Principal Resource Adequacy Planning Engineer

Western Power Pool; United States; Remote; USD 175,000 - 199,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health insurance

Paid time off

HRA

401k with match

Profit-sharing

Flexible schedule

Job summary

Western Power Pool seeks a Principal Resource Adequacy Planning Engineer to lead SERVM-based LOLE and ELCC studies, collaborating with WRAP participants and leadership. You will translate complex modeling into actionable recommendations and present to diverse audiences, including boards and regulators.

The role emphasizes technical leadership, QA/QC, and extensive stakeholder engagement, with remote work in the US and quarterly HQ travel. A strong background in probabilistic planning is required.

Qualifications

• Typically 10+ years of progressively responsible experience in resource adequacy, generation or transmission planning, IRP, power-system analysis, or electric markets.
• Recent hands-on SERVM study experience including LOLE and ELCC, capacity accreditation, and planning reserve margins.
• Experience leading complex studies, QA/QC and model-governance standards, mentoring others, and resolving novel technical issues.
• Strong public speaking and writing with experience presenting to boards, regulators, committees, or executives.
• Excellent skills in Python/SQL/R/MATLAB/Excel for modeling and analysis.

Responsibilities

• Lead the technical work behind WRAP’s resource adequacy studies and serve as a trusted advisor to participants, committees, leadership, and the board.
• Explain complex methodologies and translate analyses into clear reports, board materials, and defensible recommendations.
• Travel for participant and stakeholder meetings, workshops, and industry events.

Skills

SERVM LOLE/ELCC studies

Public speaking

Relationship management

Stakeholder engagement

Technical leadership

Education

Bachelor's degree in Electrical Engineering, Power Systems Engineering, Energy Systems, Applied Mathematics, Statistics, or related field

Tools

Python

SQL

R

MATLAB

Excel

Job description

Are you a highly experienced engineer who is an expert in running LOLE and ELCC studies on SERVM? Are you skilled in relationship management and presenting to diverse audiences? Put your expertise to work supporting grid reliability across the West!

Western Power Pool is hiring a Principal Resource Adequacy Planning Engineer to join our remote team in the Western Interconnect!

• Pay: $175,325 to $199,225/year DOE
• Location: Remote for candidates in the US (unable to provide sponsorship)
• Travel: Quarterly travel to HQ in Portland, OR + approximately six additional trips per year
• Schedule: Full-time, Monday - Friday, 8am - 5pm PPT preferred ; flexibility for other time zones

Benefits

• Employer-paid health, dental, vision, and life insurance
• PTO
• 11 paid holidays
• company-funded Health Reimbursement Arrangement (HRA)
• 401k with 6% match
• discretionary profit‑sharing contribution, budgeted at 7% of salary
• flexible working schedule

What You’ll Do:

You’ll lead the technical work behind WRAP’s resource adequacy studies and serve as a trusted advisor to its participants, committees, WPP leadership, and the board. This highly visible role combines advanced modeling with extensive stakeholder engagement: you’ll explain complex methodologies, navigate diverse perspectives, support member understanding, and help turn analytical results into informed program decisions. Travel is key in engaging in participant and stakeholder meetings, workshops, and industry events.

A Typical Day May Consist Of

• Lead complex SERVM studies covering LOLE, ELCC, capacity accreditation, and planning reserve margins
• Recommend study assumptions, sensitivities, and methodologies, and work with WRAP participants to build understanding and alignment
• Serve as the primary technical liaison for members, committees, vendors, regulators, leadership, and the board
• Translate complex analyses into clear reports, presentations, board materials, and defensible recommendations
• Build strong member relationships by answering technical questions, addressing concerns, and explaining implications for the WRAP program
• Establish QA/QC and model-governance standards and review the team’s modeling work
• Mentor engineers and analysts and promote consistent technical and documentation practices
• Identify emerging reliability risks and resolve complex or precedent-setting analytical issues
• Represent WPP at stakeholder meetings and industry forums

Who You Are:

You’re a technical expert in probabilistic resource adequacy modeling who has led complex SERVM studies and stood behind the results. You can make a technical call, defend it before a board or regulator, and explain it in a way that a non-engineer can follow. You understand that your analysis informs significant utility planning and investment decisions, and you build confidence by engaging stakeholders openly, answering tough questions, and making complex findings understandable.

Qualifications Include

• Experience: Typically 10+ years of progressively responsible experience in resource adequacy, generation or transmission planning, integrated resource planning, power-system analysis, or electric markets
• SERVM: Recent, hands‑on experience leading complex SERVM studies, including LOLE and ELCC, capacity accreditation, and planning reserve margin work
• Technical leadership: Experience leading highly complex studies, setting QA/QC and model‑governance standards, mentoring others, and resolving novel technical issues
• Communication: Strong public speaker and writer with experience presenting technical work to boards, regulators, committees, or executives
• Tools: Advanced skills in Python, SQL, R, MATLAB, or Excel
• Education: Bachelor's degree in Electrical Engineering, Power Systems Engineering, Energy Systems, Applied Mathematics, Statistics, or a related quantitative field

Preferred Qualifications

• Knowledge of resource adequacy practices in the Western Interconnect, or experience at WRAP, an ISO or RTO, or a utility
• Advanced degree in Electrical Engineering, Operations Research, Statistics, or a related field

Who We Are:

Western Power Pool (WPP) is a non‑profit organization that helps keep the lights on by ensuring power utilities in the West achieve maximum benefits from coordinated operations. Our work is customer‑driven, relationship‑based, and collaborative.

We’ve been serving the energy sector for over 80 years and are at the forefront of ensuring the reliability and security of the power grid while spearheading the integration of renewable energy sources. As a leader in the energy sector, we manage power generation and transmission across multiple states, facilitate competitive energy markets, and foster innovation to meet the challenges of tomorrow.

To learn more, check out our website: https://www.westernpowerpool.org/

Western Power Pool is an equal‑opportunity employer. We celebrate diversity and are dedicated to creating an inclusive atmosphere for all employees.

Check us out on social media: https://www.linkedin.com/company/western-power-pool/