Operations Engineering Specialist Lead (Hybrid)

Folsom, CA, United States

Company Description

The California Independent System Operator (ISO) manages the flow of electricity across the high-voltage, long-distance power lines that make up 80 percent of California's power grid. We safeguard the economy and well-being of 30 million Californians by operating the grid reliably 24/7.

As the impartial grid operator, the California ISO opens access to the wholesale power market that is designed to diversify resources and lower prices. It also grants equal access to 25,865 circuit-miles of power lines and reduces barriers to diverse resources competing to bring power to customers.

The California ISO's function is often compared to that of air traffic controllers. It would be grossly unfair for air traffic controllers to represent one airline and profit from allowing that company's planes to go through before others. In the same way, the California ISO operates independently-managing the electron traffic on a power grid we do not own-making sure electricity is safely delivered to utilities and consumers on time and reliably.

The California ISO is committed to the health, safety, and work/life integration of it employees and is proud to offer flexible work arrangements. This position would be eligible to participate in a hybrid schedule.

Relocation Assistance is available.

Job Description

Under the general direction of the Manager, works on highly complex engineering projects and provides subject matter expertise and engineering support to Reliability Coordination, Real-Time Grid Operations, and Market Operations. Provides support to assigned energy management and advanced network applications, investigates the root-cause of issues, provides short-term and long- term solutions, and collaborates with different teams internally and externally to resolve issues. Leads the development of Reliability and Market Operations Engineer (RMOE) training, processes and procedures for advanced network applications. Participates in the development of ISO policies and methodologies associated with the reliable operation of the transmission grid and the efficient operation of ISO market. This position will be initially assigned to support the Energy Management Network Application (EMNA) and ensure the quality of related results.

What's in it for You

Our purpose is to lead the way to tomorrow's energy network. Make a difference and impact millions of people who depend on electricity in their everyday lives.

You get to work on interesting and challenging assignments that will help grow your skill set.

You will work in an extremely collaborative environment inside our LEED certified Folsom, California campus.

You will be challenged, be a part of a winning team, and your contributions will be rewarded and recognized.

What You Will Be Doing:

Proactively assesses the quality and accuracy of application outputs or results, reviews anomalies, investigates issues, and engages with the Technology team and external entities as needed to determine the root cause and resolve issues. Coordinates and collaborates with shift engineers to understand system conditions while investigating issues. Evaluates potential modeling discrepancies and works with entities to resolve issues with short-term and long-term plans. Coordinates with the technology team and provides feedback on the progress of issue investigations and resolutions based on input from RC West and ISO BA operators. Tracks and creates metrics related to issues and resolutions for the control room staff to show the progress of application improvements.

Establishes and implements processes to continually improve the quality and accuracy of application outputs or results. Recommends new approaches to monitoring quality and accuracy in applications to improve ability to address issues quickly. Creates temporary and permanent solutions to resolve identified discrepancies or modeling issues. Supports the quality of downstream applications, such as market and stability study applications, and considers the impacts to downstream applications based on changes to existing applications, processes or procedures.

Collaborates with the technology team to create business requirements for application enhancements, participates in UAT, and remains engaged and involved until enhancements are deployed into production. Supports and performs tests in coordination with technology team for critical patches.

Creates and maintains application user manuals or operating procedures as needed based on changes and enhancements. Provides training to operators and shift engineers on new enhancements, processes or procedures.

Develops, implements, and documents automated computer programs, tools, and other advanced analysis methods, to allow for comprehensive monitoring of operational performance of the transmission system and detection of transmission system problems.

Provides operations engineering expertise and support to other ISO divisions and departments as appropriate. Provides specific feedback and essential details relating to the ISO and RC West controlled grid and control area to ISO management. Provides support to leadership team or other internal departments to solve issues impacting the division. May represent the ISO for operations engineering interests in applicable WECC and other industry meetings as assigned.

Qualifications

Level of Education and Discipline

A Bachelor's degree (BA, BS) required in Electrical Engineering; concentration in Power.

Master's degree and/or Ph.D. preferred.

Certifications

NERC Reliability Authority (or System Operator) Certification required or must be able to obtain NERC Certification within six months of employment.

Amount of Experience

Six (6) or more years related experience.

Type of Experience

Experience conducting simulation and analytical studies of electric power systems including EMS, SE, RTCA, CAISO Market, transient stability and load flow analysis.

Knowledge or experience with simulation programs such as EMS, PSS/E, PSLF, PowerWorld desired.

Familiarity with RC West Electric System and CAISO Market.

Electric utility industry experience including emphasis in any combination of the following: EMS

Electricity Market

Real Time Operations

Renewable Integration

Protection relays

Operations Planning

Transmission Planning

Additional skills and abilities

Demonstrates fundamental leadership skills with the ability to work effectively in a team environment as a leader, facilitator and team member.

Ability to provide practical and feasible solutions to problems, keeping multiple conflicting considerations into account.

Excellent interpersonal, communication, and writing skills required.

Excellent analytical skills are required, including the ability to effectively communicate complex technical materials and concepts in a non-technical manner.

Must be able to handle a dynamic and changing work environment, and work independently.

Strong computer skills in Microsoft Office Suite.

Self-motivated, problem solving skills and the ability to influence others without direct authority.

Additional Information

The pay range for this position is $61.15 - $101.92 per hour.

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