Senior/Staff Engineer - Electric Transmission Planning Modeling Engineer

Job Summary

Dominion Energy’s Power Delivery Group is seeking a motivated and experienced Engineer III to be part of the Electric Transmission Planning Team.  The successful candidate will be responsible for developing and managing the power system models used by the Dominion Energy Electric Transmission Planning Team and PJM.  Primary responsibilities include but are not limited to:

• Manage the development of the PSS/E power flow cases for PJM’s Regional Transmission Expansion Planning Process (RTEPP), the Multiregional Modeling Working Group (MMWG), and the internal Dominion Energy base cases
• Provide model updates for ASPEN short circuit models and PSS/E power flow models throughout the year.  Examples include Model on Demand (MOD) project files, contingency file updates, facility rating updates, and facility impedance updates
• Work collaboratively with the Dominion Energy ET Planning Team and PJM to develop additional power system models for reliability analyses, extreme event analyses, distributed generation sensitivity analysis, resiliency analysis, and the generator interconnection queue studies
• Work collaboratively with many internal Dominion ET departments (the SOC, system protection engineering, substation engineering lines engineering, etc.), PJM, SERC, and other external groups to develop and maintain accurate short circuit models using ASPEN One-Liner
• Perform breaker duty analysis as needed for the annual RTEPP and generator interconnection requests
• Maintain the bus impedance reports to be used by both internal and external customers
• Automate the work processes to collect load information at the winter and summer system peaks, and work with the Dominion forecasting group to update the loads in the cases using the PJM Load Forecast Report
• Assist in the development, maintenance, and enhancement of computer based tools for the Electric Transmission Planning Team
• Possesses a comfort and familiarity with creating, maintaining, and using databases
• Carry out data mining and data analytics on historical data to validate power system models
• Perform other duties as requested or assigned

Required Knowledge, Skills, Abilities & Experience

Candidate should have strong electrical engineering background, preferably in electric power systems such as engineering experience working in the Electric Utility Industry in Transmission System Operations, Substation Engineering, System Protection or Transmission Planning. Other engineering backgrounds may be considered if presented in combination with a strong electric power background.  Candidate should possess strong knowledge of engineering principles and practices that will enable the successful candidate to progress in an engineering career series.

• Significant directly related experience, typically 5+ years.
  • Advanced Engineering degrees – such as Masters of Science or Ph.D. degrees – may be considered in the calculation of years of directly related experience.
• A working knowledge of power system analysis software packages such as PSS/E, PSS MOD, Power Gem’s TARA software, ASPEN One-Liner, Transmission Operations Energy Management System (EMS), and the Python Programming Language, is preferred
• Demonstrated experience in power system modeling (i.e. short circuit, power flow, dynamics, EMS), is preferred
• Demonstrated resourcefulness in developing system models from diverse and indirect data and information sources preferred.
• Experience writing scripts, macros, or code to develop tools to automate work processes
• Knowledge of programming skills and tools for automation of system studies, such as Python, .NET, C#, etc.
• Firm understanding of AC/DC fundamentals, including an understanding of three-phase power systems
• In-depth knowledge and understanding of substation components and their functions
• In-depth understanding of the system protection principles and practices for transmission lines, distribution feeders, and major substation equipment
• Working knowledge of substation and transmission line one-line diagrams and relay functional drawings
• Knowledge and experience with the OSIsoft PI Data Historian platform
• Ability to work proficiently with Microsoft Office applications
• Self-motivator who can work cooperatively in a team environment, but is comfortable independently seeking knowledge and information
• Ability to think analytically and solve complex problems
• Planning, organizational and project management skills
• Must possess good communication skills, written and oral
• Must be dedicated to continuous improvement and identifying best practice opportunities

For placement of a candidate in the Engineer job series, the following criteria must be met: 

• Possess a 4-year Engineering degree from an ABET accredited Engineering program based on the year that the Engineering program was accredited by ABET, or 
• Possess a 4-year Engineering degree from an institution outside of the U.S. which is accredited through the country's own Engineering accrediting body under the Washington Accord as a full signatory, and is a degree that was recognized by the country's accrediting body on or after the date that full signatory status was achieved, or 
• Possess a 4-year degree in Engineering (non-ABET accredited), Physics, Chemistry, Math or Engineering Technology and a post-graduate Engineering degree from an institution where the undergraduate degree in the same Engineering discipline is ABET-accredited based on the year the Engineering program was accredited by ABET, or
• Holds or has previously held a valid U.S. Professional Engineer license.

Education Requirements

Required Degree (equivalency not accepted in lieu of required degree):

• Bachelor’s Degree in Engineering.  Possess a 4-year engineering degree from an ABET accredited engineering program
  • Electrical Engineering Degree or Computer Engineering Degree is preferred
  • Electrical Engineering Degree with Power Systems focus is strongly preferred
• Advanced Engineering degrees – such as Masters of Science or Ph.D. degrees – will be considered.

Licenses, Certifications, or Quals Description

Note: Dominion Energy minimum experience and education requirements may exceed stated ANSI standards and candidates must meet the Dominion Energy minimum requirements.

For Nuclear employees, this ANSI standard must be met, all of which is met or exceeded in the Engineer series job summaries with the exception of the Nuclear Power experience requirement of at least 1 year:

ANSI/ANS-3.1-2014, Section 4.6.1 Education requirements: Baccalaureate or associate degree in engineering or related science. Minimum experience for the position: Related experience which shall include 2 years; Nuclear power plant experience to include 1 year.

Working Conditions

Other Working Conditions

Test Description

No Testing Required