Senior Distribution Planning Engineer

encoord Inc.; United States; Hybrid; USD 110,000 - 140,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Comprehensive medical insurance

Dental insurance

Vision insurance

401K with company contribution

Stock options/equity

Job summary

encoord Inc. is seeking a Senior Distribution Planning Engineer to advance integrated planning workflows for grid modernization. The role blends hands-on distribution planning with limited client-facing projects to inform product direction for SAInt.

Based in Edgewater, Colorado, the role favors local collaboration but remains open to strong remote candidates who can operate with a distributed team. You will contribute to planning studies across electric generation, transmission, and

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in electrical engineering with a focus on power systems.
• 2+ years of hands-on distribution planning experience at an electric utility or consultancy.
• Experience performing distribution planning studies for utilities preferred.
• Hands-on distribution planning studies, not primarily management or supervision.
• Strong knowledge of feeder/substation modeling, unbalanced three-phase power flow, and DER interconnection analyses.

Responsibilities

• Build, validate, and review distribution network models using unbalanced three-phase power flow and time-series analyses.
• Develop integrated planning workflows linking distribution analysis with transmission/bulk studies.
• Support DER hosting capacity and electrification studies for feeders and substations.
• Contribute to client engagements with distribution planning expertise during trainings and project delivery.
• Translate utility planning requirements into product specifications for SAInt.

Skills

Distribution planning

Power systems

Unbalanced three-phase power flow

Load forecasting

DER hosting capacity analysis

Python scripting

Communication skills

Education

Electrical engineering degree (Power Systems)

Tools

CYME

Synergi Electric

OpenDSS

GridLAB-D

WindMil

Job description

encoord is looking for a full-time Senior Distribution Planning Engineer to support grid planning projects that study electrification opportunities and that integrate distribution system analysis with transmission and bulk power system planning.

Work Location and Flexibilty

This position is based in Edgewater, Colorado (Denver metro area). encoord's preference is for candidates located in the Denver area who can work from the office 3-5 days per week and collaborate closely with the local team.

We are open to considering remote candidates for this role if they bring strong relevant experience and are able to work effectively with a distributed team.

encoord is a small and growing software company that helps energy stakeholders plan for the future. encoord develops and commercializes software for integrated planning across electric generation, transmission, and distribution, and across electric and gas infrastructures. encoord’s flagship integrated planning software SAInt is designed for workflows that require iteration across two or more of the following modeling domains: power system capacity expansion optimization, power system production cost optimization, balanced AC power flow of transmission networks, contingency analysis, unbalanced AC power flow simulations of distribution networks, and gas hydraulic simulations of gas transmission and distribution networks.

With offices in the United States and Germany, our team of twenty employees serves electric and gas utilities, system and market operators, and asset developers worldwide.

About the Role

As a Senior Distribution Planning Engineer, you will be part of encoord’s Product Team, focused on developing integrated planning workflows and software solutions that intersect with traditional distribution planning practices. This role is ideal for someone with hands-on experience conducting distribution planning studies who is also motivated to rethink conventional approaches and contribute to innovative, next-generation solutions for grid planning.

In addition to product development responsibilities, you will contribute to a limited number of client-facing distribution planning projects. These engagements will help inform product direction and ensure that SAInt reflects real-world planning requirements. Example project work with utility customers includes:

• Quantifying the transmission system benefits of distributed energy resources (DERs). Supporting utility studies that evaluate how DERs, including distributed storage, affect transmission system needs.
• Electrification planning. Supporting utility studies that assess the distribution system impacts of electrification and inform the prioritization of grid upgrades.

You will work closely with the Software Development and Customer Success Teams to support the design, development, and application of SAInt’s distribution planning capabilities, ensuring the platform aligns with utility practices, regulatory standards, and emerging grid challenges.

What you’ll do

• Build, validate, and review distribution network models, and apply unbalanced three-phase power flow, time-series, and hosting capacity analyses.
• Build and refine integrated planning workflows within SAInt that link distribution system analysis with transmission system and bulk power system studies.
• Support studies quantifying the transmission system impacts and benefits of DERs, including distributed storage.
• Support electrification planning studies, including feeder- and substation-level load forecasting, identification of thermal and voltage violations, and prioritization of distribution upgrades.
• Advise on converting utility distribution models and data into SAInt, including network representation, data requirements, and study assumptions.
• Prototype automation for model conversion, data conditioning, scenario setup, results analysis, and other study processes.
• Translate utility distribution planning requirements into clear product and modeling specifications.
• Collaborate with software engineers to implement new features, test releases, and maintain high modeling quality standards.
• Support customer engagements by providing distribution planning expertise in trainings, technical discussions, project delivery, and business development.
• Stay current on distribution planning standards and trends (e.g., IEEE 1547, ANSI C84.1, state distribution system planning and grid modernization proceedings, DER interconnection practices) and help incorporate relevant advances into SAInt.
• You will have the opportunity to work with a culturally-diverse and multi-disciplinary team and be part of a growing company whose mission is to enable the energy transition and help utilities plan for the future.

About you

The ideal candidate will have the following skills and expertise:

• A degree in electrical engineering, with a focus on power systems.
• 2+ years of hands-on distribution planning experience at an electric utility or at a consultancy performing distribution planning studies for utilities.
• Academic research in distribution systems is valued, but it does not substitute for hands‑on industry planning experience.
• Current or recent work as an individual contributor who performs distribution planning studies directly, rather than primarily managing or supervising the work of others.
• Strong knowledge of distribution planning methodologies: feeder and substation model development, unbalanced three-phase power flow, thermal and voltage analysis, load forecasting, and DER interconnection and hosting capacity studies.
• Hands‑on experience with one or more common distribution planning tools (e.g., CYME, Synergi Electric, WindMil, OpenDSS, GridLAB‑D) and understanding of their data models.
• Ability to interpret and communicate technical results clearly to both engineering and non‑engineering audiences.
• Aptitude for software development and comfort working with product/engineering teams; scripting experience is preferred (Python preferred, not required).
• Strong analytical skills, creative thinking, and ability to grasp and convey complex concepts.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills in English.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Experience with load forecasting or DER hosting capacity analysis for a utility.
• PE license, or EIT certification with progress toward a PE license.

Salary and Benefits

For Colorado-based candidates, the expected salary range for this position is $110,000 – $140,000 per year, depending on experience, skills, and qualifications.

This role is also eligible for a competitive benefits package, which includes access to:

• Comprehensive Medical Insurance: Multiple plan options (PPO, HMO, HDHP), with coverage available for dependents.
• Dental Insurance, Vision Insurance, Life and AD&D Insurance
• Flexible Spending Accounts (FSA): Pre‑tax accounts for health care and dependent day care expenses.
• Health Savings Account (HSA): Tax‑advantaged savings for medical expenses (available with HDHP enrollment).
• Generous paid time off and holiday schedules
• 401K with company contribution
• Possibility of company stock options/equity

Equal employment opportunity

Inclusion and diversity are critical to the success of encoord. We actively encourage applications from people of all backgrounds. We are committed to providing equal employment opportunity without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, age, national origin, disability, status as a protected veteran, or any other protected category.