Supervisor Transmission Planning - Transmission Planning & Protection

FirstEnergy; Akron (OH); On-site; USD 120,000 - 160,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Competitive pay

Pension plan

401(k) with match

Medical, dental, vision

Tuition reimbursement

Job summary

FirstEnergy is seeking a senior transmission planning engineer to lead a team responsible for planning reliability for FirstEnergy’s transmission and subtransmission systems.

The role covers coordination with operating companies, regulators, and industry groups to study generation and load interconnections and to develop capital projects for reliability improvements.

Qualifications

• ABET‑accredited BSEE or equivalent with PE licensure preferred.
• Minimum of 5 years of related experience in transmission planning.
• Proficiency with power systems analysis software (PSLF, PSS/E, TARA).
• Ability to supervise professional engineers and staff.
• Familiarity with PJM, RFC and NERC planning requirements.

Responsibilities

• Provide technical leadership for transmission planning projects.
• Ensure timely completion of system studies and compliance with PJM RTEP.
• Develop capital budgets and present to leadership.
• Support operations during outages and extreme events.
• Represent FE with industry groups and regulatory bodies.

Skills

Power system analysis software

PE License

Leadership/ supervision

NERC/PJM familiarity

Strong communication

Education

ABET-accredited BSEE

Professional Engineer License (PE)

Tools

PSLF

PSS/E

TARA

Job description

About the Opportunity

This is an open position with FirstEnergy Service Co., a subsidiary of FirstEnergy Corp. [FEU]

Job Description

Important - This role can be located in Akron, OH, Greensburg, PA, Reading, PA, Fairmont, WV. Multiple positions available.

The ability to work remotely within the United States may be available based on business need. This option is not available in the states of California, Colorado, Illinois, Kentucky, New York, Oregon, or Washington at this time.

This position supervises a group of engineers who are responsible for Transmission Planning functions across FirstEnergy's transmission and sub-transmission systems.

The Transmission Planning group is responsible for transmission planning functions across FirstEnergy's transmission and subtransmission systems in the FirstEnergy area. The primary focus is on studying and planning the safe and reliable operation of transmission and subtransmission lines and substations. In addition, the group is responsible for performing studies related to generation and load interconnections attaching to the system. The engineers will perform transmission planning activities with input from the operating companies, other utilities, generator owners, the Regional Transmission Organization, and Regional Reliability Organizations. The group has the responsibility to initiate, recommend, and assist in the development of the capital portfolio for reliability related projects. The group also works closely with the Operations Center to provide support during storms, heavy loading periods, and abnormal system events.

Responsibilities Include

• Providing technical support and leadership to engineers and others in developing transmission and subtransmission infrastructure projects, plans, and capital budgets to maintain the reliability and integrity of the FirstEnergy system including strategic corporate study initiatives.
• Ensuring timely completion of bulk and area transmission systems studies, and certifying compliance with NERC, PJM, and FirstEnergy planning criteria. In particular, confirms all requirements of the PJM RTEP (including sub-regional RTEP) activities are met or exceeded.
• Confirm projects are proposed and costs justified to mitigate any planning criteria deficiencies that are identified through system studies. If capital projects cannot be implemented in the needed timeframe, a detailed operating solution needs to be identified and presented to Operations for review and implementation. The supervisor supports and presents these projects to RF and PJM as required.
• Providing management presentations and support for the project’s need to executive leadership and top management when required.
• Overseeing the impacts and additional requirements associated with new loads, generation, and merchant transmission connections.
• Providing support to the Operations Centers when required, such as during severe weather, heavy loading, or abnormal system events. Frequently this support requires rapid turn‑around of an evaluation of whether the system can accommodate an outage and remain in a secure condition should the next contingency occur. It could also involve operational recommendations to alleviate abnormal system conditions, abnormal voltages, or equipment overloads.
• Working with various industry groups to meet requirements / obligations that FE has within the industry, and actively promote FirstEnergy’s ideas / methods / procedures that the industry should be using as it moves forward. Formal industry groups include NERC, RFC, and PJM.
• Supporting responses to state and federal commission requests for information
• Providing technical testimony for regulatory and legal inquiries as assigned
• Supporting efforts to prepare submittals for compliance related to various planning related activities.
• Supporting the periodic review of the department’s planning philosophy, facility connection document, and other procedures and documents.
• Supervising the completion of work needed to meet requirements of various governmental agencies such as public utility commissions, other state agencies, FERC, and other federal agencies by providing input to filings as required.
• Traveling throughout FirstEnergy's service territory and to other industry related events as required.

Qualifications Include

• A Bachelor of Science degree in Electrical Engineering (BSEE) from an ABET accredited institution is required. In lieu of a degree, a Bachelor of Science in Electronics Engineering Technology or Electrical Engineering, and a Professional Engineer’s (PE) License is required. Consideration will be given to applicants having higher level college degrees in relevant disciplines in lieu these requirements.
• A Professional Engineer’s (PE) License is preferred.
• Minimum of 5 (five) years of related work experience is required.
• Proficient (or demonstrated capability to become proficient) in the use of power system analysis software such as PSLF, PSS/E,TARA and other related planning software.
• Ability to supervise and train professional engineering and specialist personnel.
• Demonstrate familiarity with PJM, RFC and NERC practices, procedures, and requirements in the areas of transmission planning criteria and principles.
• Demonstrated abilities of effective analytical and reasoning capabilities, refined oral and written communication skills, including ability to effectively structure and confidently present information to peers, TPP management and executive leadership of FE.
• Ability to work independently or as part of a team effort on assignments that may be broad in nature involving the compilation, preparation, and analysis of various statistical/analytical data, reports, statements, studies, or projects.
• Able to work with minimal supervision and be able to handle complex issues and assignments.
• Must adhere to FirstEnergy's Standards of Conduct and FERC compliance obligations.
• Must live within a 45 minute commute to the FirstEnergy service territory.

Benefits, Compensation & Workforce Diversity

• competitive pay plus incentive compensation
• company-sponsored pension plan
• 401(k) savings plan with matching employer contribution
• choice of medical, prescription drug, dental, vision, and life insurance programs
• skills development training with tuition reimbursement

At FirstEnergy, employees are key to our success. We depend on their talents to meet the challenges of our changing business environment. We are committed to rewarding individual and team efforts through our total rewards philosophy which includes competitive pay plus incentive compensation, a company-sponsored pension plan, 401(k) savings plan with matching employer contribution, a choice of medical, prescription drug, dental, vision, and life insurance programs, as well as skills development training with tuition reimbursement. Please visit our website at www.firstenergycorp.com to learn more about all of our employee rewards programs. FirstEnergy proudly supports workforce diversity. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, religion, color, national origin, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, age, status as a protected veteran, or status as a qualified individual with a disability. No recruiters or agencies without a previously signed contract. Unable to sponsor or transfer H-1B visas at this time.

Safety

Safety is a core value for FirstEnergy and is essential to all of our business activities. We ensure employees have the tools, information, and processes to perform their duties in a manner that assures safety for themselves, their co‑workers, our customers, and the public. Our goals are to provide a safe work environment, to maintain an accident‑free, injury‑free workplace, and to promote and maintain public safety. To meet these goals, we dedicate ourselves to achieving world‑class safety standards.

FirstEnergy Human Resources Team