Senior Transmission Planning Engineer

To perform specialized professional technical and analytical functions in a variety of planning areas, including generation, transmission and contractual resources, including transmission planning studies and related engineering analyses and activities. Provide project management and SMUD representation to other utilities and external agencies to ensure SMUD's power requirements are met, and power resource assets are managed to maximize benefits to SMUD within legal and established SMUD policy constraints, and to ensure the reliable operation of the transmission/generation system for SMUD and the SMUD Control Area.

Serves as a team lead and/or advanced journey level resource providing expertise in one or more areas of a professional discipline and assumes responsibility for resolving complex problems and overseeing complex projects. May also guide, instruct, and coordinate the work of others on assigned projects.

• Provides technical support to co-workers, other departments and SMUD management by conducting studies and technical and economic evaluations, preparing written summaries, reports and recommendations for planning studies and SMUD projects, and responding to verbally or in writing to routine and time-critical inquiries from SMUD's Board, regulatory bodies, other utilities, public agencies and other SMUD departments on transmission projects.
• Collects, verifies, organizes and maintains SMUD's data, in electronic format, on transmission lines and major electrical equipment to enable the transmission planning group and other SMUD departments to perform timely, accurate short circuit, load flow and stability studies by organizing the work group to enter, audit and maintain accurate data, using computer expertise to facilitate selection, application and maintenance of appropriate software programs, and coordinating data capture, entry and retrieval/exchange of information.
• Plans, coordinates, prioritizes, monitors, guides, reviews, and conducts work activities associated with department internal/external projects in accordance with established task objectives and schedule as outlined in the project plan/contract.
• Conducts technical review of assessments, calculations, reports and recommendations prepared by less-experienced staff members and outside contractors/consultants and provides direction, guidance, suggestions and/or hands-on training to support improvements and quality standards.
• Provides technical support and guidance/consultation to Energy Trading and Contracts, Resource Planning, Power Generation Project Development, Grid Asset and Distribution Planning and Operation, etc. by evaluating projects and proposals, preparing reports, making recommendations on transmission system losses, system reliability, voltage profiles, and other related issues.
• Represents SMUD's positions, priorities and interests on multi-utility projects and to WECC subcommittees and regulatory bodies by leading SMUD and multi-utility work groups, leading or participating in review committees, and presenting or participating in project reviews by regulatory bodies and other agencies.
• Reviews and directs the work done by contract consultants on selected projects.
• Contributes to the development of technical expertise in transmission planning by preparing and/or arranging professional quality technical seminars and presentations to train less-experienced engineers in their areas of responsibility; develops new models and modeling capability for transmission planning; and develops advanced evaluation techniques and criteria to address and apply to new and unique issues in transmission planning.
• Plans, coordinates, prioritizes, monitors, and guides work activities with work-unit employees to meet established task objectives and deadlines by following established policies and precedents, communicating with team members and incorporating their input to processes and techniques, providing staff training, promoting staff safety and a safe work environment, assisting in selecting and orienting new personnel, assisting in evaluating work performance results, participating as a team member in accomplishing objectives, and referring problems to supervision where solutions are not readily achievable.
• Provides strategic direction to SMUD management through participation and analysis of ISO / RTO / CEC / CPUC / EOB / CVP, etc., related policy directives and issues, and attendance of various stakeholder forums.
• Provides support directly to operations and outage coordination through power system analysis and development of new programs that aid power system operators in meeting control area and reliability standards.
• Performs other related duties as needed to include working outside of typical business hours when necessary.

• Bachelor's degree in Electrical Engineering or related field from an accredited college or university.

• At least five (5+) years of progressively responsible relevant work experience in electrical engineering for the power industry with at least three (3+) of those years involved in transmission system planning or transmission operation with project leadership, management, and outside agency interface and inter-utility project involvement.

Western United States transmission and generation system adequacy and development and inter-utility relationships; power system planning techniques at a mastery level including load flow, stability, and fault and economic analysis in order to perform system studies; methods and techniques for planning, organizing and overseeing work activities; practices for delegating, assigning and reviewing work assignments; safety policies, practices and procedures; standard operating procedures for modern office equipment including a computer and applicable software; English grammar, punctuation and vocabulary standards.

Perform system evaluations including transmission power flows, stability, fault and other engineering studies; review, evaluate and comment on planning reports prepared by inter-utility work groups, WECC committees, regulatory bodies, and consultants; understand and handle the technical, political and corporate issues that are subject to change; interact with others to influence and motivate; compile and prepare technical, statistical and/or analytical reports and presentations; develop and conduct oral presentations to internal/external audiences; work effectively with other utilities and outside agencies to develop joint engineering projects; interpret, assess and apply pertinent policies, procedures, regulations and requirements; identify significant organizational issues, concerns and needs and develop strategies for rectifying them; interpret, assess and apply pertinent policies, procedures, regulations and requirements; negotiate with external representatives on behalf of SMUD; communicate effectively orally and in writing internally/externally; establish and maintain effective working relationships internally/externally; utilize a personal computer and/or computer terminal, systems and software relevant to the job

• Professional Registration in Electrical Engineering in the State of California,
• Knowledge of SMUD policies, procedures, applicable MOUs and other special agreements.