Transmission Planning Engineer

PG&E; San Luis Obispo (CA); Hybrid; USD 121,000 - 184,000; Full time

Job summary

PG&E in San Luis Obispo is seeking a transmission planning engineer to provide reliability analysis and support generation interconnection studies aligned with California’s RPS goals and CPUC/NERC priorities.

You will work in a hybrid role, interfacing with CAISO, CPUC, and internal teams to develop basecase models, run power-flow and transient analyses, and deliver strategic transmission plans for a safe, economical electric grid.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Electrical Engineering or related technical discipline from an accredited program in the US or equivalent overseas.
• At least 3 years of experience in electrical engineering, planning and/or operations.
• Knowledge of NERC and WECC reliability standards.
• Experience with power flow analysis and simulation tools.
• Experience with programming languages such as Matlab, Python, VBA, EPCL.

Responsibilities

• Plan, develop, and recommend transmission plans to CAISO, ensuring safe, reliable, economical operation of the electric transmission system.
• Participate in CAISO GIDAP studies and perform power flow and transient stability analyses to meet CAISO, NERC, WECC, and FERC requirements.
• Support/lead generation interconnection study deliverables including basecase creation, power flow and mitigation development with CAISO and Interconnection Customers.
• Perform long-term studies to develop strategies for reliable, economical operation of the transmission system.
• Develop basecase assumptions and models for WDT and Rule 21 connected generation projects.
• Conduct transmission planning studies for retail load interconnection and ensure safe, reliable operation.
• Collaborate with CAISO and CPUC on planning projects and issues.
• Review electrical diagrams and simulation models for future plans.
• Develop EPCL or Python-based scripts for simulation tools.
• Mentor Associate and Entry level planning engineers.

Education

Bachelor’s degree in Electrical Engineering

EIT/PE Certification

Master’s degree in Electrical Engineering

Job description

Requisition ID# 174996

Job Category: Engineering / Science

Job Level: Individual Contributor

Business Unit: Strategy & Growth

Work Type: Hybrid

Job Location: San Luis Obispo

Department Overview

The Transmission System Planning (TSP) department performs Interconnection studies, multi-year assessments and develops a portfolio of transmission expansion plans and projects to meet the company’s transmission needs for delivery of safe and reliable electric service to our customers while adhering to North American Electric Reliability Corporation (NERC) and Western Electricity Coordinating Council (WECC) planning standards. The members of TSP actively participate in the NERC and WECC standard development process for electric transmission reliability. The department is also involved in developing transmission expansion policy and strategy to meet the company’s renewal portfolio standards (RPS) goals. In addition, the department provides support to project implementation groups, operations, law, contract, and other internal departments.

Position Summary

This position is represented by the Engineers and Scientists of California (ESC) subject to collective bargaining.

This position is responsible for providing technical support and transmission system reliability analysis that supports the development of transmission solutions for generation interconnection studies to meet California’s RPS goals, CPUC’s mandates and policy initiatives for generation, distributed generation and energy storage while meeting NERC compliance requirements. The Journey level engineer resolves problems and typically may require direction from more senior engineers and the supervisor. As experience increases the responsibility level increases as well as greater independence of judgment is expected with respect to standard solution problems. The position requires interfacing and coordination with both internal and external customers of PG&E Transmission Planning Department.

This position is hybrid, working from your remote office and your assigned work location based on business need. The assigned work location will be within the PG&E Service Territory.

PG&E is providing the salary range that the company in good faith believes it might pay for this position at the time of the job posting. This compensation range is specific to the locality of the job. The actual salary paid to an individual will be based on multiple factors, including, but not limited to, specific skills, education, licenses or certifications, experience, market value, geographic location, collective bargaining agreements, and internal equity.

The annual salary range is:

CA Minimum: $120,888

CA Maximum: $183,840

Job Responsibilities

• Plan, develop, and recommend to management and to the California Independent System Operator (CAISO), innovative, comprehensive, and environmentally acceptable transmission plans to ensure safe, reliable, economic and efficient operation of the electric transmission system.
• Participate in CAISO Generation Interconnection and Deliverability Allocation Procedure Studies (GIDAP), and perform technical computer power flow and transient stability simulation analysis to meet all CAISO, NERC, WECC, and FERC compliance requirements
• Support/Lead the generation interconnection study deliverables supporting basecase creation, powerflow and transient analysis, mitigation development including coordinating of the schedule and deliverables with CAISO and Interconnection Customers
• Perform long-term studies that develop strategy and comprehensive plan to ensure safe, reliable, economic, and efficient operation of the electric transmission system.
• Develop basecase assumptions and transmission system steady state and dynamic models for WDT and Rule 21 Tariff connected generation projects.
• Perform transmission planning studies for retail load interconnection and develop comprehensive plan to ensure safe, reliable, economic and efficient operation of the electric transmission system.
• Work with entities such as the CAISO and the California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC) on electric transmission planning projects and issues.
• Review and develop electrical computer simulation models of transmission lines and substations for transmission planning databases
• Develop Engineering Programming Computer Language (EPCL), Python scripts enabled programs for computer simulation tools.
• Review electrical single line and operational diagrams for development of future plans
• Actively foster a safe working environment for self and for fellow employees. Look for and act to resolve any unsafe situations.
• As required, actively participate in initiatives, workgroups, studies or industry forums that could impact the PG&E transmission system and support the inclusion of PG&E’s interests.
• Represent PG&E transmission planning at internal and external meetings and provide technical guidance on transmission planning issues.
• Participate in complex studies such as RAS design related studies.
• Mentor Associate and Entry level planning engineers.

Qualifications

Minimum:

• Bachelor’s degree in Electrical Engineering or a related technical discipline from an accredited curriculum in the US or the equivalent from outside the US
• 3 years of experience in electrical engineering, planning and/or operations

Desired:

• Experience in electric transmission planning studies
• Experience in power flow analysis and simulation tools
• Knowledge of NERC and WECC reliability standards
• Previous experience with GE PSLF Program or similar load flow program
• Experience in programming languages such as Matlab, Python, VBA, EPCL
• EIT/PE Certification, registered Electrical Engineer in California
• Master’s degree in Electrical Engineering