Consulting Engineer (Integrated Grid Planning) - Oahu

We recognize our competitive advantage — our people. We believe in our people, who share our vision of meeting the needs of our employees, customers, and communities and who carry out the continued success of the company. Our employees are committed to the company's foundational values: integrity, excellence, teamwork, environmental stewardship, and community commitment. In turn, we invest in our employees, providing opportunities for challenge and advancement and offering a competitive compensation package.

About the role

The P XI ADMIN-TECHNICAL PLANNING SVCS Department of the P INTEGRATED GRID PLANNING Division at Hawaiian Electric Company has one Professional-level vacancy. This role leads the Renewable Energy Zones (“REZ”) initiative and facilitates execution of the Integrated Grid Plan ("IGP") by formulating strategies and directing plan execution. The position designs and manages grant-funded projects and serves as principal investigator for grant applications when required. It also collaborates with internal and external technology experts to improve planning methodologies and operations for long-term planning.

Responsibilities

• Supports the evolution of the IGP division’s technical capabilities to keep pace with industry best practices.
• Develops new strategies, products, services, and processes, including:
  • Planning requirements across forecasting, resource, transmission and distribution planning.
  • Non-wires solutions, microgrids, resiliency solutions, grid modernization, and grid transformation to meet 100% RPS requirements and other State objectives.
• Develops new and advanced IGP analysis techniques, models, identifies training opportunities, and evaluates new applications.
• Represents the company as a technical expert in studies and regulatory technical sessions.
• Presents to technical audiences, participates in industry forums, and contributes to industry standards to meet company requirements.
• Develops the technical capabilities of the IGP division through mentoring, new analytical techniques, and strategies.
• Mentors and develops planning engineers.
• Leads and facilitates development of Renewable Energy Zones and other large initiatives from the Integrated Grid Planning process.
• Develops schedules, identifies risks, and addresses barriers related to the execution of the IGP process.
• Leads and facilitates development of grant applications related to Integrated Grid Planning and Distribution System Planning initiatives.
• Collaborates with divisions/departments to integrate needs and insights into future planning.
• Monitors relevant reliability issues in other jurisdictions and industry organizations (NERC, NREL, ERCOT, EPRI, AEMO, etc.) to ensure alignment with industry standards or leadership in Integrated Grid Planning processes, criteria, and standards.
• Assists in the development of regulatory documents.
• Stays abreast of all related regulatory activities to ensure consistency in work products.
• Ensures cross-functional and related initiatives are aligned in regulatory filings.
• Participates in company emergency response activities as assigned.

Requirements

• A Bachelor of Science degree in engineering from an accredited engineering school, or in a related electric utility planning discipline.
• Thorough knowledge of the fundamental principles and practices of electric utility planning at all levels (generation, transmission, distribution), including:
  • Forecasts, resource adequacy, resource modeling (capacity expansion, production simulation).
  • Stability analysis (frequency, rotor angle, voltage), short circuit analysis, control theory and modeling.
  • System operations, generating unit characteristics (drum type, combined cycle units, combustion turbines, internal combustion engines).
  • Machine fundamentals (generators, exciters, governors, synchronous condensers, wind turbines, inverter systems, etc.) and their impacts on dynamic simulations.
  • Electro-Magnetic Transient (EMT) and power flow simulation tools (PSCAD, PSSE, Synergi, ASPEN) and concepts.
• Thorough knowledge of the regulatory landscape and relevant company initiatives that impact system reliability.
• Thorough knowledge of applicable federal, state, and industry (NERC, IEEE, EPRI, AEMO, NREL, etc.) standards and codes affecting electrical system reliability.
• Working knowledge of project management (i.e., PMP) concepts.
• Understanding of the planning process, challenges, and solutions to meeting a 100% renewable energy future, including resource planning analyses, complex transmission planning analyses, and system impact studies.
• Strong understanding of computers, mainframe systems, and software applications including MS Word, Excel, PowerPoint, SAP, and databases.

Skills

• Demonstrated advanced analytical, strategic thinking, and problem-solving skills.
• Innovation in planning or engineering analyses.
• Ability to conceptualize new ideas and apply them to develop new analysis methodologies and techniques.
• Effective leadership skills.
• Excellent written, verbal, and interpersonal communication skills for all levels of the organization and the public sector.
• Ability to mentor and train staff engineers effectively.
• Self-starter who proactively identifies and addresses potential challenges or requirements for projects, programs, or initiatives.
• Management of large, high-visibility projects/programs/initiatives and ability to work with teams of engineers.

Qualifications

• Extensive experience (10+ years) in resource planning, transmission planning, distribution planning, system operation, generating unit characteristics and performance, protection system concepts, modeling, and implementation/execution of plans and projects.
• Professional Engineer License in a relevant discipline.
• Preferred: Advanced degree in engineering, project management, or business-related field.
• Preferred: Registered Project Management Professional (PMP).
• Preferred: Two or more years of supervisory or management experience.

Pay

The hiring range for this position is $109,900.00 to $142,600.00. The selected candidate will be placed according to skills and qualifications.

About Hawaiian Electric Companies

Hawaiian Electric Companies provide electricity and services to 95 percent of the state's 1.4 million residents. The company is also one of the state's leading employers and a major contributor and supporter of community and educational programs. The demand for power that has fueled the growth of the Hawaiian Islands has been met by Hawaiian Electric Companies for well over a century. The company is committed to providing quality service and seeking clean local energy sources to power generations of Hawaii families and businesses to come.