Planning Engineer

Minnesota Rural Electric Association; Madison (SD); On-site; USD 85,000 - 120,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Retirement plan

Health Savings Account (HSA)

Paid training

Wellness program

Financial planning resources

Paid time off

9/80 schedule

Job summary

East River Electric Power Cooperative in Madison, SD is seeking a Planning Engineer who is collaborative, analytical, and eager to support reliable development of our power supply system. You will model power systems, forecast loads, assess facility ratings, and coordinate projects to ensure affordable wholesale power for our members.

This role offers on‑the‑job training and opportunity to grow within a supportive engineering team.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in engineering or equivalent experience.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills.
• Ability to collaborate across teams and build relationships.

Responsibilities

• Develop, review, and analyze power system models for coordination and planning.
• Prepare load forecasts and long‑term planning studies.
• Assess facility ratings and coordinate with neighboring utilities as needed.
• Review member delivery point requirements and propose modifications.
• Use planning tools and modeling software with minimal oversight.
• Provide project direction to internal staff and consultants, defining scopes for approval.
• Collaborate across departments to resolve issues and support project success.
• Produce technical documents for construction, maintenance, or improvement projects.

Skills

Analytical thinking

Collaborative work

Communication

Problem solving

Microsoft Office

Education

Bachelor's degree in engineering

4+ years of related experience

Job description

Join our team at East River Electric Power Cooperative! We are seeking a Planning Engineer who is collaborative, analytical, and enthusiastic about supporting the reliable development of our power supply system. In this role, you will apply your engineering knowledge to planning studies, system modeling, load forecasting, facility ratings, and project coordination that help us continue delivering reliable and affordable wholesale power to our members. You'll also have the opportunity to grow within a supportive engineering team, gaining exposure to a wide range of planning and project work while building the skills and experience needed to advance within the engineer job family. Engineer level within the job family will be determined by qualifications and experience. On the job training will be provided!

At East River Electric Power Cooperative we're dedicated to providing reliable and affordable wholesale power to our members across 40,000 square miles of service area. As a not-for-profit generation and transmission cooperative, we provide electricity to 24 rural electric distribution cooperatives and one municipally owned electric system serving eastern South Dakota and western Minnesota. Our members, in turn, power the lives of the member-owners in their service territories.

Our Cooperative Community

As a cooperative, we do things differently! The decisions we make are made with our members in mind. We've built our foundation on Touchstone Energy's four cooperative values: integrity, accountability, innovation, and commitment to community. These values represent the cooperative difference, which is why we value things like community outreach, teamwork, and work-life balance. The unique cooperative business model is designed to provide both growth and stability. This is just a little insight into why our members trust us to provide safe, reliable, and affordable power and service every day.

LEARN MORE ABOUT MADISON

This incredible job opportunity awaits you at our main campus in Madison, South Dakota. Madison offers a warm and welcoming small-town atmosphere combined with modern amenities that make it the perfect place for you and your family. Take advantage of great resources like the state-of-the-art Madison Regional Hospital, experience the innovative campus of Dakota State University, enjoy a thriving community center, and more. With two stunning lakes nearby, recreational opportunities are abundant, and you'll be just a short drive away from many of eastern South Dakota's most popular attractions.

What You'll Accomplish

• Develop, review, and analyze power system models to support coordination and development of the East River power supply system.
• Prepare load forecasts and power requirement studies that support system planning and long-term decision-making.
• Perform analyses to determine facility ratings and coordinate those ratings with neighboring utilities as needed.
• Review member delivery point requirements and help develop modification proposals.
• Use planning tools and modeling software to contribute to planning studies with minimal oversight.
• Provide direction on projects for internal employees and consultants, including helping define project scopes for approval.
• Collaborate with team members across departments to accomplish tasks, resolve issues, and support project success.
• Contribute to electric plant and work plan activities, along with charts, graphs, maps, sketches, specifications, material lists, and other technical documents for construction, maintenance, or improvement projects.

Showcase Your Knowledge, Abilities, and Expertise. Do you have?

• Bachelor's degree in engineering or four (4) years of directly related technical experience without a degree
• Some direct utility or general engineering experience is a plus but not required
• Registration as a Professional Engineer, or the ability to obtain one within four years, is preferred
• Working knowledge of applicable industry standards (IEEE, RUS, NESC, NEC, and NERC)
• Effective written and verbal communication skills
• The ability build positive working relationships and collaborate across teams
• Proficiency in using Microsoft Office products and computer technology
• Valid driver's license

Benefits That Matter

• Retirement pension plan and contribution to a 401(k) savings plan
• Medical insurance with employer contribution to a Health Savings Account (HSA)
• Paid training and development opportunities
• Access to a wellness program and financial planning resources
• Generous paid time off, including vacation, sick leave, and holidays
• 9/80 work schedule, which gives you every other Friday off to encourage a work-life balance

This institution is an equal opportunity provider and employer.