Planning Engineer Sr

About the role

ERCOT’s diverse and dynamic work environment empowers employees to collaborate on building the future of the Texas power grid and wholesale market with the latest technologies and resources. We foster an inclusive workforce where accountability, leadership, innovation, trust, and expertise drive solutions to today’s and tomorrow’s energy challenges, and where continuous learning and career growth are encouraged.

Responsibilities

• Performs electrical engineering analysis and technical support for planning and operations of the electric power system.
• Implements system modeling, develops tools and procedures to monitor and control the system, and performs system stability assessment.
• Analyzes simulated or actual operating results and develops solutions to current or future system stability issues; reports findings and recommendations.

Level 2 & 3 Responsibilities

• Designs and performs steady-state and dynamic contingency analyses using power system simulation models (PSSE, VSAT, or TSAT) under the direction of a senior engineer or management.
• Runs scenarios and input variations to produce robust results, analyzes study accuracy, assigns confidence metrics, helps formulate conclusions and recommendations, and prepares reports and presentations.
• Structures appropriate stability studies to determine system operating limits.
• Assists in preparing study reports and procedures for ERCOT management, NERC, and other entities; reviews stakeholder reports for technical content and accuracy.
• Typically works independently on assignments and projects.

Senior Level Responsibilities

• Serves as a technical Subject Matter Expert for the department.
• Makes independent decisions except in unusually complex engineering scenarios; resolves complex issues creatively and effectively.
• May coordinate, present, and participate in stakeholder meetings with ERCOT personnel, Market Participants, and regulatory agencies.
• Fosters strong working relationships with team members and other internal departments; mentors less experienced engineers/analysts.
• Leads multifunctional teams to obtain input, address comments, and perform studies.
• Demonstrates expert-level proficiency with power system software applications, spreadsheets, and databases.
• Maintains knowledge of emerging trends and industry best practices.

Education

• Bachelor’s degree in Electrical Engineering or a related field, or equivalent combination of education and experience.

Work Experience

• Engineer 2: Minimum 1–2 years (beyond degree requirements) of progressively responsible experience as a power system engineer or similar role; utility industry experience preferred.
• Engineer 3: Minimum 3 years (beyond degree requirements) of progressively responsible experience as a power system engineer or similar role; utility industry experience preferred.
• Senior Engineer: Minimum 5 years (beyond degree requirements) of progressively responsible experience as a power system engineer within the electric utility industry.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience performing large-scale dynamic stability analyses using PSSE and TSAT.
• Experience evaluating and updating power system dynamic models, especially inverter-based resource (IBR) models.
• Proficiency programming and developing simulation automation tools (e.g., Python).
• Experience assisting in improvements to transmission planning processes and familiarity with NERC reliability standards.
• Familiarity with the Energy Management System (EMS).

Position level is open to Engineer 2, Engineer 3, or Senior Engineer depending on the candidate’s experience.

This role requires on-site work at least two days per week, with additional on-site days at management’s discretion. Remote work is limited to Texas unless otherwise approved.

Pay

Expected salary range: $109,000 – $150,000.