Operations Transmission Engineer

At PGE, our work involves dreaming about, planning for, and realizing a smarter, cleaner, more enduring Oregon neighborhood. Its core to our DNA and we haven’t stopped since we started in 1888. We energize lives, strengthen communities and drive advancements in energy that promote social, economic and environmental progress. We’re always on the lookout for people passionate about leading and being a part of teams that are advancing innovative clean energy solutions that are also affordable and accessible to all.

Summary

- PGE Grid Operations ensures the delivery of safe and reliable power to our customers while enabling the integration of renewable resources, distributed energy resources, and the expansion of distribution automation.

- Transmission Operations Coordinates with crews and other operations personnel to operate the electric power transmission system to meet power supply demands with adequate distribution of electricity.

- Grid Operation Transmission Engineer performs power system analysis of the interconnected grid, supports, and develop electric network model in the Energy Management System, and provides engineering support in the Operations Horizon to PGE’s Transmission, Balancing Authority and Energy Imbalance Market Entity Operation while ensuring reliable operation of the interconnected transmission system. They additionally provide support to field operations during switching, outage restoration and system planning and key stakeholder groups

This position provides specialized power system analysis technical support for real-time transmission system operations by performing next-day studies and providing real-time power analysis including timely assessment of the current electrical system configuration, flows, generation and loads to determine electrical security for PGE’s transmission grid and the broader interconnection. This analysis provides direction/guidance to PGE Transmission System Operator, Balancing Authority Operator and Energy Market Operation as they manage and operate PGE’s Reliability and Market operations. This position also provides operational expertise for NERC and WECC Compliance standards, including the development of standards, documentation of compliance, and identification of potential standard violations.

This position works in a 6 week rotational day shift schedule requiring time on the real time desk, in the office performing outage coordination studies and working on special projects/training. This position does have an emergency response responsibility that could involve infrequent 12 hour day/night shift rotational coverage during extreme weather and storm operation and on call requirements.

- We are hiring for 1 position open to either an Associate/p1 or Intermediate/p2 level. The level will be determined based on the successful applicant’s qualifications, experience and demonstrated skills during the interview process.

Career Level Summary

Associate Operations Transmission Engineer/p1 :

- Requires theoretical and application-based knowledge of power system analysis principles and concepts

- Ability to acquire higher-level knowledge and skills as applicable to Balancing Authority and Transmission Grid Operations, NERC and FERC standards, and performing real time power system analysis

- Solves recurring problems by applying advanced knowledge

- Operates independently while receiving ongoing guidance and direction from others

Operations Transmission Engineer/p2:

- Requires expanded professional-level knowledge and experience in own area; incumbents continue to acquire higher-level knowledge and skills

- Solves a range of complex problems using real time data and analyzes possible solutions in collaboration with multiple stakeholders

- Understands the NERC and FERC standards as applicable to Balancing Authority and Transmission Grid Operations, and uses utility best practices to improve processes and services

- Analyzes possible solutions using advanced knowledge and applying protocols

- Operates independently and receives only a moderate level of guidance and direction

Key Responsibilities

Associate Operations Transmission Engineer/p1:

- Engineering Standards

- Applies engineering education and training in advancing professional knowledge of engineering processes and standards as applicable to power system and interconnected transmission grid operations

- Applies technical expertise to assure compliance with applicable NERC/WECC reliability standards for transmission operations, prepares documentation in support of the WECC audit process of the NERC reliability standards and interfaces with other PGE workgroups to assist in compliance efforts as needed

- Acts as a subject matter expert in compliance assessment and certification. Provides expert consultation on issues pertaining to reliability of Grid Operations and participates in system event investigations and compliance reporting.

- Organizes and prepares case summaries and recommendations for review. Assists in preparing event analysis summaries or mitigation reports for reliability events on PGE’s system.

- Engineering Production

- Prepares engineering deliverables as a member of engineering support/project

- Conducts engineering studies for electrical power systems for real time, current day and next day operations.

- Observes system conditions in a real-time simulator environment in order to analyze current-day and next-day operations under normal or emergency conditions.

- Conducts look ahead seasonal power flow assessments for PGE Grid Operations as required

- Performs power system analysis (contingency, voltage stability, and transient stability) and provides support to PGE Grid Operations.

- Reviews and validates unusual real-time contingency analysis results, such as unsolved contingencies, ratings exceedances, or islanding contingencies. Uses existing power flow models or develops new algorithms to test system performance and determines whether systems anomalies are the result of an actual problem or faulty data models. Contacts other utilities to investigate systems performance and verify data

- Use PGE’s energy management system state estimator to perform real time studies and validate results of real time contingency analysis

- Serve as an advisor to PGE real time operators. Performs and interprets power system studies, identify mitigation actions, create operating plans to maintain reliability of interconnected grid. Generate reports to ensure PGE’s compliance obligation to NERC and WECC reliability standards

- Analyzes and interprets reliability assessment from external entities and Reliability Coordinator; and coordinate PGE actions to mitigate for any reliability impacts to PGE Operations

- Project Coordination

- Coordinates with internal/external team members on assigned projects; shares information and professional opinions/guidance in executing project tasks.

