Xcel Energy · 13 hours ago
Electrical Engineer, Transmission Planning (Staff, Senior, or Principal)
Greater Amarillo Area
Full-time
Onsite
Senior Level, Lead/Staff
$81K/yr - $157K/yr
2+ years expXcel Energy is a leading combination electricity and natural gas energy company, and they are seeking an Electrical Engineer for Transmission Planning. The role involves applying extensive technical expertise to perform power system planning studies, regulatory compliance assessments, and advanced inverter-based resource integration studies, ensuring the reliability and efficiency of the electrical grid.
Electrical DistributionEnergyNatural Resources
Responsibilities
Perform Comprehensive Power System Planning Studies, Including:
Steady-State Load Flow Analysis under normal and contingency conditions (N-1, N-1-1, and extreme events) to identify system limitations and develop mitigation strategies
Short-Circuit and Protection Coordination Studies to ensure appropriate equipment ratings, relay coordination, and breaker duty compliance, including assessments for system modifications and new interconnections
Dynamic Performance Assessments, including Transient Stability and Small-Signal Stability Studies to evaluate rotor angle stability, voltage recovery, and oscillatory damping performance under a wide range of system disturbances
Electromagnetic Transient (EMT) Analysis for evaluating control interactions and fast dynamic phenomena associated with large power electronic loads (e.g., data centers), inverter-based resources (IBRs), and FACTS devices, leveraging PSCAD/EMTDC
Geomagnetic Induced Current (GIC) Studies aligned with NERC TPL-007 standards to assess geomagnetic disturbance impacts on transformers and bulk electric system reliability
Support Regulatory Compliance And Model Validation Activities:
Perform NERC TPL-001-5.1 compliance assessments, including extreme event analyses such as CIP-014 physical security risk assessments, wide-area event simulations, and black start restoration studies
Support dynamic model validation efforts per WECC and NERC MOD standards, ensuring fidelity of generator, inverter, and composite load models for stability studies
Conduct Advanced Inverter-Based Resource (IBR) Integration Studies:
Assess grid-forming/grid-following inverter technologies and their impact on system strength, transient behavior, and control interactions
Apply IEEE 2800 requirements for IBR performance, including ride-through, reactive power support, and fast frequency response capabilities
Address challenges of high renewable penetration and develop mitigation strategies to maintain bulk power system reliability
Support Western Interconnection And Regional Planning:
Coordinate with WestConnect Planning Management Committee, WECC Reliability Subcommittees, and interconnection working groups to support transmission expansion planning, regional policy compliance, and reliability initiatives
Engage in regional and subregional transmission planning processes, contributing to multi-utility studies and cross-border resource integration scenarios
Perform Resource Interconnection And Transmission Service Studies:
Execute System Impact Studies (SIS) and Facility Studies consistent with FERC Order 2023 and regional tariffs
Evaluate interconnection requests for conventional generation, IBRs, storage, hybrid resources, and emerging technologies such as microgrids and aggregated DERs under FERC 2222 frameworks
Recommend necessary transmission reinforcements, upgrades, or operational solutions to accommodate new resources and loads
Evaluate Grid-Enhancing Technologies (GETs):
Analyze and model Dynamic Line Rating (DLR), Advanced Power Flow Controllers (APFC), and Topology Optimization (TTO) to maximize transmission efficiency and capacity without traditional infrastructure expansion
Support cost-benefit assessments and pilot project implementations for GETs in collaboration with operations and asset management teams
Automation And Digitalization:
Develop and maintain Python-based automation tools to streamline study execution, scenario management, and results post-processing for PSSE, PSLF, TARA, TSAT, PSCAD simulations
Advance digital workflows to reduce engineering effort, improve repeatability, and enable high-volume interconnection and compliance studies
Reporting, Regulatory Filings, And Knowledge Dissemination:
Author and deliver technical reports, regulatory filings, and executive summaries for internal leadership and external regulatory agencies
Present findings at regional stakeholder meetings, industry conferences (e.g., IEEE PES, CIGRÉ), and technical workshops to communicate planning approaches and emerging challenges
Industry Engagement And Representation:
Represent Xcel Energy in NERC working groups, IEEE technical committees, WECC Model Validation Working Group, WestConnect Planning forums, and other industry task forces focused on dynamic performance, renewable integration, and bulk power system reliability
Mentorship And Technical Leadership:
Mentor engineers, interns, and analysts on advanced simulation methodologies, IBR modeling, EMT techniques, and emerging grid technologies
Provide technical leadership to internal teams, fostering expertise development in grid dynamics, automation, and planning best practices
Lead internal technical workshops and contribute to the development of best-in-class planning documentation and standards
Support development of capital budgets, conceptual transmission projects, and economic analyses in joint planning contexts
Essential Responsibilities
Applies extensive technical expertise and has an understanding of the basic principles of other related disciplines. Fully demonstrates the unique technical skills and core competencies for this engineering level by applying technical standards, principles, theories, concepts, and techniques to lead projects of moderate to large size, scope and complexity
Largely self-directed work is expected to result in the development of new or improved techniques, procedures and standards. Supports the development of technical documentation (including but not limited to designs, testing, calculations, reports, standards, etc.)
