Engineer I - Southwest Power Pool

Southwest Power Pool (SPP) is about more than power. We’re about the power of relationships. Our employees have the opportunity to work together to ensure electricity is delivered reliably and affordably to the millions of people living in our service territory. We have been voted one of Arkansas’ Best Places to work by Arkansas Business and we are looking for a member of our team who is passionate about our mission to keep the lights on!

We have a core ideology here at SPP that we stand by: Do the right thing, for the right reason, in the right way.

We believe in supporting our employees through a fantastic benefits package:

• Competitive pay with bonus opportunities
• Excellent insurance package including three great medical plans to choose from, employer-paid short term disability, long term disability, and life insurance
• Relocation assistance
• Flexible working environment for positions that are eligible where employees have the flexibility to work from home and come in where collaborative in person work is needed.
• Fantastic contributions to your retirement through a 401(k) savings plan with employer-match benefits and a defined benefit plan fully funded by SPP

Overview

Engineers at Southwest Power Pool are highly motivated and driven individuals with the desire to work on teams that are  instrumental to maintaining reliability and advancements on the world’s largest machine,  Bulk Electric System (BES).  As the industry looks for new and exciting ways to combine the advantages of renewables while maintaining the reliability our members have come to rely on, it will require skilled Engineers of the next generation to achieve these goals.

We offer exciting and challenging level 1 Engineering roles in the following areas:

Engineering Rotation program: This engineering role is responsible to the assigned supervisor for performing electrical engineering analyses supporting Electric Transmission Planning Services, Tariff Studies, Modeling & Data coordinator for studies at Southwest Power Pool.

Modeling: performing the NERC Reliability Verification and Validation to improve the modeling of the SPP electrical transmission system. Additionally this role supports the creation of the power flow, dynamic and the short circuit models of the SPP electrical transmission system to support the RTO tariff required studies for Southwest Power Pool Inc.

Compliance and Advanced Studies: performs critical tasks in completing studies for NERC Compliance and other duties as assigned.  This engineering position requires a basic knowledge of power flow analysis and knowledge with transient stability and short circuit analysis is preferred.  Additionally, knowledge of NERC standards and how they relate to the relevant studies requirements must be developed. 

Generator Interconnections:  responsible for performing electrical engineering analyses supporting Generator Interconnection (GI) studies for Southwest Power Pool Inc.  Key responsibilities include performing model development, power flow analysis, and transient stability analysis in support of SPP’s Generator Interconnection Procedures. 

Planning Coordinator Assessments: performs critical tasks in completing studies for NERC Compliance, Tariff Requirements, and other duties as assigned.  This engineering position requires a basic knowledge of power flow analysis, loss of load expectation (LOLE) analysis, and knowledge of transient stability and short circuit analysis is preferred.  Additionally, knowledge of NERC standards and how they relate to the relevant studies requirements must be developed. 

Transmission Planning: responsible for primarily assist more experienced engineers to build planning models, run simulations utilizing the appropriate software associated with reliability and economic analysis, engineering analyses supporting Integrated Transmission Planning process, Tariff Studies, and coordination and support of any special studies for engineering planning. The Engineer I must be pro-active, supporting the team and learning the basic concepts of transmission planning.

Resource Adequacy: performs critical tasks in completing studies for NERC Compliance, Tariff requirements, and other duties as assigned.  Depending on primary tasks, this engineering position requires an intermediate knowledge of loss of load expectation studies, or powerflow analysis.  Additionally, knowledge of NERC standards and how they relate to the relevant studies requirements must be developed.

Transmission Services: responsible for performing the modeling of the SPP electrical transmission system, engineering analyses supporting Tariff Services and coordination of any special studies for Southwest Power Pool Inc. Additionally, the Engineer is expected to work closely within SPP and with SPP Tariff Customers.

Seams & AFC Support: works with systems, applications, data exchanges, data interfaces and modeling of the Seams & AFC systems and tools that relates to market-to-market, AFC calculations, FERC filed Tariffs, JOA/CMP Seams agreements, NERC Standards, NAESB Business Practices and FERC Orders related to Seams & AFC calculations and Tariff Administration.  The Seams & AFC Support team is responsible for monitoring, maintaining, supporting and improving the applications used by Reliability Coordination, Market Operations, Tariff Administration and Scheduling functions performed by SPP.

Operational Planning: provides engineering analysis, performing engineering studies and data analysis in support of all Operations related responsibilities within the SPP Regions.  The Operations Engineer additionally coordinates these analyses and studies, as appropriate, both within the SPP Regions and inter-regionally.  Both real-time and forward engineering support is provided to the following functions:  Reliability, Market Operations, Tariff Administration, and Scheduling. The operations engineer may also provide coordination support for the necessary SPP organization committees, working groups and task forces.

Real-Time Technical Analysis & Support: responsible for engineering analysis and real-time engineering support of engineering applications, processes, and services associated with the performance of all Coordinated Operations responsibilities assigned to SPP Staff with primary focus on engineering support of Real Time Market Operations and Real Time system reliability.  The proper performance of these responsibilities prevents power outages and maintains reliable and economical electric service in the SPP region.  As such, accurate and effective engineering decision making, sometimes in stressful situations, is required.  The incumbent may assist in the development of other personnel in engineering positions.  Minimal travel is required.  Working on a shift rotation is required.  

