Lead Generation Interconnection Engineer

Electric Reliability Council of Texas; Taylor (TX); Hybrid; USD 190,000 - 223,000; Full time

Job summary

Electric Reliability Council of Texas (ERCOT) seeks a senior Power Systems Engineer in Taylor, TX, to lead the generation interconnection process from application to commercial operation. You will ensure reliability, coordinate with multiple ERCOT groups, and review FIS and related reports.

The role requires a bachelor’s degree in electrical or power systems engineering and 8+ years of relevant experience, with potential for telecommuting up to three days per week from within Texas.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Electrical Engineering or Power Systems Engineering.
• 8+ years of experience in power systems engineering or related roles.
• Experience with generation interconnection processes and reliability standards.

Responsibilities

• Manage the integration of generation and energy storage resources through the interconnection process.
• Ensure interconnections meet NERC reliability standards and ERCOT protocols.
• Review and process interconnection studies and associated reports.
• Develop tools to automate interconnection studies and reviews.

Skills

Power systems engineering

Interconnection processes

Modeling experience

Education

Bachelor's degree in Electrical Engineering or Power Systems Engineering

Tools

NMMS modeling

Job description

At ERCOT, our diverse and dynamic work environment provides a platform on which employees can work together to build the future of the Texas power grid and wholesale market utilizing the latest technologies and resources. We encourage you to join our talented, dedicated workforce to develop world-class solutions for today and tomorrow’s energy challenges while learning new skills and growing your career. ERCOT is committed to fostering inclusion at all levels of our company. It is the cornerstone of our corporate values of accountability, leadership, innovation, trust, and expertise. We know that individuals with a wide variety of talents, ideas, and experiences propel the innovation that drives our success. An inclusive and diverse workforce strengthens us and allows for a collaborative environment to solve the challenges that face our industry today and in the future.

WORKSITE:

2705 West Lake Drive, Taylor, Texas, 76574, United States

JOB DUTIES:

• Manage the integration of generation and energy storage resources through the entire generation interconnection process from the initial application to the approval for commercial operations.
• Ensure that the interconnection of power generation and energy storage resources are accomplished in a manner that maintains the reliability of the ERCOT electricity grid system and complies with the North American Electric Reliability Corporation (NERC) reliability standards, ERCOT protocols, ERCOT Planning Guide and ERCOT Operating Guides.
• Work closely with ERCOT System Operations, System Operations Support, Market Operating Services Support, Client Services, Network Modeling, System Planning and Metering.
• Review and process generation interconnection and full interconnection study (FIS) applications.
• Attend FIS kickoff meetings and communicate and work with Market Participants (MP) and other ERCOT departments to solve issues related to generation interconnection projects.
• Review and approve Reactive Study reports, FIS scope, Steady-state, short circuit, facility study reports, and SGIA.
• Review and approve modeling data for all phases of the interconnection process.
• Support Network Modeling to model the generation resource in the NMMS model.
• Review Commissioning Plan and Energization, Synchronization, and Commissioning checklists.
• Review commissioning testing data, including but not limited to AVR/PSS, and Reactive tests.
• Develop and maintain tools that automate the studies, reviews, and other processes.
• Review, draft, and implement improvements to the interconnection and modeling process.
• Review, draft, and present changes to the protocols, guides, procedures, and training materials for other engineers and MP.
• Review, draft, and/or present other supporting ERCOT documents related to modeling.
• Work closely with MP, including Interconnecting Entities (IE), Resource Entities (RE), Distribution Service Providers (DSP), and Transmission Service Providers (TSP).
• Perform security screening studies to determine first contingency incremental transfer capability for each interconnection request.

MINIMUM EDUCATION:

Bachelor’s degree in Electrical Engineering or Power Systems Engineering.

MINIMUM EXPERIENCE:

Eight (8) years of experience as Power System Engineer, Power System Applications Engineer, Operations Engineer, Operations Supervisor or closely related position.

SPECIAL REQUIREMENTS:

The required experience must have involved power systems engineering or power systems application development in or for the electric utility industry.

OTHER:

May telecommute up to three days per week from within the State of Texas.

OFFERED WAGE:

$189,800.00 - $222,775.00 per year

ERCOT is firmly committed to equal employment for all qualified persons without regard to race, sex, medical condition, religion, age, creed, national origin, citizenship status, marital status, sexual orientation, physical or mental disability, ancestry, veteran status, genetic information or any other protected category under federal, state or local law.

The Electric Reliability Council of Texas (ERCOT) manages the flow of electric power to 27 million Texas customers - representing about 90 percent of the state's electric load. As the independent system operator for the region, ERCOT schedules power on an electric grid that connects more than 54,100 miles of transmission lines and 1,250 generating units. ERCOT also performs financial settlement for the competitive wholesale bulk-power market and administers retail switching for 8 million premises in competitive choice areas. ERCOT is a membership-based 501(c)(4) nonprofit corporation, governed by a board of directors and subject to oversight by the Public Utility Commission of Texas and the Texas Legislature. ERCOT's members include consumers, cooperatives, generators, power marketers, retail electric providers, investor-owned electric utilities (transmission and distribution providers,) and municipal-owned electric utilities.

ERCOT offers an excellent benefits package, which includes health, dental, vision, life insurance, long/short-term disability insurance, long-term care insurance, Section 125 Flexible Spending Account, and a Retirement Savings Plan.

The medical, dental, vision, and quality-of-life benefits offered by ERCOT are second to none.

Full-time employees are eligible to enroll in benefits on the first of the month following the date of hire. Additionally, 401(k) plans are available to help employees plan for the future.

The ERCOT Internship Program provides college students the opportunity to develop their skills in a professional work environment. Each intern will receive unique projects and assignments that aim to solve real challenges facing the electric industry. ERCOT internships provide professional learning experiences that offer meaningful, practical work related to each student's desired career path. Eligible candidates should be enrolled in an academic bachelors or post graduate degree program maintaining a GPA of 3.0 or higher.

The ERCOT Engineer Development Program (EDP) is a 12- to 16-month, self-paced program geared toward entry-level engineers looking to start a career in the power industry. Through the program, an EDP Engineer receives one-on-one mentoring, specialized training, and exposure to the work performed by each of the engineering groups at ERCOT. The program allows engineers to develop the fundamental skills necessary to reach their full potential while gaining an understanding of the types of engineering work ERCOT has to offer. EDP management supports participants each step of the way as they progress through the program. Upon completion, graduates are placed as full-time engineers within one of ERCOT’s engineering groups.

The GMS Development Program (GDP) is designed to provide entry-level and early career professionals with the skills necessary to become successful Power System and Computer Engineers. The program, which is based in ERCOT’s Grid and Market Solutions (GMS) Department, will provide experience in day-to-day work and instruction in the fundamentals of electric power systems engineering, grid and market applications, software programming, and IT service and operations management. The GDP offers one-on-one mentoring, training, field trips, and special assignments. These assignments allow GDP engineers to become knowledgeable and familiar with the various business areas at ERCOT. The GMS leadership team prepares GDP engineers for a future career at ERCOT in power systems and computer engineering.

The System Operator Development Program (ODP) is intended to combine real-time daily operations in an exciting work setting to prepare participants with the vital skills necessary to be successful in such a critical position — providing 24x7x365 on-demand support to manage the flow of electric power to more than 26 million Texas customers. If you are new to the industry, this program introduces you to the Bulk Electric System by combining introductory courses with the NERC Certification Exam Preparation Program in preparation to pass the NERC Certification Exam.