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Salary Range: $72,498 - $152,073
Job Grade: 10E, 11E, 12E, 13E, 14E
Close Date: 06/27/2023, 3pm CST
Relocation: Yes

Summary

Asset Planning provides the cost-effective engineering solutions needed for upgrading, expanding, repairing, maintaining and reliably operating the power system assets safely, efficiently, and in full compliance with state and federal regulatory requirements. These jobs entail analyzing Oncor’s transmission system using computer simulation to determine the system’s performance under both existing and expected future conditions. Projected performance is compared to Reliability Standards established by the North America Electric Reliability Corporation (NERC) and the Electric Reliability Council of Texas (ERCOT) to ensure proper operation. Transmission Planning activities are performed by four separate, but highly interactive groups, with the following primary functions:

• Area Planning – Develop projects to upgrade Oncor’s transmission system including initiating projects to support transmission operations, to serve new Oncor and customer-owned substations and to connect new generating stations. Approved projects are monitored and supported through the design, regulatory approval from the Public Utility Commission of Texas (PUCT) and construction phases. Currently, there are two Area Planning teams that geographically split the Oncor service territory.

• Economic Planning – Assess the transmission system efficiency and perform production-cost studies to determine the economic feasibility of transmission upgrade projects. This team also categorizes transmission upgrade projects as either reliability driven or economically driven as defined by the ERCOT economic criteria, and determined by security constrained optimal power flow studies.

• Generation Interconnection Planning – Perform steady-state load flow studies to determine transmission system improvements necessary to connect and provide adequate transmission access to proposed generators to Oncor’s transmission system. Facilitate the work-flow for the transmission planning component of generator interconnect requests, including tracking each project’s status.

• Technical Studies – Perform engineering studies of Oncor’s transmission system in the areas of dynamic stability, steady-state power flow, subsynchronous oscillation (SSO), electromagnetic transients (EMT), small signal stability, and others as needed. In addition to performing technical studies, this position will play an active role in Oncor’s compliance with planning related NERC and ERCOT requirements, ensuring that supporting evidence is created, maintained, and readily available.

Key Roles & Responsibilities Other duties may be assigned. Directly or through others, the incumbent:

All Asset Planning Engineer positions:

• Develop and maintain collaborative working relationships with colleagues such as internal personnel, peer utility staff, ERCOT Staff and other ERCOT stakeholders’ staff, to effectively resolve issues, while ensuring Oncor and ERCOT required performance criteria are met.
• Effectively manage a significant number of assignments while maintaining work quality, reliability and timely project completions.
• Maintain a working knowledge of electric utility rules, technical, administrative and regulatory requirements for reliable, safe operation of the Oncor Electric Delivery transmission system.
• Identify and recommend process improvements and/or develop tools to improve work efficiency.
• Perform all essential aspects and functions of the job as well as any other specific job requirements.

Area Planning:

• Accurately develop and maintain computer models of the transmission system for use in simulating the current and future operation of the transmission system.
• Analyze the performance of the transmission system and compare the performance to the NERC and ERCOT Reliability Standards.
• Prepare plans and operating actions needed to ensure compliance with the Reliability Standards consistent with good engineering practices and personnel and public safety requirements and effectively document these plans and operating actions and present them to management for approval.

Economic Planning:

• Analyzes Oncor transmission systems to identify potential system upgrade needs and prepare Transmission plans and Regional Planning Group submittals by performing power flow analysis, including and Optimal Power Flow and Security Constrained Optimal Power Flow.
• Performs production-cost studies internally or reviews study results performed by external consultants, in order to determine if the ERCOT economic criteria for a given transmission project is met, as well as, to determine the benefit/cost ratio of the identified project alternatives.

Generation Interconnection Planning:

• Perform steady state load flow studies to determine transmission system improvements necessary to connect and provide adequate transmission access to proposed generators to Oncor’s transmission system.
• Facilitate the work flow for the transmission planning component of generator interconnect requests, including tracking each project’s status.
• Provide technical support and prepare/review technical study reports of various aspects of the ERCOT generation Full Interconnection Studies, including Steady State, Voltage ride-though, Transient Stability, and SSR studies.
• Interface with, and support Oncor Transmission Service Consultants to ensure the timely completion of generator interconnects studies.

Technical Studies:

• Performs studies in support of ERCOT system reliability including steady-state, stability, short circuit, SSO, and EMT.
• Develops and maintains accurate dynamic stability models of the Oncor system.

Technical Studies (Compliance positions)

• Ensures compliance with all applicable NERC and ERCOT standards and protocols.
• Develops expertise in the applicable Standards, Protocols and Guides, and develops procedures to ensure compliance.
• Develops and performs self assessments to demonstrate Oncor’s compliance.
• Provides support to Assets Planning’s compliance team for audits and information requests.

