Lead Engineer - Market Support

Southwest Power Pool, Inc.; Little Rock (AR); Hybrid; USD 112,000 - 146,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Relocation bonus

Hybrid work environment

401(k) with employer match + pension

Job summary

Southwest Power Pool, Inc. in Little Rock is seeking a Lead Engineer to develop a deep understanding of market concepts and improve market clearing engine performance. You will analyze market data, define system requirements, test changes, and drive efficiency improvements.

The role requires leading projects with minimal supervision, supporting regulatory tasks, mentoring staff, and delivering regular market analyses and reports. Hybrid work arrangements are possible where eligible.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s Degree of Science in Engineering, ABET-accredited preferred.
• Degree should be in a calculus-based engineering field (Electrical/Computer/Industrial/Mechanical/Systems).
• 12 years of relevant engineering experience, or 11 years with a Master’s, or 10 years with a Doctoral degree.

Responsibilities

• Create advanced database queries and perform market clearing engine sensitivities.
• Lead cross-department projects with minimal guidance.
• Support Regulatory and Legal functions including FERC Orders and witness testimony.
• Mentor other staff on market concepts and analysis.
• Develop and maintain daily, monthly, quarterly, and annual market reports.

Skills

Database queries

Project leadership

Regulatory support

Market protocols

Data interfaces

Process improvement

Mentoring

Market software

Customer support

Education

Bachelor's in Engineering

ABET-accredited degree

Job description

SPP is about more than power. We’re about the power of relationships. Our employees have the opportunity to work together to ensure electricity is delivered reliably and affordably to the millions of people living in our service territory. We have been voted one of Arkansas’ Best Places to work by Arkansas Business and we are looking for a member of our team who is passionate about our mission to keep the lights on!
We have a core ideology here at SPP that we stand by: Do the right thing, for the right reason, in the right way.
We believe in supporting our employees through a fantastic benefits package:

• Competitive and transparent pay with bonus opportunities
• Excellent insurance package including three great medical plans to choose from, employer-paid short-term disability, long-term disability, and life insurance
• Relocation bonus (if applicable)
• Hybrid working environment for positions that are eligible
• Fantastic contributions to your retirement through a 401(k) savings plan with employer-match benefits and a pension (defined benefit plan) fully funded by SPP

PLEASE NOTE: SPP is not able to sponsor employment visas or student-work authorizations (STEM OPT) for this position. Please ensure you are eligible to work in the U.S. without sponsorship prior to applying.

COMPENSATION INFORMATION

The salary range(s) represents our good faith estimate for the role at this time. While we strive to provide competitive and transparent compensation, there may be circumstances where an offer is above or outside of the listed range. We are open to discussing salary expectations with qualified candidates considering factors such as the candidate's qualifications, skills, competencies, experience and geographic location will all be considered during the hiring process.

Lead Engineer - Market Support Salary range: $112,240 – $145,810

Overview

The Lead Engineer is responsible for developing a detailed understanding of market concepts, analyzing market data, and performing market clearing engine sensitivities. This position is specifically focused on the market clearing engine, which will include advising on market design, defining system requirements, testing, and implementing market software changes. This position will focus on market clearing engine performance and optimization and drive improvements in the clearing engine quality and solve time. The Lead Engineer is responsible for supporting major market initiatives and recommending changes to improve market efficiency. This position is expected to independently lead projects with little to no guidance from management while actively communicating project status to management. The Lead Engineer is expected to independently facilitate problem resolution with multiple departments and members while working towards consensus. This position is responsible for training staff on market concepts and market analysis.

Core Responsibilities

• Create advanced database queries and perform complex market clearing engine sensitivities to support market analysis.
• Independently lead and manage cross departmental projects with little to no guidance from management while actively communicating project status to management.
• Independently provide support to Regulatory and Legal functions including FERC Orders and witness testimony.
• Delegate tasks to other SPP staff and manage the delegated tasks.
• Demonstrate advanced knowledge of the SPP Market Protocols and Attachments AE, AF & AG of the SPP Open Access Transmission Tariff.
• Demonstrate advanced knowledge of the functionality and data interfaces of applications used by market operations.
• Facilitate problem resolution with multiple departments and members while working towards consensus.
• Actively initiate process improvements to increase efficiency and reduce staff time.
• Train and mentor other SPP staff on market concepts and market analysis.
• Support Market Operations with market reviews, repricing, monthly model upload validations, resolution of market study issues.
• Support the development, testing, and implementation of market software changes.
• Respond to customer issues, analyze issues, provide responses, and coordinate internal discussion if needed.
• Support market analysis established processes that run daily, monthly, quarterly, and annually.
• Develop and maintain daily, monthly, quarterly, and annual market reports to meet established deadlines.
• Support SPP working groups, committees, and task forces with market analysis and presentations.
• Perform commercial modeling with a high level of data integrity, and support development and implementation of commercial model software changes.
• Monitor and maintain the highest level of accuracy for wind and solar forecasting tools.
• Provide support, analysis, and review of the Post Operations Processing System (POPS) results and data transfers to Settlements ensuring the SOC1 financial control is met.
• Support changes to the public data posting by creating, updating, and reviewing database queries as needed.

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor’s Degree of Science in Engineering, this degree should:
  • Be from a university that meets the requirements to sit for the Professional Engineering exam (in Arkansas, that is most typically a degree from an ABET accredited university or a graduate degree from a college that has an ABET accreditation)
  • Degree should be in a calculus-based engineering field and preferred degree programs are Electrical Engineering, Computer Engineering, Industrial Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, or Systems Engineering
• 12 years of relevant Engineering experience, or
• 11 years’ of relevant Engineering experience with a Master’s Degree in Electrical, Computer, Industrial, Mechanical or Systems Engineering, or
• 10 years’ of relevant Engineering experience with a Doctoral degree in Electrical, Computer, Industrial, Mechanical, or Systems Engineering

Preferred Qualifications

• Advanced degree in related field

Other Requirements

• Strong inter-personal and team work skills
• Excellent planning and organization skills
• Excellent oral and written communication skills
• Excellent analytical and problem solving skills
• Understanding of and compliance with SPP Policies and Procedures

Travel Requirement

• This position requires minimal travel (approximately 0-20%)

SPP is an equal opportunity employer that makes employment decisions without regard to race, religion, color, national origin, citizenship, sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, veteran status, age, disability status or any other characteristic protected by applicable law. Further, SPP makes good faith efforts to employ and advance in employment qualified protected veterans and qualified individuals with disabilities. If you need a reasonable accommodation for any part of the application process, please contact us at [e-mail] and let us know the nature of your request. We will only respond to messages left that involve a request for a reasonable accommodation in the application process.
At SPP we believe in a culture of belonging. Learn more here: Culture of Belonging - Southwest Power Pool.