Grid Planning Engineer – Power Systems & Reliability

FirstEnergy Corp; New Castle (PA); On-site; USD 85,000 - 110,000; Full time

Job summary

FirstEnergy Pennsylvania Electric Company, a subsidiary of FirstEnergy Corp, is seeking an Electrical Engineer to plan, protect, and sustain the reliability of Penn Power's distribution systems from our New Castle, PA service center. You will analyze the distribution network, model circuits, and develop studies to guide expansions while coordinating with operations and other teams.

The role requires a BS in Electrical Engineering or related ABET-accredited field, 0–5 years of experience, and a

Qualifications

• Bachelor of Science degree in Electrical Engineering / Electrical Engineering Technology from an ABET accredited institution is required.
• Minimum 0-5 years engineering work experience is required.
• Successful completion of the Fundamentals of Engineering exam considered a plus.
• Experience and knowledge of electrical systems, operations, and maintenance practices, switching and tagging, computer systems, work management and electrical controls are desired.
• Relay control work experience is a plus.
• Able to analyze data, write technical reports, develop work packages to implement recommendations and the ability to handle multiple assignments.
• Able to provide storm restoration support and hazard dispatching duties during storm restoration efforts.
• Able to apply technical skills to solve practical problems and develop and provide technical information to support the Regional Dispatching Office to ensure safe and efficient operation of the electrical system.
• Willing to travel throughout the service territory, and willing to work extra and/or irregular hours.
• Unable to sponsor or transfer H-1B visas at this time.

Responsibilities

• Working safely in accordance with the Company's Accident Prevention Handbook.
• Investigating and developing planning studies to recommend and drive the necessary distribution system expansions and modifications to maintain reliable electrical infrastructure that meets present and future electrical needs.
• Demonstrating proficiency in the use of engineering analysis software to model the distribution system, calculate voltage drop and fault currents of circuits, and perform distribution switching and protection studies.
• Preparing budget estimates and schedules for system reinforcement projects.
• Supporting operations and maintenance by performing switching studies and preparing settings for mobile substation installations as needed.
• Performing protective device coordination studies for substation transformers and circuit breakers along with circuit protection (fuses and reclosers) as needed.
• Understanding and recommending settings for various regulator and capacitor controls.
• Designing and supporting the installation of distributed control systems including radio controls for line switches and reclosers as well as loop line sectionalizing schemes.
• Preparing protection specifications for new capital projects and system upgrades.
• Performing long-term, area-wide planning studies using applicable distribution system analysis software and preparing load study reports that detail the study findings and recommendations.
• Performing capacity studies for customer new load requests and preparing load study reports that detail the study findings and recommendations.
• Performing power quality studies as needed.
• Performing technical reviews and interconnection studies for customer distributed generation applications.
• Supporting operations with real-time system monitoring and operating/switching studies during peak load periods and system emergencies.
• Performing outage analysis, including analysis of circuit lockouts, in support of the Company's reliability initiatives.
• Completing Customer Experiencing Multiple Interruptions (CEMI) and Worst Performing Circuit (WPC) analysis and recommend reliability improvements.
• Investigating and responding to customer reliability inquiries received through regulatory agencies, Company officers and/or Company processes.
• Providing field and equipment commissioning support to technicians and other operating personnel on an as needed basis.
• Supporting the Penn Power storm process as needed, either as a hazard dispatcher, storm analyst or line shop analyst.
• May be assigned special projects as business needs require.

Job description

FirstEnergy Pennsylvania Electric Company, a subsidiary of FirstEnergy Corp, is seeking an Electrical Engineer to plan, protect, and sustain the reliability of Penn Power's distribution systems from our New Castle, PA service center. You will analyze the distribution network, model circuits, and develop studies to guide expansions while coordinating with operations and other teams.

The role requires a BS in Electrical Engineering or related ABET-accredited field, 0–5 years of experience, and a