Transmission Strategy and Development, Engineer Senior

Arizona Public Service - APS; Phoenix (AZ); On-site; USD 110,000 - 170,000; Full time

Job summary

Arizona Public Service (APS) is seeking a Senior Engineer in Transmission Strategy and Development to evaluate the grid and develop new transmission projects to support generation resources. You will lead multiple studies, coordinate with outside consultants, and report progress from initiation through handoff to the development team.

The role emphasizes long-term planning, staying current with industry developments, and working with regulatory bodies.

Qualifications

• Experience in power system studies and transmission planning.
• Familiar with NERC standards and WECC region practices.
• Strong written and verbal communication with stakeholders.

Responsibilities

• Lead long-term transmission studies and project development.
• Coordinate with 3rd party consultants and APS teams.
• Provide technical direction and reporting from initiation to handoff.
• Interface with utilities and regulators on transmission opportunities.
• Represent APS on regional committees.

Skills

PSLF & TARA studies

PowerWorld/PSSE

NERC Standards

FERC OATT knowledge

WECC knowledge

Communication skills

Tools

PSLF

TARA

PowerWorld

PSSE

CAPE (APA)

ASPEN

Job description

The Transmission Strategy and Development - Engineer Senior is responsible for evaluating APS’s transmission system to develop new transmission projects that will support the delivery of new generation resources to serve our growing load base. This may be done through APS self-build projects or the participation in third-party developer projects. Duties will consist of conducting a variety of transmission studies analyzing reliability and deliverability impacts of new transmission and generation projects. The engineer will be responsible for project leadership of multiple projects simultaneously for which they will provide oversight, report outs, and coordination from initiation through handoff to the development team. The engineer will maintain a thorough knowledge of new developments, technologies, and industry best practices. The engineer will also coordinate, administer, and provide technical direction to outside study consultants. This position works outside APS’s standard Transmission Planning team focusing on longer term transmission projects that enable resource delivery and transmission capacity opportunities. We do not focus on NERC standards or traditional capital planning for general system growth.

Core Responsibilities

• Develop long-term transmission projects and promote new investment in transmission infrastructure enabling new capacity for resource delivery and transmission opportunities
• Act as the technical contact for our 3rd party consultants; answering questions, ensuring proper study scope and assumptions, coordinating base cases, and bridging between the APS Transmission Planning team
• Advise our New Generation Development team on the interconnection of new resources; reliability impacts and ability to deliver the resource
• Perform technical studies, using system simulation software, such as PSLF and TARA, to strategically plan the expansion of the transmission system
• Take initiative to eliminate barriers and use resources to ensure desired results
• Interface with outside utilities and developers to identify joint transmission opportunities
• Represent APS on various regional committees

Preferred Special Skills, Knowledge or Qualifications

• Knowledgeable in power flow and transient stability studies (PSLF, TARA, PowerWorld, PSSE)
• Knowledgeable in short circuit studies (CAPE (APA), ASPEN)
• Experienced with NERC Standards including: MOD, TPL, CIP, FAC, PRC
• Familiarity with the FERC pro-forma Open Access Transmission Tariff
• Familiarity with the southwestern and WECC transmission system
• Excellent written and oral communication skills and ability to communicate effectively with internal and external customers, outside agencies, and regulatory authorities

Major Accountabilities

• Develops and applies unique solutions and applications to a broad range of technical issues and problems (solutions that typically require original and creative approaches). Makes decisions and recommendations that have a moderate to significant effect on the overall organization performance.
• Prepares complex engineering plans, analysis, specifications, cost estimates, evaluations, studies, technical reviews, investigations and verifications. Ensures engineering analyses is technically sound, cost effective, and in compliance with established standards, codes, and regulations. Checks and reviews analysis, evaluations, and investigations of others.
• Integrates the many interrelated elements of complex projects that are broad in scope, require considerations not previously encountered and requires interpretation and/or modification to guidelines. Complies with design, regulatory, operating and maintenance requirements. Identifies potential schedule or quality problems and initiates corrective action.
• Interfaces with customers and other departments to ensure project objectives are understood and that work scope meets customer requirements, budget and schedule. Contacts customers and various levels of management to obtain or present technical data. Presents the results of designs, studies projects (in terms of new techniques) or approaches to subordinates, colleagues, management and customers.
• Provides technical guidance, leadership and support to less experienced engineers.
• Assists the organization in problem solving, as needed, by critically challenging assumptions and decisions to ensure the most optimal solutions and strategies are implemented. Assists in developing long-range strategies for significant site problems.
• Leverages industry and organization resources to resolve key technical issues. Develops a path forward to address these issues including bridging strategies. May interface with outside agencies and regulatory authorities.
• May plan and coordinate programs and large-scale engineering projects or multiple medium-scale projects while acting as a technical specialist for a specific engineering field. May be responsible for: all aspects of work scope; directing consultants; conducting feasibility studies; cost estimates and resource requirements; and recommending engineering criteria.
• May research new developments and technology and make recommendations to management on their feasibility for Company operations.