Education, Experience, & Skill Requirements by Engineer Level

Associate Engineer:

• Bachelor’s degree in Electrical Engineering or related field; specializing in Power Systems is preferred
• 0-2 years of applicable engineering experience or equivalent is required
• Experience in performing power engineering studies such as:
• Power flow using PSS/E, preferably including using Python
• Power flow using PowerWorld, preferably including using SimAuto
• Capable in the use of Microsoft Excel, Word and PowerPoint
• Ability to learn quickly with considerable, close supervision
• Strong communication skills, including technical writing and oral communication

Engineer:

• Bachelor’s degree or higher in Electrical Engineering or related field; specializing in Power Systems is preferred
• Minimum two years of applicable utility engineering experience or equivalent is required
• Experience in performing power engineering studies such as:
• Power flow using PSS/E, preferably including using Python
• Power flow using PowerWorld, preferably including using SimAuto
• Proficient in the use of Microsoft Excel, Word and PowerPoint
• Ability to learn quickly with moderate, close supervision and on a team
• Strong communication skills, including technical writing and oral communication

Staff Engineer:

• Bachelor’s degree or higher in Electrical Engineering or related field; specializing in Power Systems is preferred
• Minimum four years of applicable engineering experience or equivalent is required, and experience in one or more of the following aspects is preferred: transmission planning, engineering, power system operation, modeling and analysis
• Familiarity of the Oncor Transmission system
• Knowledge of ERCOT practices associated with ERCOT transmission modeling and power flow assessment, including the ERCOT Planning Guide and ERCOT Protocols
• Experience in performing power engineering studies such as:
• Production-cost analysis using UPLAN, ProMod, DAYZER or similar (for positions in Economic Planning group)
• Power flow using PSS/E, preferably including using Python
• Power flow using PowerWorld, preferably including using SimAuto
• Proficient in the use of Microsoft Excel, Word and PowerPoint, preferably including using VBA
• Ability to work independently and on a team
• Strong communication skills, including technical writing and oral communication

Senior Engineer:

• Bachelor’s degree or higher in Electrical Engineering or related field; specializing in Power Systems is preferred
• Minimum six years of applicable engineering experience or equivalent is required, and experience in one or more of the following aspects is preferred: transmission planning, engineering, power system operation, modeling and analysis
• Familiarity of the Oncor Transmission system and ERCOT Nodal Market
• Knowledge of ERCOT practices associated with ERCOT transmission modeling and power flow assessment, including the ERCOT Planning Guide and ERCOT Protocols.
• Experience in performing power engineering studies such as:
• Production-cost analysis using UPLAN, ProMod, DAYZER or similar (for positions in Economic Planning group)
• Power flow using PSS/E, preferably including using Python
• Power flow using PowerWorld, preferably including using SimAuto
• Proficient in the use of Microsoft Excel, Word and PowerPoint, preferably including using VBA
• Candidate with a Bachelor’s degree must have a PE license in the state of Texas. Candidate with a Master’s or Ph.D. degree must have a PE license in the state of Texas, or the ability to attain one in a reasonable amount of time.
• Ability to work independently and on a team
• Capable to lead and train other engineers in the team
• Strong communication skills, including technical writing and oral communication

Consulting Engineer:

• Bachelor’s degree or higher in Electrical Engineering or related field; specializing in Power Systems is preferred

• Minimum ten years applicable engineering experience or equivalent is required and experience in one or more of the following aspects is preferred: transmission planning, engineering, power system operation, modeling and analysis

• Ability to work independently and on a team Knowledge of ERCOT practices associated with ERCOT transmission modeling and power flow assessment, including the ERCOT Planning Guide and ERCOT Protocols.

• Experience in performing power engineering studies such as:
• Production-cost analysis using UPLAN, ProMod, DAYZER or similar (for positions in Economic Planning group)
• Power flow using PSS/E, preferably including using Python
• Power flow using PowerWorld, preferably including using SimAuto
• Proficient in the use of Microsoft Excel, Word and PowerPoint, preferably including using VBA
• Candidate with a Bachelor’s degree must have a PE license in the state of Texas. Candidate with a Master’s or Ph.D. degree must have a PE license in the state of Texas, or the ability to attain one in a reasonable amount of time
• Perform in a manner consistent with experts employed by external consulting companies, including:
• Performing client facing activities including project scoping, setting timelines as well as educating client about work processes
• Determining personnel resource needs, performing/overseeing team study activities, regularly communicating progress, and giving professional presentations
• Knowledge of the Oncor Transmission system with familiarity of general operational performance characteristics. Working knowledge of ERCOT practices associated with ERCOT transmission modeling and power flow assessment, including the ERCOT Planning Guide and ERCOT Protocols. Excellent communication and organizational skills are needed to work with ERCOT, consultants, contractors, and internal utility personnel.