Power System Engineer
Arizona State University
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Job summary
Arizona State University’s Laboratory for Energy And Power Solutions (LEAPS) seeks a Power Systems Engineer to lead complex engineering studies and develop scalable energy solutions. The role focuses on grid modernization, microgrids, and operational optimization across diverse energy projects.
Located on the Polytechnic Campus, this position supports LEAPS’ $400M research portfolio, mentoring staff, and collaborating with partners, policy makers, and students to advance resilient energy
Qualifications
- Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in Engineering or equivalent experience.
- PE license and 10+ years in energy/power engineering preferred.
- Experience with distribution system studies and validation.
Responsibilities
- Lead power engineering design studies for distribution networks.
- Develop digital twin models of distribution infrastructure.
- Apply ANSI/IEC standards and ensure safety compliance.
- Perform state estimation and protection coordination.
- Develop BOMs and interact with vendors for sourcing.
- Prepare technical reports and present findings to stakeholders.
Skills
Education
Tools
Job description
Engineer 3
Engineering
Full time
Bachelor’s degree and five (5) years of experience appropriate to the area of assignment/field; OR, Any equivalent combination of experience and/or training from which comparable knowledge, skills and abilities have been achieved.
Leads intermediate to complex projects, and provides technical guidance, design, innovation, and expertise to enhance the institution’s engineering solutions and infrastructure.
The Power Systems Engineer will join an impact-driven team at the Laboratory for Energy And Power Solutions (LEAPS) to create scalable solutions that deliver clean, resilient, and abundant energy for all. The solutions-focused team is heavily applied and contributes domestically and internally on work in energy security and resilience, grid modernization, energy access, training, and testing and demonstration that advance the LEAPS mission https://leaps.asu.edu/ and ASU charter (https: www.asu.edu about charter-mission). We value unique backgrounds and perspectives and encourage all committed individuals to apply. This role will perform detailed electrical engineering studies and power engineering studies with expected focus areas to include digital twins, grid modernization, microgrids, mini-grids, distributed generation, smart grid, energy storage, and operational optimization for multiple public and private sector energy projects. LEAPS is supporting over $400M of research, development, and implementation across 20 countries, providing thought leadership in over 80 publications, and is advancing the workforce by training 1000 people per year in the energy sector. Located within the Ira A. Fulton Schools of Engineering at Arizona State University (ASU) on the Polytechnic Campus, the 30-person LEAPS team brings together a vibrant community of researchers collaborating closely with university, government, industry, and development agencies.
- $76,700 - $92.000 annually
- This role will include power engineering design studies of distribution networks including multiphase unbalanced power flow and transient analyses, voltage regulation, short circuit, phase balancing, and protection and coordination studies.
- Develop digital twin models of electrical distribution infrastructure including geospatial layout, steady state power flow, real-time phasor data, protection coordination, and load sequencing.
- Apply electrical standards (ANSI, IEC) and regulations to power engineering design and modeling, including earthing schemes, protection, household wiring, and cable sizing.
- Perform state estimation using literature-based methods such as graph signal processing.
- Select appropriate AMI meters, phasor measurement units (PMUs), probes, PTs and CTs, and other assets for distribution system visibility, ensuring effective communication and integration of components.
- Collect and process data to visualize trends and identify patterns in system behavior and measurements.
- Develop and run scripts for state estimation and system modeling.
- Develop comprehensive bills of materials and interact with vendors to source options.
- Engage with vendors to identify and source the best components and materials for energy projects.
- Write detailed technical reports, digital twin documentation, and other materials, and communicate technical information clearly to stakeholders, including policy makers, legal teams, students, staff, and faculty.
- Conduct reviews of equipment vendors, and complete review and recommendations of equipment plans before procurement.
- Present project findings and updates to internal and external audiences. Interact with various stakeholders, partners, and clients, preparing and delivering presentations to convey project progress and outcomes.
- Potentially assist in development of technical documentation for training and maintenance of equipment.
- Use Smartsheet and other project management tools to manage small teams, mentor junior staff, and engage with stakeholders and partners.
- Work on defense projects and emerging market technologies such as micro-PM Us, AMI metering, and distribution infrastructure.
- Coordinate with contractors (professional engineers, electricians, project managers) for project delivery.
- Power engineering design expertise such as
- Load flow analysis and voltage regulation
- Short-circuit and equipment interrupting rating
- Protection coordination and selectivity
- Dynamic and transient stability analysis
- Power quality and harmonics study
- Site grounding and safety
- Interconnection studies
- Bill of materials development
- Commissioning and troubleshooting with distribution hardware
- Load sequencing
- Black start/ virtual black start
- Operational knowledge
- Protection coordination
- Distribution operation
- Electrical standards including ANSI, IEC, UL, etc.
- Cybersecurity expertise and knowledge of approval process {ATO, IATT, etc.)
- Operations of DERs, fossil fuel generation, integration, O&M
- Operational technology (switchgear, relays, reclosers, etc.)
- Real-time digital simulation and hardware-in-the-loop testing (e.g., OpalRT, RTDS)
- Power engineering design and operational simulation tools such as ETAP, OpenDSS, Synergi, Syme, SKM, ETAP, etc.
