Engineer I - Interregional Strategy

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 and transparent 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 bonus (if applicable)
• Hybrid working environment for positions that are eligible
• Fantastic contributions to your retirement through a 401(k) savings plan with employer-match benefits and a pension (defined benefit plan) fully funded by SPP

PLEASE NOTE: SPP is not able to sponsor employment visas or student-work authorizations (STEM OPT) for this position. Please ensure you are eligible to work in the U.S. without sponsorship prior to applying.

COMPENSATION INFORMATION The salary range(s) represents our good faith estimate for the role at this time. While we strive to provide competitive and transparent compensation, there may be circumstances where an offer is above or outside of the listed range. We are open to discussing salary expectations with qualified candidates considering factors such as the candidate's qualifications, skills, competencies, experience and geographic location will all be considered during the hiring process.

Engineer I - Interregional Strategy Salary range: $70,320 – $87,895

Overview

The Engineer I, Interregional Strategy is responsible for supporting the effective and efficient execution of all interregional processes and activities required under SPP's seams agreements. Strong interpersonal skills, the ability to communicate effectively, and the ability to develop and maintain strong and effective relationships with other SPP employees, employees at neighboring utilities, stakeholders, and regulators is critical to the success of this position. This includes being a point of contact for members, seams neighbors, and other departments internal to SPP to ensure SPP is meeting its obligations related to efficient coordinated operations and joint coordinated planning, including the facilitation of third party impact assessments. Key responsibilities include facilitating the development of Interregional study scopes in collaboration with internal and external stakeholders, technical oversite of Operational and Planning processes pertaining to seams related tasks, as well as coordination with SPP's customers and membership on key seams-related issues. The Engineer II, Interregional Strategy supports the overall objectives, new concepts, policy matters, automation, and any other relevant issues to the interregional planning process, including the support of new planning techniques, process improvements, and engineering measurements. As such, the Engineer II, Interregional Strategy will need to develop a deep understanding of the SPP transmission grid, understanding the basic concepts of powerflow, flowgates, congestion, and a high-level understanding about the other processes of the engineering planning department. The Engineer II, Interregional Strategy will also need to develop an understanding of the SPP OATT, Joint Operating Agreements, and interregional planning processes. The Engineer I, Interregional Strategy assists with the identification of areas of improvement and potential changes to SPP's seams agreements. This includes soliciting member input through the Seams Advisory Group on enhancements to seams agreements and coordinating with appropriate internal subject matter experts in drafting appropriate language. The position is also responsible for working with management, the Seams Advisory Group, and other internal and external stakeholders to implement policies impacting SPP's seams consistent with executive direction and SPP's strategic plan.

Core Responsibilities

• Develop and maintain effective, positive working relationships with a wide range of customers, stakeholders, federal and state regulators, and neighboring entities and serve as a point of contact for SPP’s seams agreement responsibilities
• Support appropriate cross-departmental personnel in coordinating engineering analysis related to the evaluation of interregional planning activities including joint coordinated system planning and third party impact assessments
• The Engineer I, Interregional Strategy is expected to be competent with the administrative and communication tools for word processing, spreadsheet development, time keeping, etc. The incumbent is expected to develop fundamental understanding of SPP transmission system concept and gain knowledge of software associated with area of responsibility.
• As directed by the Manager, Interregional Strategy and Engagement or his/her designee, the Engineer I, Interregional Strategy should be prepared to enthusiastically complete specific assignments directed by interregional planning activities or tasks requested by management or the Transmission Planning and Seams and Tariff Services teams.
• The Engineer I, Interregional Strategy is expected to have a basic familiarity of content and concepts of the SPP Open Access Transmission Tariff, Joint Operating Agreements, FERC & NERC governing documents, SPP By-Laws, SPP Criteria, and the SPP Committee structure. A more detailed understanding of specific governing documents and processes will be required depending on support needs.
• As a stakeholder driven environment, all engineers are required to develop positive stakeholder technical, supervisory and/or management level relationships as necessary to accomplish SPP objectives and assigned directives. The Engineer I who assists with specific assignments as given by the more experienced engineer or Supervisor will be required to develop necessary technical stakeholder relationships to collect data and share results for feedback efforts to reach to the fullest extent possible a positive stakeholder consensus.
• The Engineer I, Interregional Strategy is expected to exercise basic technical decisions with the oversight of more experience engineers.
• Assist more experienced engineers, learn processes and tasks, provide feedback and develop knowledge.
• Exercise curiosity to understand and learn how to use the tools associated with transmission planning activities
• The Engineer I, Interregional Strategy should provide basic technical support to help project groups meet aggressive time schedules.
• Responsible for communication with Interregional Strategy teammates, providing an open feedback about knowledge development and work status.
• Embrace and promote the SPP Culture, Mission and Core Values in attitude toward stakeholder relationships, current work assignments as well as long term goals and strategic initiative of the organization.
• Incorporate a fundamental working understanding of the SPP Culture Drivers, Mission and Core Values and apply this directly to all engineering assignments and any SPP related effort, not necessarily limited to engineering.
• Understand and comply with SPP Policies and Procedures.
• Perform special assignments as required

Qualifications

• Bachelor of Science degree in Engineering from an ABET accredited University. Degree should be in a calculus-based engineering field such as: Electrical Engineering, Computer Engineering, Industrial Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, or Systems Engineering
• Master’s Degree Advanced degree in related field of study

Preferred Qualifications

• Professional Engineer (PE) License Preferred

Other Requirements:

• Competent with the administrative and communication tools for word processing, spreadsheet development and time keeping, as a minimum
• Basic proficiency with most SPP power systems analysis tools with a solid command of several SPP tools and/or processes
• Practical understanding of the SPP Open Access Transmission Tariff, FERC & NERC governing documents, SPP By-Laws, SPP Criteria and the SPP Committee structure
• Strong inter-personal and team work skills along with excellent written and verbal communication skills
• Competent working skills with communication and data handling software such as Microsoft Office© Word, Excel and Powerpoint

Southwest Power Pool is an equal opportunity employer that makes employment decisions without regard to race, religion, color, national origin, citizenship, sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, veteran status, age, disability status or any other characteristic protected by applicable law. Further, Southwest Power Pool makes good faith efforts to employ and advance in employment qualified protected veterans and qualified individuals with disabilities. If you need a reasonable accommodation for any part of the application process, please contact us at HR@spp.org and let us know the nature of your request. We will only respond to messages left that involve a request for a reasonable accommodation in the application process.

 At SPP we believe in a culture of belonging. Learn more here: Culture of Belonging - Southwest Power Pool.

Equal Opportunity Employer/Protected Veterans/Individuals with Disabilities
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