Interconnection & Compliance Engineer

This position reports to the Supervisor, Operations Technology and will focus on supporting existing generation assets and development through operations of generation projects in Alberta and extending into North America. The Interconnection and Compliance Engineer will also drive continuous improvement through collaboration with other departments and management. Other responsibilities include project development, interfacing with the Alberta Electric System Operator’s (AESO’s) interconnection processes, compliance and regulatory processes and requirements, and integration or transfer of ownership of transmission infrastructure. This role will interact with internal and external parties at all levels, and is expected to consistently apply exceptional interpersonal, communication and teamwork skills. Having a customer service approach and setting priorities and allocating necessary resources on a day-to-day and long-term basis are essential functions to satisfying the primary requirements of this position.

KEY ACCOUNTABILITIES/RESPONSIBILITIES Responsibility Area #1 – Development Project Support

- Support development of generation assets, greenfield and brownfield

- Lead technical discussions with ISOs, Transmission Facility Owners (TFOs), and contractors to meet requirements under the Market Participant Choice (MPC) program, including the entry into and completion of requirements under the Asset Transfer Agreement

- Manage and coordinate all aspects of interconnection development, managing across all 5 stages of the AESO connection process

- Ensure that ATCO’s transmission and collector substations meet AESO rule requirements and standards, and ATCO fulfills its obligations under interim operating agreements

- Assist in identifying new opportunities and potential fatal flaws in projects as well as proposing mitigation strategies to overcome challenges in project development

- Assist in any planning, estimating, and scheduling of related project deliverables as required.

- Manage appropriate technical scope of work and complete such scope using internal company resources and supervising external consultants.

- Provide recommendations for equipment selection, new concepts, and techniques to improve performance, cost reductions, project design features and comply to changes in code or regulations and provide conceptual design and cost information as well as performance for each configuration.

- Manage and coordinate with projects and operations teams to ensure compliance obligations are met through all stages of the project.

- Conduct Constructability, Operability, and Maintainability reviews to confirm the asset(s) will proceed smoothly through the project lifecycle from concept through commissioning and subsequent handover to Operations

Responsibility Area #2 – Technical & Engineering Expertise

- Act as engineering representative for electrical engineering related topics and interface with Commercial, Operations, Integrity, Project Execution, H&S, and other internal groups

- Develop, implement, and review specific development engineering processes to ensure compliance to policies, standards, regulatory requirements and ensure mitigation of risks

- Support the operations team with compliance obligations, ISO requests, and evidence gathering requirements.

- Interfacing with facility engineer to troubleshoot and optimize facility’s substation equipment or operation

Responsibility Area #3 – Program Management

- With the support from the Supervisor, Operations Technology, the Interconnection & Compliance Engineer, is responsible for updating, implementing, and monitoring ENPOWER’s Electrical Equipment Integrity Manual

- Planning and forecasting annual integrity work and working with owners of capital budgets to ensure that annual work is incorporated into annual business plans

REQUIRED KNOWLEDGE/SKILLS/ABILITIES

- Degree in Electrical Engineering combined with previous transmission, generation and project engineering/management experience preferred.

- 5-10 years relevant work experience

- Experience in transmission interconnection and power generation.

- Experience with the ISO generation connection stage processes, with focus specifically on AESO.

- Proficient knowledge and experience with the regulatory requirements for transmission and generator development, including an in-depth understanding of transmission line and substation standards, generator requirements

- Project engineering and management experience preparing scopes of work, execution plans, cost estimates, schedules and managing budgets, obtaining regulatory approvals for transmission line and renewable projects into construction and operations is an asset

- Experience with ETAP and PSCAD will be considered an asset

- Must be a strong team player, with a proven ability to work independently and capable of working collaboratively with peers and leadership

- Experience working in a fast-paced environment with the ability to manage critical deadlines and conflicting priorities

- Knowledge assessing project constructability and constraints analysis