Transmission System Planning Engineer

Tappwfs; Washington; Hybrid; USD 80,000 - 249,000; Full time

Job summary

Tappwfs is seeking a Transmission Planning Engineer in Washington state to build and analyze regional power grid models, guide capital projects, and ensure reliability. The role covers the full planning lifecycle from base-case studies to interconnection analyses in a hybrid work setup.

Applicants should have a bachelor’s in engineering, strong power system knowledge, and familiarity with NERC WECC standards, with progression from Engineer I to Principal Engineer as experience grows.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in engineering or related field.
• Experience with power flow and stability analysis tools and methods.
• Strong written communication for technical reports and presentations.

Responsibilities

• Develop and maintain power flow base cases and transmission planning models.
• Perform contingency, voltage, and stability analyses to identify system limitations.
• Evaluate study results and propose alternatives to resolve issues.
• Support system impact, load service, and generation interconnection studies.

Skills

Power flow analysis

Stability analysis

Technical writing

Project coordination

NERC WECC standards

Power systems engineering

Education

Bachelor’s degree in engineering

Tools

PowerWorld

Power flow software

Job description

Help plan the backbone of a growing regional power grid — from base-case models to the capital projects that keep it reliable.

21st August, 2026

Transmission Planning Engineer (Engineer I through Principal — Depends on Experience)

This role may also be known as: Transmission System Planning Engineer, Power System Planning Engineer, Electric Transmission Engineer, Power Flow & Reliability Engineer

You’ll build the models, run the studies, and shape the recommendations that determine how a regional transmission system grows and stays reliable. This role is open across a full career band, from a developing engineer building foundational skills to a Principal Engineer serving as the team’s go-to technical authority — with clear runway between those two points. It’s hybrid, it’s stable, and it’s real infrastructure work that doesn’t disappear when the market shifts.

Why This Opportunity Is Different

This isn’t a narrow, single-task engineering seat — you’ll get exposure to the full planning lifecycle, from long-range planning and generation interconnection studies to load service studies and capital project recommendations. The role is structured to grow with you, with a clear technical progression from Engineer I through Principal Engineer and senior team members actively mentoring along the way. You’ll also see a direct line from your analysis to real outcomes, since the studies you run feed actual capital planning and reliability decisions rather than a shelf report.

What You’ll Be Doing

• Develop and maintain power flow base cases and supporting transmission planning models
• Perform contingency, voltage, and transient stability analyses to identify system limitations
• Evaluate study results and model alternative solutions to resolve reliability or capacity issues
• Support feasibility, system impact, load service, and generation interconnection studies
• Apply NERC Reliability Standards and WECC System Performance Criteria to planning work
• Prepare technical reports, exhibits, and recommendations for capital transmission projects
• Coordinate technical inputs with internal teams, consultants, interconnected utilities, and regional planning groups
• Represent the organization in regional transmission planning discussions as experience grows

What We’re Looking For

• Bachelor’s degree in an engineering field
• Power engineering experience — the specific years required depend on which level the role is filled at, ranging from entry-level (no prior experience required) up to ten-plus years of progressively responsible transmission planning experience for the Principal Engineer level
• Working knowledge of, or strong aptitude for, power flow and stability analysis software
• Understanding of, or ability to quickly learn, NERC Standards and WECC System Performance Criteria
• Strong technical writing skills and the ability to present findings clearly to technical and non-technical audiences alike
• Comfort managing multiple concurrent studies and shifting priorities
• Preferred: Engineer-in-Training certification or completion of the Fundamentals of Engineering exam (especially at developing levels), Professional Engineer licensure (especially at senior levels), prior electric utility experience, and hands‑on experience with PowerWorld

Compensation & Work Model

Compensation is structured by level and depends on experience, ranging from approximately $80,366 to $249,064 annually across the full Engineer I through Principal Engineer band. This is a hybrid role combining in‑office collaboration with remote flexibility.

Location & Travel

Based in Ephrata, Washington, with hybrid work eligibility. Some work in field and construction environments should be expected as needed.