INTERN - Electric Utility Engineering Intern

Western Farmers Electric Cooperative; Oklahoma City (OK); On-site; USD 28,000 - 36,000; Part time

Job summary

Western Farmers Electric Cooperative (WFEC) invites engineering students for a summer internship in Moore, Oklahoma. You will assist Planning Engineers with transmission planning, reliability assessments, load growth evaluations, and interconnection studies, gaining hands-on experience with industry tools.

The internship runs May through August and targets full-time Electrical Engineering students. It offers exposure to real projects and teamwork in a professional utility setting.

Qualifications

• Full-time student with declared Electrical Engineering major.
• Internship runs May–August.
• Exposure to transmission planning software and power system modeling.
• Ability to work in a team and communicate effectively.

Responsibilities

• Assist Planning Engineers with transmission planning studies and reliability assessments.
• Support data collection, validation, and analysis for planning models.
• Participate in field visits to gain exposure to substation equipment.
• Prepare technical reports and study summaries based on analyses.
• Deliver an end-of-summer presentation to engineering staff.

Skills

Communication

MS Office

Analytical skills

Self-directed

Organizational skills

Education

Electrical Engineering major

Tools

Siemens PSS/E

PowerGEM TARA

Job description

Western Farmers Electric Cooperative (WFEC) is recruiting an Engineering junior or senior (preferred) for an internship opportunity at our offices in Moore, Oklahoma. This position will assist Planning Engineers with transmission system planning, reliability assessments, load growth evaluations, generation interconnection studies, and long‑term transmission system development. The selected intern will gain hands‑on experience using industry‑standard transmission planning software, including Siemens PSS®E and PowerGEM TARA, to perform power system modeling, contingency analysis, and reliability assessments. To be eligible for the Internship you must be a full‑time student at a college or university with a declared Electrical Engineering major (preferred). The hourly rate offered for this internship will be based off of student classification. The internship will be during the months of May‑August. This position provides an excellent opportunity to gain exposure and knowledge in the engineering field. Our internship is designed to assist Planning Engineers and planning staff within our Transmission Planning department.

WFEC's generating facilities are located at Mooreland, Anadarko and Hugo, Oklahoma and Lovington, New Mexico. WFEC has a total power capacity of more than 2,400 MW when purchased hydropower is included. The G&T owns and maintains more than 3,800 miles of transmission line to more than 330 sub and switch stations. Members consist of 21 distribution cooperatives, located in Oklahoma and New Mexico, with their service territories covering parts of the two states, in addition to portions of Texas and Kansas. WFEC also serves Altus Air Force Base.

Western Farmers Electric Cooperative is a great place to work. You will have the opportunity to work on various engineering projects while gaining hands‑on experience and skills to add to your education. During the internship there will be challenges and an opportunity to work with our various work teams.

Internship Outline Of Duties, Responsibilities, And Opportunities

• Under the direction of a Planning Engineer, participate in projects by supporting study development, data analysis, project coordination, and engineering tasks.
• Assists with real‑time studies to maintain system operating limits in compliance with North American Electric Reliability Corporation (NERC) standards.
• Assist with transmission planning studies, including power flow, transient stability, short‑circuit, contingency, generation dispatch, transmission service, and generation interconnection analyses used to evaluate system performance, reliability, expansion requirements, and the feasibility of proposed system additions and upgrades.
• Assist with the collection, validation, organization, and analysis of transmission system data used in planning models and engineering studies.
• Assist in evaluating future load growth, identifying transmission system improvements, and supporting short‑term and long‑term transmission planning activities to maintain system reliability and meet customer needs.
• Assist in gathering, analyzing, and reviewing data in preparation for a NERC Audit. This data could consist of planning models, reports, attestations, and other pieces of information that could be used as evidence to show our compliance with industry standards.
• Assist in preparing technical reports, study summaries, presentations, and planning recommendations based on engineering analyses.
• Develop an understanding of Southwest Power Pool (SPP) planning processes, transmission service studies, generation interconnection studies, and regional transmission expansion planning activities.
• Accompany engineers on field visits to transmission substations, switch stations, and other electric utility facilities to gain firsthand exposure to large power transformers, high‑voltage electrical apparatus, and transmission system assets, enhancing the understanding of how planning studies support the design, operation, and reliability of the power system.
• Prepare and deliver an end‑of‑summer presentation to engineering personnel, company leadership, and fellow interns highlighting work assignments, planning studies, field experiences, technical skills developed, lessons learned, and the overall value of the internship experience.

Skills & Proficiencies -

• Excellent written and oral communications skills
• Proficiency in MS Office Suite including Word, Excel and PowerPoint preferred
• Ability to research, organize and report using traditional resources as well as the internet
• Analytical skills
• Must be organized, efficient and able to multitask
• Self‑directed project management skills are a plus

CERTIFICATES, LICENSES, REGISTRATIONS:

Requires a current driver's license.

PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS:

The physical requirements described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions. While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to sit, use hands to finger, handle, or feel; reach with hands and arms and talk or hear. The employee is occasionally required to stand and walk. The employee must regularly lift and or move up to 50 pounds. Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision.

WORK ENVIRONMENT:

The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions. The noise level in the work environment is usually quiet. In accordance with WFEC Administrative Procedure 805-Alcohol and Drug-Free Workplace this position is classified as "safety sensitive".

WFEC IS AN EQUAL OPPORTUNITY PROVIDER AND EMPLOYER AND

TAKES AFFIRMATIVE ACTION WITH RESPECT TO INDIVIDUALS

WITH DISABILITIES AND PROTECTED VETERANS