, and development opportunities.
• Perform technical transmission due diligence on acquisition opportunities.
• Participate in cross-functional discussions with development, commercial analytics, origination, and executive teams.

Technical Development & Career Progression

• Develop subject matter expertise in, and take ownership of, one or more regional transmission markets.
• Mentor junior engineers and analysts.
• Expand technical knowledge of transmission planning, power system modeling, production cost modeling, and interconnection procedures.
• Work with the Sr. Director to improve analytical methodologies, assumptions, and internal best practices.
• Contribute ideas that strengthen the company's grid analytics capability and decision-making framework.
• Identify cross-functional opportunities to automate and enhance the company's proprietary site selection process.

QUALIFICATIONS & EXPERIENCE

• Bachelor's degree in Electrical Engineering (MS preferred).
• 2–5 years of experience in transmission planning, generator interconnection, or power system analysis at an IPP, utility, consulting firm, ISO/RTO, or transmission owner.
• Experience with TARA, PSS/E, or similar transmission analysis software, including their Python APIs.
• Experience building automated workflows for power flow studies or post-processing.
• Ability to obtain Critical Energy Infrastructure Information (CEII) from FERC and other agencies.
• Familiarity with generator interconnection processes and transmission planning concepts in WECC and SPP.
• Proficiency in Python or other scripting languages for automation and data analysis.
• Knowledge of open-source power system software.
• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills with excellent attention to detail.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
• Ability to travel within the U.S. as needed (less than 10%).