- DER/small scale generation design experience, application - solar PV, battery storage, generators including expertise in
- Selection of inverters, charge controllers, assets
- Integration of assets
- Communication protocol understanding
- Develop a full bill of materials
- Interact with vendors for sourcing options
- Understanding of asset specifications sheets
- Report/ technical writing experience• Experience writing tender documentation• Experience working in developing nations and emerging market economies
- Knowledge of permitting• Managing small teams
- Mentoring peers and junior colleagues
- Experience working with remote and distributed teams
- Engaging in dialogue and co-creation with stakeholders and partners
- Giving presentations and talks
- Microsoft Office
- Project management software (e.g. Smartsheet)
- Bachelors or Master’s degree in Engineering
- Experience working for or with the U.S. Department of Defense (Department of War)
- Ten years industry experience working in roles such as energy generation system design, distribution system design, power engineering, feasibility studies, techno-economic modeling, or operating and maintaining power systems
- Mix of experience working on projects in industrialized nations and developing nations
- Knowledge of technical standards and best practices
- Real-time digital simulation and hardware-in-the-loop testing (e.g., OpalRT, RTDS)
- Experience with cybersecurity and approvals
- Professional Engineer license
- Five years of related energy experience, or any equivalent combination of experience and/or education from which comparable knowledge, skills and abilities have been achieved
The ASU work location is at the Polytechnic Campus in Building ISTB-3 https://tours.asu.edu/polytechnic/interdisciplinary-science-technology-3.
- Climate-controlled office setting subject to extended periods of sitting.
- Daily use of desktop computer.
ASU is a diverse enterprise with a wide variety of work and learning modes, locations, and a commitment to sustainability, innovation, and employee work-life balance. We are determined to maintain our position as an employer of choice in a competitive labor market, as such the following options may be offered dependent on department needs. Options for this position are:
- Alternative work schedules can include four, 10-hour workdays in a workweek; a nineday, 80-hour schedule over two workweeks for exempt employees only; and staggered start and stop times.
- Hybrid work is an arrangement where employees spend a minimum of 60% of their regular workweek at their primary ASU work location.
- Remote work might be an option for the right candidate.
- Ability to travel up to 30% of time, domestic or international.
Climbing stairs, ladders and scaffolding, and working at heights above thirty (30) feet. Performing tasks requiring bending, stooping, kneeling, prolonged standing and walking significant distances between and within buildings on campus. Working in confined spaces. Working within extreme temperature ranges. Certain activities are performed in an environmentally controlled office setting subject to extended periods of sitting, keyboarding, and manipulating a computer mouse. Frequent bending, reaching, lifting, pushing and pulling up to 25 pounds.
The Ira A. Fulton Schools of Engineering is the largest engineering school in the nation and seeks to deliver a world-class learning experience for our students and to advance research and innovation – all at scale. We value and emphasize inherently interdisciplinary endeavors that leverage the breadth and depth of expertise among our outstanding faculty and have built a unique place for large-scale innovation characterized by foundational excellence and translational impacts. We are an engineering school on the rise in the most innovative university in the country, and in the heart of the nation’s fifth-largest metropolitan area. The scale of our faculty research interests and interdisciplinary mindset, combined with nearly 47 graduate and 25 undergraduate degree programs, provides the foundation and collaborative opportunities to advance new ideas.
The Fulton Schools of Engineering on the Tempe and Polytechnic campuses comprise seven schools, organized by academic programs and research areas. Fulton Engineering has a nationally recognized faculty that conducts research, instructs and mentors students, and provides service to the profession and community. Creating communities is central to our values. With a firmly set direction to continually increase representation, foster belonging, and empower of thought, we are also strengthening our commitment to excellence in research, engagement, and high-quality education. Learn more at https://engineering.asu.edu.
Driving is not required for this position.
Campus: Polytechnic
Grant Funded
Arizona State University is a new model for American higher education, an unprecedented combination of academic excellence, entrepreneurial energy and broad access. This New American University is a single, unified institution comprising four differentiated campuses positively impacting the economic, social, cultural and environmental health of the communities it serves. Its research is inspired by real world application blurring the boundaries that traditionally separate academic disciplines. ASU serves more than 100,000 students in metropolitan Phoenix, Arizona, the nation’s fifth largest city. ASU champions inclusive excellence, and welcomes students from all fifty states and more than one hundred nations across the globe.
ASU is a tobacco‑free university. For details visit https://wellness.asu.edu/explore-wellness/body/alcohol-and-drugs/tobacco
All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, disability, protected veteran status, or any other basis protected by law.
In compliance with federal law, ASU prepares an annual report on campus security and fire safety programs and resources. ASU’s Annual Security and Fire Safety Report is available online at https://www.asu.edu/police/PDFs/ASU-Clery-Report.pdf. You may request a hard copy of the report by contacting the ASU Police Department at 480-965-3456.
For information about schools, housing child resources, neighborhoods, hospitals, community events, and taxes, visit https://cfo.asu.edu/az-resources.
ASU’s comprehensive benefits package is a key part of your total compensation. Visit the ASU Compensation Estimator
ASU conducts pre-employment screening which may include verification of work history, academic credentials, licenses, and certifications.
ASU conducts pre-employment screening for all positions which includes a criminal background check, verification of work history, academic credentials, licenses, and certifications. Employment is contingent upon successful passing of the background check.
A fingerprint check is not required for this position.
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