Engineer II - Transmission Planning

Job Responsibilities

• Perform transmission system impact studies and develop network upgrades necessary to support system reliability and performance.
• Review customer applications for completeness and alignment with PSE’s technical requirements.
• Attend customer scoping meetings as needed.
• Develop transmission system models in consideration of applicable load and resource forecasts and expected system topology over a 10-year planning horizon.
• Complete complex power system modeling, simulation, and analysis using advanced power system analysis programs, such as PowerWorld.
• Analyze generation interconnection and transmission service requests, as well as PSE and regional transmission projects and operations.
• Interpret available codes, standards, requirements, and guidelines for application to identified system needs and the development of network upgrade projects to address those needs.
• Document study results for both technical and non-technical audiences.
• Provide technical support in negotiating complex inter-utility agreements dealing with high-voltage transmission and new generating resource integration.
• Ensure compliance with PSE’s Open Access Transmission Tariff (OATT).
• Facilitate public meetings related to PSE’s transmission plans.
• Complete Economic Studies as requested.
• Calculate and document Available Transmission Capacity in compliance with active transmission contracts and NAESB Business Practices.
• Support the reporting of basecase information, load and resource forecasts, and other information to WECC, NERC, and FERC.
• Participate in external committees such as those at NERC or WECC.
• Represent PSE at appropriate regional transmission planning forums, such as those at NorthernGrid and Western Power Pool (WPP), as needed.
• Engage directly with regional partners on issues of joint concern.
• Ensure compliance with NERC and WECC Reliability Standards and Criteria applicable to the Transmission Planner and/or Planning Coordinator.
• Ensure compliance with applicable FERC regulatory requirements as outlined in PSE’s Open Access Transmission Tariff (OATT).
• Coordinate with internal teams and participate in cross-departmental workgroups with Local Transmission System Planning, Transmission Strategy, Transmission Policy and Contracts, Load Forecasting, Substation Engineering, Electric Transmission Engineering, and System Protection, among others.
• Serve as a technical support for the department and Company, providing advanced skills and knowledge where needed to solve technical issues.
• Provide a detailed design review of internal or external technical documents.
• Identify potential areas of weakness with assigned work, and initiate corrective action.
• Document and share work with others to strengthen the depth and breadth of skills within PSE’s engineering workforce.
• Maintain knowledge of industry developments and best practices and their application at PSE to further business objectives.
• Support emergency response work as requested including immediate and extended restoration efforts driven by weather and other system failures.
• May support the work of other engineers, engineering assistants, field technicians, and others who assist on specific projects. (This includes contractor/consultants.)

Minimum Qualifications

• Bachelor of Science degree or PE license in electrical, mechanical, civil or other appropriate engineering field. A PE license may qualify in lieu of a degree.
• Experience in planning, design, specification preparation, technical field work, project cost estimating and scheduling (typically achieved after three (3) or more years practice as a degreed engineer).
• Organization, documentation, prioritization, and project management skills.

Desired Qualifications

• Experience working with both internal and external customers on projects.
• Experience with coordinating external consultants in the execution of a project.
• Possession of EIT certificate and ability to acquire PE license.
• Knowledge of engineering economics and utility accounting practices.