Modeling and Data Integrity: responsible for systems, applications, data exchanges, displays, and models used by and in support of SPP’s Reliability Coordination, Tariff Administration, Regional Scheduling, Market Operations, Balancing Authority, and Training services. The Engineer supports the overall objectives, critical issues, new concepts, policy matters, processes, and techniques that ensure correct input data and accurate results are present in the Energy Management Systems (EMS) used to accomplish these services.  This role requires accurate and effective engineering decision making, sometimes in stressful situations and direct collaborative work with employees, stakeholders, and oversight groups. 

Essential Functions

Engineering Concepts and Tools:

The Engineer I is expected to be competent with the administrative and communication tools for word processing, spread sheet development, time keeping, etc.  The incumbent is expected to develop fundamental understanding of transmission system concept and gain knowledge of software associated with area of responsibility.

Engineering Responsibilities:

As directed by the lead engineer or supervisor, the Engineer I should be prepared to enthusiastically complete specific assignments directed by ad hoc stakeholder/committees, transmission planning services, tariff studies or network modeling and engineering data coordination efforts.

Teamwork and Leadership Skills:

The Engineer I should provide basic technical support to help project groups meet aggressive time schedules. 

 Governing Processes:

The Engineer I is expected to have a basic familiarity of content and concepts of the SPP Open Access Transmission Tariff, FERC & NERC governing documents, SPP By-Laws, SPP Criteria, and the SPP Committee structure.  A more detailed understanding of specific governing documents and processes will be required depending on support needs.

Engineering Judgment:

The Engineer I is expected to exercise basic technical decisions with the oversight of more experience engineers.

SPP Culture and Core Values:

• Embrace and promote the SPP Culture, Mission and Core Values in attitude toward stakeholder relationships, current work assignments as well as long term goals and strategic initiative of the organization
• Incorporate a fundamental working understanding of the SPP Culture Drivers, Mission and Core Values and apply this directly to all engineering assignments and any SPP related effort, not necessarily limited to engineering
• Understand and comply with SPP Policies and Procedures

Qualifications

Education Requirements:

• Bachelor of Science in Engineering, this degree should:
• Be from a university that meets the requirements to sit for the Professional Engineering exam (in Arkansas, that is most typically a degree from an ABET accredited university or a graduate degree from a college that has an ABET accreditation),
• Degree should be in a calculus-based engineering field and preferred degree programs are Electrical Engineering, Computer Engineering, Industrial Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, or Systems Engineering

Experience Required:

• No experience required

Other Requirements:

• Competent with the administrative and communication tools for word processing, spread sheet development and time keeping, as a minimum
• Intermediate proficiency with most SPP power systems analysis tools with a solid command of several SPP tools and/or processes
• Practical understanding of the SPP Open Access Transmission Tariff, FERC & NERC governing documents, SPP By-Laws, SPP Criteria and the SPP Committee structure
• Intermediate knowledge of several power systems analysis tools applicable to power system steady state, dynamic, short circuit, or database management systems
• Strong inter-personal and team work skills along with excellent written and verbal communication skills
• Competent working skills with communication and data handling software such as Microsoft Office© Word, Excel, Access

Preferred:

• Advanced degree in related field of study

Work Environment:

This job operates in a professional office environment. This role routinely uses standard office equipment such as computers, phones, photocopiers, filing cabinets and fax machines.

Physical Demands:

The physical and mental demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to perform the essential functions of this job successfully.

• While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to make decisions, interpret data, and problem solve.
• The employee frequently is required to stand or sit for extended periods; use hands to operate a computer keyboard and standard office equipment.
• The employee must occasionally lift and move up to 10 pounds.
• Requires the ability to work and collaborate with managers and employees at all levels to exchange ideas, information, and opinions to facilitate the task.
• Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, distance vision, color vision, and ability to adjust focus.

Position Type and Expected Hours of Work:

This is a full-time position. Days and hours of workweek are Monday through Friday; 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Working extended hours may be required.

Travel Requirement:

This position requires minimal travel (approximately 10%)

Should you elect to apply for this position SPP will review your qualifications and if after reviewing the qualifications and experience of all applicants, your skills and credentials meet our needs, someone from our organization may contact you. Please be advised that the time required to complete the applicant review process typically takes between 30 and 90 days, but could extend beyond that. Once the position has been filled, all applicants will be notified via email.

Southwest Power Pool is an Equal Opportunity Workplace and an Affirmative Action Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, protected veteran status, age or any other protected category.

The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) defines “reasonable accommodation” as a change or adjustment to a job or work environment that allows a qualified individual with a disability to satisfactorily perform the essential functions of a particular job, and does not cause an undue hardship for the employer. SPP adheres to the ADA and reasonable accommodations may be made to enable a qualified individual with a disability to perform the essential functions.

Education

• Bachelors or better

Equal Opportunity Employer/Protected Veterans/Individuals with Disabilities

The contractor will not discharge or in any other manner discriminate against employees or applicants because they have inquired about, discussed, or disclosed their own pay or the pay of another employee or applicant. However, employees who have access to the compensation information of other employees or applicants as a part of their essential job functions cannot disclose the pay of other employees or applicants to individuals who do not otherwise have access to compensation information, unless the disclosure is (a) in response to a formal complaint or charge, (b) in furtherance of an investigation, proceeding, hearing, or action, including an investigation conducted by the employer, or (c) consistent with the contractor’s legal duty to furnish information. 41 CFR 60-1.35(c)