Engineer II or Senior Modeling Data & Integrity

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 

The Engineer is 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 (See About Us for more information).  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

Model Integrity

• Maintain, update and improve SPP’s Network Model, Energy Management System (EMS) model, Commercial Model (CMM), and other data sources used by the Reliability, Balancing, Tariff, Market and Scheduling systems


• Identify Inter-Control Center Communications Protocol (ICCP) data to maintain superior real-time monitoring and state-estimator results


• Maintain one-line and bus-bar displays of substations modeled in the EMS


• Support SPP’s load and wind forecasting to ensure reliable up-time and accuracy


• Train, share knowledge, disseminate information and develop team member’s technical skills


• Assist the Manager, Modeling & Data Integrity with special projects


• Validate the modeling performed by Modeling & Data Integrity engineering staff

Controls

• Abide by and make improvements to SPP’s modeling and change control procedures


• Ensure the accurate and effective completion of SSAE16 Control Activities assigned to the team


• Collect data, maintain controls, and prepare necessary reports as required by SPP, NERC and the FERC

System Development & Testing

• Support, develop and improve applications such as State Estimator, Alarm, Real Time Contingency Analysis, Outage Scheduler, Load Forecast, and Modeling software


• Design, test, and implement vendor delivered software and hardware changes


• Design, develop, test, implement, and maintain custom SPP modeling applications


• Develop system requirements, test plans and implementation schedules

Communication

• Coordinate model changes with SPP’s departments, Members, and customers


• Identify gaps in model changes or data and communicate with employees, stakeholders, and industry partners to develop plans to close the gaps


• Document methods and processes used by the team


• Research, document and report issues reported by SPP Staff, SPP Members, non-Members and Market Participants related to results of supported systems


• Coordinate model development and data exchange with neighboring systems

Leadership

• Facilitate any assigned and assist all SPP Stakeholder Groups


• Oversee interactions with SPP members, non-members, consultants and software suppliers


• Recommended necessary items in the development of the SPP Budget


• Assist with administrative office duties as required


• Participate and contribute as an SPP representative on NERC and SPP committees, subcommittees, working groups and task forces


• Coach other team members

The statements contained herein describe the scope of the responsibility and essential functions of this position, but should not be considered to be an all-inclusive listing of work duties and responsibilities. Individuals may perform other duties as assigned including work in other areas to cover absences, or relief to equalize peak work periods or otherwise balance the workload. 

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 Requirements:

• Engineer II - Two (2) Years of Engineering experience in electric utility industry


• Senior Engineer - Five (5) years of Engineering experience in electric utility industry (relevant Engineering experience may be considered); Professional Engineer License will satisfy one year of electric utility experience.

Other Requirements:

• Experience with power system engineering, operations engineering or transmission planning


• Strong knowledge of several power systems analysis tools applicable to power system steady state, dynamic, short circuit, or database management systems


• Proficient using Microsoft Office tools (Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook)


• Strong inter-personal and team work skills


• Excellent oral and written communication skills


• Understanding of and compliance with SPP Policies and Procedures


• Excellent customer service skills and the demonstrated ability to build and maintain strong relationships

Preferred:

• Working knowledge of EMS state-estimator and/or power flow software


• Experience with Energy Management System, Common Infrastructure Model and power flow modeling


• Working knowledge of NERC Reliability Standards


• Experience with Dispatch Training Simulators (DTS)


• Licensed as a Professional Engineer


• Hold an active NERC System Operator Certification


• A Master’s or Doctorate degree in a related field of study


• Working knowledge of SPP’s footprint, SPP Operating Criteria, SPP Reliability Data Specification, SPP Business Practices, SPP Marketplace Protocols, SPP Regional Tariff, and SPP Committee structure


• Proficient with most SPP power systems analysis tools with a solid command of several SPP tools and/or processes


• Working knowledge of NERC Reliability Standards

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 (0-20%)

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.