What are the responsibilities and job description for the Engineer - Transmission Operations (Hybrid) position at LCRA?
LCRA is seeking a skilled and motivated Transmission Operations Engineer to join our team supporting the reliable operation of the Texas electric grid. In this role, you will evaluate and coordinate outages for maintenance and capital projects, conduct various types of complex power flow analysis, build and enhance existing tools for operational awareness, and provide real-time support by recommending mitigations for operational issues. The ideal candidate will have a strong understanding of power flow and contingency analysis, is experienced in developing code and maintaining databases, and is knowledgeable in transmission operations/planning, NERC reliability standards, and ERCOT protocols.
You Will Be Trusted To
Equal Opportunity Employer
LCRA provides equal employment opportunities and a work environment free of discrimination and harassment. All employment decisions at LCRA are based on business need, job requirement and individual qualifications, without regard to race, color, religion, gender identity, national origin, age, disability, sexual orientation, genetic information, or veteran status in accordance with applicable federal and state legal requirements governing nondiscrimination in employment.
LCRA is committed to working with and providing reasonable accommodations to job applicants with physical or mental disabilities. Applicants with a disability who require a reasonable accommodation for any part of the application or hiring process can contact LCRA Human Resources (512) 578-4004 or email lcra.benefits@lcra.org . Reasonable accommodations will be determined on a case-by-case basis.
You Will Be Trusted To
- Conducts power flow and contingency analysis to evaluate planned outages for both LCRA capital projects and maintenance in the short-term and long-term operations horizon.
- Recommends mitigations for voltage and thermal violations caused by conflicting outages and coordinates with key stakeholders to reschedule outages when needed.
- Develops, tunes, and validates power flow cases by scaling load, adjusting voltage set points, and validating system configurations for studies.
- Implements tools or solutions that enable seamless interaction between internal systems, databases, and external platforms.
- Monitors system congestion in the Real Time and Day-Ahead Markets, determines the root cause of congestion, and recommends mitigations to relieve congestion when able.
- Represents LCRA as part of the Voltage Profile Working Group and assists in the development of Voltage Profiles biannually.
- Develops and enhances operational metrics and dashboards for communication to other groups and to improve decision making in real-time.
- Assists in the administration of LCRA's Outage Scheduler by troubleshooting issues, coordinating patches, and developing enhancements for end users.
- Maintains knowledge of engineering principles. Keeps informed of technical developments, industry codes, and safety and/or regulatory requirements which have impact upon the respective engineering discipline. Fully develops knowledge of LCRA procedures, equipment, and systems.
- Interprets engineering drawings and manufacturers specifications for field personnel. Coordinates and reviews the work of Engineering Associates to the extent of assuming professional responsibility for the work. Personally affixes seal or communicates necessary changes to the responsible engineer for correction.
- Licensed Professional Engineer in the State of Texas
- Driver's license
- Experience automating studies with PSSE, PowerWorld, or TARA.
- Experience running various types of power systems studies, e.g. contingency analysis, optimal power flow, short circuit studies, load/generation interconnection studies, and/or developing relay settings.
- Experience developing automation or custom software for analysis or visualizations. Python and SQL experience is a plus.
- Interest in automation, data management, visualizations, machine learning, and artificial intelligence is a must.
- Competitive salary & medical, dental, vision and legal insurance
- Paid time off, including time for vacation, sick and family care leave
- 401(k) match up to 8% that includes a student loan 401(k) contribution program option
- Life and disability insurance
- Wellness program including wellness incentive
- Extensive learning & development programs
Equal Opportunity Employer
LCRA provides equal employment opportunities and a work environment free of discrimination and harassment. All employment decisions at LCRA are based on business need, job requirement and individual qualifications, without regard to race, color, religion, gender identity, national origin, age, disability, sexual orientation, genetic information, or veteran status in accordance with applicable federal and state legal requirements governing nondiscrimination in employment.
LCRA is committed to working with and providing reasonable accommodations to job applicants with physical or mental disabilities. Applicants with a disability who require a reasonable accommodation for any part of the application or hiring process can contact LCRA Human Resources (512) 578-4004 or email lcra.benefits@lcra.org . Reasonable accommodations will be determined on a case-by-case basis.