Regional Transmission Planning Engineer

Western Power Pool; Arizona; Remote; USD 115,000 - 131,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Employer-paid health, dental, vision, and life insurance

PTO and 11 paid holidays

401k with 6% match

Flexible hybrid working schedule

Job summary

An energy non-profit organization is seeking a Principal Regional Transmission Planning Engineer to lead the development and analysis of power system models. Available for remote work in specific U.S. states, this full-time position requires strong experience in utilities and electric transmission planning, along with excellent communication skills. Candidates should have a Bachelor's degree in Electrical Engineering and ideally hold a Professional Engineer license.

Qualifications

• 5 - 7 years’ experience in utilities and electric transmission planning.
• Understanding of power system operations, modeling, and regulatory frameworks.
• Proficiency with power system analysis tools for conducting studies.
• Strong communication skills with the ability to convey complex concepts.
• Demonstrated ability to work collaboratively across teams.

Responsibilities

• Lead the development and analysis of power system models.
• Support projects and technical investigations ensuring regulatory compliance.
• Enhance planning processes through programming and automation solutions.

Skills

Utilities and electric transmission planning

Power system operations

Power system analysis tools

Programming languages for data automation

Strong communication skills

Collaborative work

Data analysis

Education

Bachelor’s degree in Electrical Engineering (ABET accredited)

Tools

PowerWorld

PSS®E

PLSF

Job description

Are you passionate about shaping the future of energy? Are you an experienced Transmission Planning Engineer, ready to impact work on a regional level?

Well, you’re in the right place! Western Power Pool is hiring a Principal Regional Transmission Planning Engineer to join our team in Portland, OR!

• Pay: $115,000 – $131,000/year DOE
• Location: Remote in select states - must reside within the following areas: AZ, OR, WA, UT, NV, CA, WY, MT, ID, NM, CO, El Paso TX
• Schedule: Full-time, Monday – Friday, 8am – 5pm
• Benefits: Employer-paid health, dental, vision, and life insurance; PTO, 11 paid holidays, company-funded Health Reimbursement Arrangement (HRA), 401k with 6% match, and flexible hybrid working schedule

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.

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

Who You Are: You're a skilled technical transmission planning engineer who is a thoughtful communicator and knows how to adapt your message to different audiences, whether you're leading a discussion, presenting to stakeholders, or collaborating with peers. You enjoy bringing people together, asking the right questions, and finding practical solutions to complex challenges. Naturally curious and self‑motivated, you thrive in environments that are technically advanced, require sound judgment, clear decision‑making, and a collaborative spirit. And above all, you are motivated by the opportunity to make a meaningful impact in the energy space with your transmission planning expertise.

Qualifications include:

• 5 - 7 years’ experience in utilities and electric transmission planning
• Understanding of power system operations, modeling, and regulatory frameworks (e.g., NERC, FERC, OATT)
• Proficiency with power system analysis tools (e.g., PowerWorld, PSS®E, PSLF) for conducting power flow, contingency, and stability studies
• Experience in, exposure to, or passion for programming languages to support data automation and pipeline development
• Strong communication skills with the ability to convey complex technical concepts to diverse audiences
• Demonstrated ability to work collaboratively across teams, with stakeholders, and in projects
• Skilled in data analysis, problem‑solving, and decision‑making in complex, multi‑stakeholder environments
• Bachelor’s degree in Electrical Engineering from an ABET accredited institution, with a focus on Power Systems Engineering and High Voltage Systems, required
• Professional Engineer (PE) license, preferred

What You’ll Do: In this role, you’ll lead the development and analysis of power system models to support economic and reliability planning across the Western Power Pool region. You’ll work closely with members, stakeholders, and government agencies in sharing your expertise, guiding planning processes, and ensuring the tools and data systems meet evolving needs. Whether you're facilitating collaboration or diving into technical analysis, your work will help shape the future of transmission planning in the Western interconnection.

Additional responsibilities include, but are not limited to:

• Conduct technical modeling and analysis of power systems under various operating conditions, including economic and reliability assessments
• Support projects and technical investigations, ensuring compliance with FERC, NERC, and other regulatory standards
• Enhance planning processes through programming and automation solutions
• Participate in member and stakeholder meetings, represent WPP in regional and industry forums, and deliver training presentations

Applicants have rights under Federal Employment Laws. For additional information regarding your rights as an applicant, review these links:

Employee Polygraph Protection Act (EPPA)

Immigrant and Employee Rights Section (IER)