Senior Engineer - Power Systems Modeling and Studies

Our Company
The North American Electric Reliability Corporation (NERC) is a not-for-profit international regulatory authority whose mission is to assure the effective and efficient reduction of risks to the reliability and security of the grid. NERC develops and enforces Reliability Standards; annually assesses seasonal and long-term reliability; monitors the bulk power system through system awareness; and educates, trains, and certifies industry personnel. NERC’s area of responsibility spans the continental United States, Canada, and the northern portion of Baja California, Mexico. NERC is the Electric Reliability Organization (ERO) for North America, subject to oversight by the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) and Provincial authorities in Canada. NERC's jurisdiction includes users, owners, and operators of the bulk power system (BPS), which serves nearly 400 million people.
Our Mission
The vision for the ERO Enterprise, which is comprised of NERC and the six Regional Entities, is a highly reliable and secure North American BPS. Our mission is to assure the effective and efficient reduction of risks to the reliability and security of the grid.
Your Impact
The Senior Engineer – Power Systems Modeling and Studies provides technical support to key reliability initiatives of the ERO Enterprise including the assessment of emerging risks on the BPS, and development of recommended practices to mitigate key risks. This role conducts power system modeling and studies and other engineering analyses to support the ERO efforts related to mitigating emerging reliability risks in the areas of grid transformation, extreme events, and the energy transition. This position also provides technical expertise and support to cross-departmental initiatives such as power system analysis, event analysis, performance assessments, reliability assessments, and guidance for standards-related activities. This position reports to the Manager of Advanced System Analytics and Modeling.
Your Role

• Perform power system reliability studies (power flow, transient stability, electromagnetic transient, short-circuit, etc.) to conduct assessments of BPS reliability, resilience, and security.
• Conduct assessments and develop recommendations for industry action to ensure interconnection-wide model quality.
• Support NERC’s risk mitigation strategy related to the reliable and resilient operation of the North American BPS by assessing impacts of emerging risks to the BPS such as evolving changes to resource mix, grid transformation, extreme events, cyber and physical security threats, critical infrastructure interdependencies.
• Engage collaboratively with industry stakeholders to support proactive risk mitigation of emerging key risks to the BPS.
• Study the impacts to BPS reliability with increasing levels of BPS-connected inverter-based resources, distributed energy resources, and other emerging technologies. Engage and work with industry experts to develop recommended practices in this area.
• Support cross-departmental initiatives related to event analysis, reliability risk management, reliability assessments, performance analysis, and standards development.
• Support NERC’s efforts to develop resilience metrics with industry and perform studies related to BPS resilience.
• Provide engineering support to efforts to integrate cyber and physical security into conventional engineering utility practices (planning, design, operations, restoration, etc.).
• Coordinate and lead NERC and other industry stakeholder groups in an effective and efficient manner that provides a safe, inclusive, and diverse environment.
• Prepare engineering analysis, studies, and assessments on BPS reliability issues and develop reports, guidelines, or other technical documents to support NERC initiatives.
• Engage with engineering experts across different facets of industry to provide technical support, guidance, and engagement in support of NERC’s mission.
• Other duties, as assigned.

Qualifications

• A bachelor’s degree in a related field and equivalent work experience of 5 to 10 years.
• Experience working with power system models and simulation tools; ability to independently conduct power system studies and develop reports of key findings and recommendations.
• Experience assessing the BPS reliability impacts of inverter-based resources, distributed energy resources, changing load composition, and other emerging technologies.
• Understanding of power system fundamentals such as frequency control, balancing, ramping, voltage control, stability, inverter controls, and operation of the BPS.
• Understanding of power system relaying, communications, substation topology, and data transfer.
• Ability to lead stakeholder groups in an effective, efficient, and inclusive manner.
• Excellent oral and written communication skills, including the ability to prepare and publish technical reports and other documents on security-related topics.
• Strong expertise and experience developing or assessing steady-state and dynamic models of BPS components.
• Experience studying the reliability impacts of BPS-connected inverter-based resources, distributed energy resources, and other emerging technologies.
• Strong understanding of the drivers of the energy transition, and ability to lead initiatives to ensure reliable operation of the BPS under this rapid change.
• Experience coordinating teams of industry experts on power system reliability, planning, modeling, or study-related topics.
• Experience or understanding of ways in which cyber and physical security practices can be integrated more effectively with engineering practices.
• Experience and strong understanding of NERC Reliability Standards.

• A master’s degree or higher education in power system engineering with specialization in the areas of modeling, studies, and emerging technologies is preferred.

Other

• Final level will be determined through the interview and evaluation process.
• A background check will be conducted prior to
• In compliance with federal law, all persons hired will be required to verify identity and eligibility to work in the United States and to complete the required employment eligibility verification document form upon
• Travel necessary: Passport required for North American travel.
• This position has been classified as
• The position may be based remotely but must be able to travel to NERC offices, if needed. Reimbursement of travel expenses will be in accordance with the company’s travel and expense reimbursement policies.

Our Culture Declarations

• Everyone at NERC is a leader
• We are accountable personally and organizationally to deliver on commitments
• We develop ourselves and people in the organization to ensure that NERC realizes its strategic objectives.
• We are resilient and adaptable to the challenges and needs of the business/people.
• We exude a growth mindset and empower teams to take risks
• Build collaborative relationships within NERC, the ERO, and the stakeholders of NERC
• We exemplify NERC cultural behaviors:
  
  • Reward, high-quality, creative, and innovative work
  • Attract, engage, and retain top talent
  • Value and respect diverse perspectives
  • Provide a safe, inclusive, and collaborative work environment
  • Form strong relationships within the company, and with the ERO Enterprise
  • We demonstrate curiosity in a wide variety of areas and are open to exploring new situations, knowledge and opportunities for growth and development
  • We demonstrate an anticipatory mindset; preventing problems, and building contingencies where appropriate
  • We are champions for diversity and inclusion. Seeks out and values diverse perspectives