Without appreciable direction exercises considerable latitude in determining ongoing technical support for project activities within areas such as Operations, Maintenance, Testing/diagnostics and Regulatory. Provides field engineering oversight and direction for activities such as support, testing, installation, inspections, commissioning etc
Coordinates/leads multiple projects or portions of projects (including phases such as research, design, equipment selection, procurement, installation and commissioning). May lead more critical projects with oversight of a higher-level engineer or supervisor
Represents the organization as the prime technical contact in the bid/evaluation processes including preparation of bid documents, completion of technical evaluations for proposals and providing recommendations for selection. Interacts with senior external personnel on significant technical matters often requiring coordination with internal and external organizations
Effectively and with precision resolves difficult technical/business matters both inter-organizationally and with outside customer/vendors with all formats of communication
May assign tasks to and/or direct engineers, technicians, craft personnel and other support staff including coordination and review of work assignments. Provides guidance and mentoring to less experienced engineers. Responsible for continuous self-development of technical skills and competencies
Leads activities such as budgeting, estimating, forecasting, accounting, work order management, in support of engineering projects
Qualification
Required
Bachelor's degree in engineering from ABET accredited curriculum, electrical engineering degree preferred
2+ years relevant engineering experience. Demonstrated broad knowledge & proficiency in specialty area, knowledge of related specialties, & general knowledge of other related disciplines
Ability to demonstrate the unique technical skills & core competencies for this engineering level established & documented by the organization
EIT/FE (Engineer in Training/Fundamentals of Engineering) strongly preferred
5+ years relevant engineering experience with EIT/FE (Engineer in Training/Fundamentals of Engineering) required; 7+ years relevant engineering experience without EIT/FE
9+ years relevant engineering experience with PE (Professional Engineer) registration required; 15+ years relevant engineering experience without PE
Preferred
Master's degree or higher in electrical engineering from an ABET accredited institution
Electric power transmission planning engineering experience
PE certification
Benefits
Annual Incentive Program
Medical/Pharmacy Plan
Dental
Vision
Life Insurance
Dependent Care Reimbursement Account
Health Care Reimbursement Account
Health Savings Account (HSA) (if enrolled in eligible health plan)
Limited-Purpose FSA (if enrolled in eligible health plan and HSA)
Transportation Reimbursement Account
Short-term disability (STD)
Long-term disability (LTD)
Employee Assistance Program (EAP)
Fitness Center Reimbursement (if enrolled in eligible health plan)
Tuition reimbursement
Transit programs
Employee recognition program
Pension
401(k) plan
Paid time off (PTO)
Holidays
Volunteer Paid Time Off (VPTO)
Parental Leave
Company
Xcel Energy
Xcel Energy is an electric and natural gas energy company that offers a portfolio of energy-related products and services to customers.
10001+ employees
H1B Sponsorship
Xcel Energy has a track record of offering H1B sponsorships. Please note that this does not
guarantee sponsorship for this specific role. Below presents additional info for your
reference. (Data Powered by US Department of Labor)
Distribution of Different Job Fields Receiving Sponsorship
Represents job field similar to this job
Trends of Total Sponsorships
2025 (6)
2024 (6)
2023 (6)
2022 (4)
2021 (1)
2020 (1)
Funding
Current Stage
Public CompanyTotal Funding
$1.39BKey Investors
US Department of EnergyBreakthrough Energy Ventures
2024-11-04Post Ipo Equity· $1.2B
2023-10-18Grant· $100M
2023-09-22Grant· $70M
Leadership Team
Robert Frenzel
Chairman, President and CEO
Tim Peterson
CIO/CTO
Recent News
2026-02-03
legacy.thefly.com
2026-02-03
Company data provided by crunchbase