Reliability and Market Operations Engineer (Hybrid - Onsite Shifts + work from home)

The California Independent System Operator (ISO) manages the flow of electricity across the high-voltage, long-distance power lines that make up 80 percent of California's power grid. We safeguard the economy and well-being of 30 million Californians by operating the grid reliably 24/7. As the impartial grid operator, the California ISO opens access to the wholesale power market designed to diversify resources and lower prices, grants equal access to 25,865 circuit-miles of power lines, and reduces barriers to diverse resources competing to bring power to customers.

About the role

Under the general direction of the Manager, the Reliability and Market Operations Engineer provides engineering support to Reliability Coordination, Real-Time Grid Operations, and Market Operations. This role is responsible for establishing and updating operating limits, documenting procedures for safe and reliable system operation, and modeling market impacts of transmission constraints. The position participates in developing ISO policies and methodologies for reliable grid and efficient market operations. This is a 24x7 rotating shift position.

Responsibilities

• Provide on-shift engineering support in a 24x7 control room environment.
• Act as a point of contact for Operations Engineering, providing direct feedback on daily operational matters.
• Attend operations planning meetings to communicate current and next-day plans.
• Develop operating requirements and instructions in outage plans and operating procedures to adhere to NERC Reliability Standards, system limitations, and ISO policies.
• Prepare and conduct operating studies and contingency analyses, including power flow, short circuit, stability, and post-transient analyses.
• Model transmission constraints in the ISO market to ensure efficient and reliable grid operations.
• Provide engineering support for model validation and abnormal market price investigations.
• Support ISO Divisions and Departments with operations engineering as appropriate.
• Provide specific feedback on the ISO-controlled grid and control area to ISO management.
• Represent ISO Operations Engineering interests in WECC and other industry meetings as assigned.
• Assist in developing, implementing, and documenting automated computer programs/tools and advanced analysis methods for monitoring transmission system performance and detecting problems.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree (BA, BS) in Electrical Engineering; concentration in Power preferred.
• Master’s degree and/or Ph.D. preferred.
• Two (2) or more years of related experience.
• NERC Reliability Authority (or System Operator) Certification required or must be obtainable within six months of employment.
• Experience conducting simulation and analytical studies of electric power systems, including harmonic, transient stability, and load flow analysis.
• Knowledge or experience with simulation programs such as PSS/E, PSLF, PowerWorld, VSAT, and/or TSAT.
• Electric utility industry experience, including emphasis in Operations Planning, Real-Time Operations, Transmission Planning, Electricity Markets, Renewable Integration, protection relays, Network applications, and EMS.
• Familiarity with the California Electric System or other portions of the WECC system desired.

Skills

• Excellent analytical, verbal, and written communication skills.
• Strong problem-solving skills.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office applications, including Access and Visio.
• Ability to work with minimal supervision and perform effectively in high-pressure situations.
• Ability to provide timely professional assessments with limited information and confidently act on decisions.
• Ability to work effectively in a team environment as a facilitator and team member.
• Ability to handle a dynamic and changing work environment, work independently, and be self-motivated.

Schedule

This position requires the ability to work a rotating 12-hour shift schedule (days/nights/weekends) for 3 of 6 weeks, with structured time off or work from home/office for the remaining 3 weeks.

Pay

The pay range for this role is $101,700 - $142,400 per year, with eligibility for shift premiums.

Benefits

• Flexible work arrangements.
• Relocation assistance available.