Lead Engineer, Operations Planning

The Alberta Electric System Operator (AESO) is responsible for the safe, reliable, and economic planning and operation of the Alberta Interconnected Electric System. We provide open and non-discriminatory access to Alberta’s interconnected power grid and also facilitate Alberta’s competitive wholesale electricity market. The AESO strives to foster an inclusive, diverse and equitable workplace where people feel respected and welcomed for who they are, together we deliver high performance and innovative results.

Reporting to the Manager, Operations Planning we are looking for a full-time Lead Engineer to join our Grid Reliability team. You will lead the scope and studies for regional/area operational plans and be the Subject Matter Expert for the System Operating Limit (SOL) methodology.

In this position, you will lead, coordinate and prioritize multiple technical assessments of power flow, voltage stability and transient stability, resulting in professional work products and identifying issues that affect more than one planning region. You will also oversee the design of mitigation for identified violations.

As the Lead Engineer, you will mentor and coach less experienced engineers, and communicate complex results clearly and concisely to both technical and non-technical professionals. You will be the main point of contact cross functionally with other professionals internally and externally on operational plans.

You will enjoy working with us if:

• You embrace collaborative problem solving with internal and external stakeholders.
• You value flexibility to support life and personal needs. We offer a flexible work practice where some weeks may require more onsite presence during key business or operations events.
• You flourish in a hybrid work environment, where the team is in the office 3 days a week; the remaining 2 days are flexible for where you work best.
• You thrive in a dynamic environment and seek opportunities for transformative change.
• You can provide technical leadership to shape and influence our engineering practice.
• You leverage your strong communication skills to build effective relationships and act as the main point of contact and liasion between real-time operation and planning teams.
• You enjoy working in a team of bright professionals, and work and learn in a diverse atmosphere - our team and colleagues have varied backgrounds, experiences, and perspectives.

Accountabilities include but are not limited to:

• Scope and lead the preparation of operational plans including power flow, voltage stability and transient stability assessments following AESO SOL methodology.
• Provide input to modification of the SOL methodology and provide guidance to the application of SOLs and implementation of new or updated Alberta Reliability Standards (ARS).
• Provide directions for regional operational plans including input to mitigations such as system control procedures and remedial action schemes (RAS).
• Coordinate, prioritize and identify issues across multiple planning studies and for different regions.
• Provide mentorship and guidance to junior team members including assisting the manager to identify beneficial formal training and development plans for team member.
• Coordinate with external stakeholders for inputs on operational concerns, capital maintenance plans and implementation of operational plans.
• Identify technical roadblocks, risks, resource needs and room for improvement opportunities in the team and work to address them.
• Act as main point of contact for technical input and support for other departments (e.g. customer connections team, system planning, operations coordination).
• Participate in WECC committee meetings and audits as appropriate.
• Ensure team members are completing deliverables including compliance to reliability standards.
• Prioritize and plan tasks/deliverables and report on any resource allocation concerns.

What you’ll bring to us:

• Registered or eligible to be registered with APEGA (P.Eng.).
• Knowledge and experience working with operating criteria, reliability standards, compliance requirements, WECC audit processes.
• Proven knowledge and/or experience with PSS/E, other similar software tools including Python scripting.
• 10+ years experience in high voltage power systems operation, planning and analysis.
• B.Sc. Electrical Engineering; advanced or additional qualifications also considered.

Application deadline: June 13, 2023

If you are contacted for a pre-screening and/or interview, please advise of any accommodation measures required to enable you to fully participate. Information received relating to accommodation measures will be addressed confidentially.

The Alberta Electric System Operator is unable to accept unsolicited agency resumes.

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