Job Description

The Transmission Planning Engineer provides technical support of Transmission Strategy and Planning functions, including transmission planning, studies to analyze generation interconnections and transmission requests, development and maintenance of inter-utility agreements, transmission operations analysis, and ensuring PSE compliance with NERC and FERC requirements. Assignments involve a substantial degree of complexity, with many interrelated elements, requiring considerations not previously encountered. This position also supports emergency response operations when needed.

All PSE employees are expected to uphold the safety compliance standards inherent in PSE’s operating and/or field procedures related to work responsibilities and promote and support a culture of total safety. Additionally, employees need to demonstrate commitment to conduct business honestly, ethically and consistent with our core values and Code of Conduct. All duties are to be performed in accordance with all regulatory compliance obligations.

This job is considered “safety sensitive” as defined in RCW 49.44.240 and is subject to pre-employment drug screening that includes screening for the presence of marijuana and marijuana metabolites.

Job Responsibilities

• Perform transmission system impact studies and develop network upgrades necessary to support system reliability and performance.
  
  • Review customer applications for completeness and alignment with PSE’s technical requirements.
  • Attend customer scoping meetings as needed.
  • Develop transmission system models in consideration of applicable load and resource forecasts and expected system topology over a 10-year planning horizon.
  • Complete complex power system modeling, simulation, and analysis using advanced power system analysis programs, such as PowerWorld.
  • Analyze generation interconnection and transmission service requests, as well as PSE and regional transmission projects and operations.
  • Interpret available codes, standards, requirements, and guidelines for application to identified system needs and the development of network upgrade projects to address those needs.
  • Document study results for both technical and non-technical audiences.
• Provide technical support in negotiating complex inter-utility agreements dealing with high-voltage transmission and new generating resource integration.
• Ensure compliance with PSE’s Open Access Transmission Tariff (OATT).
  
  • Facilitate public meetings related to PSE’s transmission plans
  • Complete Economic Studies as requested.
  • Calculate and document Available Transmission Capacity in compliance with active transmission contracts and NAESB Business Practices.
• Support the reporting of basecase information, load and resource forecasts, and other information to WECC, NERC, and FERC
• Participate in external committees such as those at NERC or WECC.
• Represent PSE at appropriate regional transmission planning forums, such as those at NorthernGrid and Western Power Pool (WPP), as needed.
  
  • Engage directly with regional partners on issues of joint concern
• Ensure compliance with NERC and WECC Reliability Standards and Criteria applicable to the Transmission Planner and/or Planning Coordinator.
• Ensure compliance with applicable FERC regulatory requirements as outlined in PSE’s Open Access Transmission Tariff (OATT).
• Coordinate with internal teams and participate in cross-departmental workgroups with Local Transmission System Planning, Transmission Strategy, Transmission Policy and Contracts, Load Forecasting, Substation Engineering, Electric Transmission Engineering, and System Protection, among others.
• Serve as a technical support for the department and Company, providing advanced skills and knowledge where needed to solve technical issues.
• Provide a detailed design review of internal or external technical documents.
• Identify potential areas of weakness with assigned work, and initiate corrective action.
• Document and share work with others to strengthen the depth and breadth of skills within PSE’s engineering workforce.
• Maintains knowledge of industry developments and best practices and their application at PSE to further business objectives.
• Support emergency response work as requested including immediate and extended restoration efforts driven by weather and other system failures.
• May support the work of other engineers, engineering assistants, field technicians, and others who assist on specific projects. (This includes contractor/consultants.)
• Performs other duties as assigned.

Minimum Qualifications

• ABET accredited, or completed NCEES Credentials evaluated, Bachelor of Science degree in electrical, mechanical, civil or other appropriate engineering discipline. An EIT or FE certificate may qualify in lieu of ABET accreditation.
• Entry level to three (3) years of experience in engineering design, preparation of specifications, technical field work, or system studies. Other prior non-engineering work experience may be considered for individuals at this level.

Desired Qualifications

• Possession of or ability to acquire an EIT certificate.
• Knowledge of engineering economics and analysis.
• Experience in project cost estimating or scheduling.
• Work or internship experience in utility engineering or related fields.

Additional Information