Transmission Planning Engineer

FirstEnergy Corp; Greensburg (Westmoreland County); On-site; USD 90,000 - 130,000; Full time

Job summary

FirstEnergy Corp. invites applications for a Transmission Planning Engineer to oversee planning across FE's transmission and subtransmission systems in the FE area.

The role focuses on ensuring safe, reliable operation and interconnection studies with input from operating companies, utilities, and RTO/RFC/PJM organizations. The position supports capital portfolio development, collaborates with Operations during storms and abnormal events, and engages in industry groups to promote FE practices.

Qualifications

• BS in Electrical Engineering from ABET-accredited program (required).
• PE license or ABET-equivalent degree with advanced EE credential considered.
• FE certification preferred for added competency.

Responsibilities

• Provide technical support and studies to develop transmission and subtransmission projects, plans, and budgets.
• Perform transmission system studies to ensure compliance with NERC, PJM and FE planning criteria.
• Propose mitigation projects to address planning deficiencies identified in studies.
• Develop capital budget inputs and present the rationale for portfolio decisions.
• Study connections of new loads, generators, and merchant transmission projects.
• Support Operations Centers during severe weather, heavy loading, or abnormal events.
• Provide rapid evaluation of outages and safe operation under contingency conditions.
• Collaborate with industry groups (NERC, RFC, PJM) to align FE practices with industry standards.
• Prepare responses for state/federal filings and provide technical testimony as needed.
• Travel within the FE system for project support and industry activities.

Education

Bachelor of Science in Electrical Engineering (ABET-accredited)

Professional Engineer (PE) License

FE Certificate preferred

Job description

FirstEnergy at a Glance

This is an open position with FirstEnergy Service Co., a subsidiary of FirstEnergy Corp. [FEU]Locations: OH, PA, WVONSITE We are a forward-thinking electric utility powered by a diverse team of employees committed to making customers' lives brighter, the environment better and our communities stronger.FirstEnergy (NYSE: FE) is dedicated to integrity, safety, reliability and operational excellence. Headquartered in Akron, Ohio, FirstEnergy includes one of the nation's largest investor-owned electric systems, more than 24,000 miles of transmission lines that connect the Midwest and Mid-Atlantic regions, and a regulated generating fleet with a total capacity of more than 3,500 megawatts.

About the Opportunity

The Transmission Planning Engineer position 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 position is responsible for performing studies related to generation and load interconnections attaching to the system within the assigned planning areas. The engineer will perform transmission planning activities with input from the operating companies, other utilities, generator owners, the Regional Transmission Organization, and Regional Reliability Organizations. The position has the responsibility to initiate, recommend, and assist in the development of the capital portfolio for reliability related projects within the planning area of responsibility. The position works closely with the Operations Center to provide support during storms, heavy loading periods, and abnormal system events.

Responsibilities Include:

• Providing technical support and studies to develop transmission and subtransmission infrastructure projects, plans, and capital budgets to maintain the reliability and integrity of the FE system.
• Performing timely completion of bulk and area transmission systems studies ensuring compliance with NERC, PJM and FE planning criteria.
• Proposing and economically justifying recommended mitigation projects to any planning criteria deficiencies identified through system studies.
• If capital projects cannot be implemented in the needed timeframe, a detailed operating solution is prepared and presented to Operations for review and implementation.
• Performing development of annual capital budgets by requesting cost estimates and preparing presentations associated with the capital portfolio process.
• Performing studies associated with the connection of new loads, generators and merchant transmission projects.
• 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 FE ideas / methods / procedures that the industry should be using as it moves forward. Formal industry groups include NERC, RFC and PJM.
• Preparing 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.
• Participating in the annual maintenance of the department's planning philosophy, facility connection document, and other procedures and documents.
• Preparing work products 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.
• May be required to travel throughout the FE system and to other industry related activities.

Engineer II Qualifications include:

• Bachelor of Science degree in Electrical Engineering from an ABET accredited institution is required.
• Acceptable alternatives are: (1) a Professional Engineer's (PE) License (2) a Bachelor of Science degree in Engineering Technology from an ABET accredited institution (3) a Bachelor's degree in Electrical, Civil or Mechanical Engineering or technical field of study (non-ABET) plus an advanced degree in Electrical Engineering from a university with an ABET accredited Bachelor's program.
• A Fundamentals of Engineering (FE) Certificate is preferred.
• Minimum of 2 (two) years of Engineering experience is required.

Engineer III Qualification Include:

• Bachelor of Science degree in Electrical Engineering from an ABET accredited institution is required.
• Acceptable alternatives are: (1) a Professional Engineer's (PE) License (2) a Bachelor of Science degree in Engineering Technology from an ABET accredited institution (3) a Bachelor's degree in Electrical, Civil or Mechanical Engineering or technical field of study (non-ABET) plus an advanced degree in Electrical Engineering from a university with an ABET accredited Bachelor's program.
• A Fundamentals of Engineering (FE) Certificate is preferred.
• Minimum of 3 (three) years of Engineering experience is required.

Engineer IV Qualifications include:

• Bachelor of Science degree in Electrical Engineering from an ABET accredited institution is required.
• Acceptable alternatives are: (1) a Professional Engineer's (PE) License (2) a Bachelor of Science degree in Engineering Technology from an ABET accredited institution (3) a Bachelor's degree in Electrical, Civil or Mechanical Engineering or technical field of study (non-ABET) plus an advanced degree in Electrical Engineering from a university with an ABET accredited Bachelor's program.
• A Fundamentals of Engineering (FE) Certificate is preferred.
• Minimum of 5 (five) years of Engineering experience is required with a BS in Engineering or minimum of 7 (seven) years of Engineering experience is required with a BS in Engineering Technology.

FirstEnergy Human Resources Team