- Works with other engineering groups and serve as subject matter experts to develop improved tools to support real time engineering assessment capabilities.

- Reviews new equipment energization plans and ensures new topology changes are adequately reflected in power system models and EMS applications used for performing reliability assessments.

- Coordinates and interfaces with the Reliability Coordinator and neighboring utilities like Bonneville Power Administration (BPA) and PacifiCorp West (PACW) to coordinate study results, real time operating limits and path flow ratings.

- Coordinates outage scheduling and constructing/maintenance plans affecting the transmission system in the one year horizon while providing analysis for transmission switching plans to support capital projects and maintenance activities.

- Knowledge Sharing

- Expands and shares professional knowledge of latest technology and processes.

- Provides simulation training support as required by the NERC PER Standards.

Qualifications

Education/Experience/Certifications

Associate Operations Transmission Engineer/p1:

- Requires a bachelor’s degree in engineering. ABET accredited engineering program or program accredited by an equivalent agency preferred. Electrical Engineering degree preferred.

- Typically, two or fewer years in engineering.

- Valid Driver’s License.

Operations Transmission Engineer/p2:

- Requires a bachelor’s degree in engineering. ABET accredited engineering program or program accredited by an equivalent agency preferred. Electrical Engineering degree preferred

- Fundamentals of Engineering (FE) exam strongly preferred and ability to obtain the NERC Reliability Coordinator Certification.

- Valid Driver’s License.

Preferred qualifications:

- Experience with powerflow analysis software like Powerworld, PSSE, PSLF preferred

Competencies

Functional Competencies:

- Working/Intermediate knowledge of electrical engineering principles and concepts

- Working/Intermediate knowledge of PGE’s electrical transmission and distribution system

- Working/Intermediate knowledge of real time and off-line power flow software applications and programming languages

- Working/Intermediate knowledge of relay protection schemes for substations and transmission/distribution facilities

- Working/Intermediate knowledge of other engineering disciplines and ability to interpret engineering deliverable content as assigned

- Working/Intermediate knowledge of engineering processes and procedures

- Working/Intermediate knowledge of industry and technology trends

- Working/Intermediate knowledge of company QA/QC process and procedures

- Working/ knowledge of construction feasibility

- Working knowledge of procurement and contract administration

- Working/Intermediate knowledge of process and procedures for project controls and estimates

General Competencies:

- Intermediate accuracy skills

- Working/Intermediate analytical thinking skills

- Basic/Working knowledge of utility industry

- Working/Intermediate organization and prioritization skills

- Working/Intermediate problem-solving skills

- Working/Intermediate decision-making skills

- Working/Intermediate written and oral communication skills

- Working/Intermediate presentation skills

Physical, Schedule/Attendance and Cognitive Demands

Cognitive Level: Intermediate

- Consistent use of relevant principles to solve practical problems and to deal with a variety of concrete variables in situations where only limited standardization exists

Cognitive:

- Ability to adhere to set response times, deadlines, and time-sensitive tasks

- Ability to follow accuracy standards

- Ability to follow through on decision making tasks

- Ability to interact effectively and collaboratively within a team environment

- Ability to communicate and problem solve when under stress

- Ability to accept and demonstrate self-awareness when provided constructive feedback

- Ability to discern feedback and acknowledge ownership or areas of improvement

- Ability to avoid future mistakes by applying reasonable skills to new but similar work situations or tasks

- Ability to successfully collaborate with peers, managers, and others within the organization

- Demonstrates sound memory

- Ability to process new information to be applied consistently to work tasks

Schedule/Attendance:

- Ability to adhere to pre-establish schedule

- Ability to work long hours in exceptional and emergency situations

- Ability to work a variable schedule

- Ability to report to work and perform work during periods of severe inclement weather

- Ability to consistently meet attendance standards for regular, reliable, predictable, full-time attendance

- Ability to work on-call schedule

Physical Capabilities:

- Computer Use

- Driving/Travel/Commute to PGE’s Integrated Operations Center in Tualatin Frequently

PGE supports hybrid flexible work arrangements; and will have a combination of in-the-office and working offsite. However, these arrangements may change due to business needs or changes in responsibility.

Compensation Range:

$71,325.00 - $140,750.00

Actual total compensation, including a performance based incentive bonus, is commensurate with experience, skills, qualifications, education, training, and internal equity. While we anticipate the selected candidate for this position will fall towards the middle or entry point of the compensation range, the decision will be made on a case-by-case basis.

PGE believes in rewarding dedicated performance. We provide a total rewards package that is designed to reward your contributions to the company, and, at the same time, support your well-being and professional development, both now and into the future. To find out more, click here.