Principal Engineer at Southern Company in Birmingham, AL

Job Description (Principal Engineer)

Transmission Planning Overview

This is one of the most exciting and dynamic times in recent history for the power industry, especially in the Southeast. We are experiencing rapid residential and commercial growth in the region, resulting in the need to grow our Transmission Planning team. Energy growth for Georgia alone is projected to be an additional 6,600 MW through 2030! In this role, you’ll get to be part of this unprecedented growth, leveraging leading-edge software modeling tools to develop and grow our region’s energy infrastructure. Check out this link if you want to delve into those details! Georgia Power’s 2023 Integrated Resource Plan Update supports Georgia’s extraordinary economic growth

Our Transmission Planning organization encompasses all aspects of planning the transmission system for our subsidiary retail electric utilities in Alabama, Georgia, and Mississippi. This includes expertise in numerous areas such as steady-state and dynamic power system analysis, power quality and transient analysis, load modeling and base case development, annual transmission expansion plan development, reliability standards compliance, economic development transmission service evaluations, OATT transmission service requests, generator interconnection and designation studies, generation RFP procurements, unit retirement and new build evaluations, regional planning and coordination with external utilities, interface analysis, GMD analysis, transmission policy and regulatory, industry committee leadership, and tools and technology innovation. While each group within transmission planning has a targeted function, we foster an environment of cross-functional teamwork and collaboration and are committed to working with our employees on career and personal development in multiple areas of their interest. As a vertically integrated utility, we also have the unique opportunity to work closely with teams from across our organization in all the major business sectors.

Transmission Planning Stability and Special Studies – Principal Engineer Job Description

This position is best suited for an individual desiring a technical career path responsible for leading and performing power system technical studies in support of various groups within Southern Company. The Principal Engineer position will be part of a team of engineers responsible for planning the bulk transmission system for Georgia Power Company, Alabama Power Company, and Mississippi Power Company where the team’s primary focus is system stability (voltage stability, rotor angle stability, frequency stability, resonance stability, and converter-driven stability). This position will also be involved with exciting and innovative system planning projects related to inverter-based resource (IBR) integration and performance, IBR power quality, IBR dynamics and controls, IBR modeling and model validation, and other unique projects.

The team is expanding its capabilities and expertise in inverter-based resources (IBR), power electronic-interfaced technologies, and power quality phenomena. The successful candidate will provide leadership and study support for Bulk Power System (BPS) stability in support of critical system-wide stability initiatives. Also, the successful candidate will be part of a team responsible for studying new grid technologies, developing industry recommended practices, and providing technical guidance for the assessment of emerging applications such as computationally intensive data center loads and evaluating new applications coupled to the BPS through power electronic devices.

The successful candidate will collaborate with multiple groups in System Planning, Transmission Control Centers, Research and Development, Operating Company Power Delivery and Generation departments, neighboring transmission systems, etc. The position will also be responsible for presenting study results to senior leadership, management, and internal and external customers for information and support.

Primary Job Responsibilities

Provide technical leadership for assigned areas of responsibility.
Represent Southern Company on applicable industry committees in a technical leadership role, providing guidance and ensuring Southern Companies’ business needs are being met.
Perform special technical studies requiring advanced power system modeling and techniques.
Evaluate the impacts of increasing numbers of BPS-connected IBRs and other emerging technologies impacting BPS reliability.
Engage and work with industry experts.
Prepare engineering analyses, studies, guidelines, and technical reports.
Review, organize, and analyze study results to ensure product accuracy.
Provide specialized expertise in power system stability.
Utilizing planning tools and creative solution development.
Aid in the preparation of policy recommendations to influence, lead, and shape industry initiatives.
Research regulatory and industry initiatives affecting the BPS.
Investigate special technical issues impacting the BPS.
Coordinate with teams in System Planning to develop innovative and cost-effective solutions.
Participate in internal Southern Company Committees.
Provide technical training courses for internal customers.
Participate in and lead (where appropriate) regional and national organizations, such as NERC and SERC working groups and task Forces, EPRI research initiatives, and IEEE Standards Development groups, which are shaping national technical and energy regulatory policies.
Perform special technical studies, as requested, in support of Southern Company and its Operating Companies.

Education and Professional Association

Bachelor’s degree in electrical engineering from an ABET accredited institution is required.
Advanced degree (master’s and/or PhD) in Electrical Engineering is a plus.
Publication of technical papers (e.g., IEEE, NERC, CIGRE, etc.) is a plus.

Work Experience

Electric utility experience is highly desired.
Knowledge of electrical equipment, protection systems, and power system operation is strongly desired.
Experience performing Transmission Planning stability and steady-state studies is desired.
Experience performing power quality, switchgear application, transient voltage phenomena, or other equipment application studies (such as EMT studies) that require advanced power system modeling and techniques is desired.
Experience developing and presenting material with a NERC or a Regional Entity (SERC, WECC, MRO, NPCC, Texas RE, RF), Industry Committee (IEEE, etc.), Subcommittee, Working Group or Task Force is desired.
Familiarity with industry standards (e.g., IEEE, CIGRE, etc.) is desired.
Experience applying protection and control systems, developing protective relay settings, and performing short-circuit analysis that required advanced power system modeling and techniques is desired.
Experience performing synchronous machine, inverter-based resource (IBR), and power electronics interfaced technology studies that require advanced power system modeling and techniques is desired.
Experience working with power system models and simulation tools and the capability to independently conduct power system studies and develop reports of key findings with recommendations is desired.
Strong understanding of NERC Reliability Standards is desired.

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities

A successful candidate will have:

The ability to independently analyze and resolve technical problems.
Strong analytical skills and a drive to solve complex engineering problems.
The ability to tailor technical communications for diverse audiences including workgroups, partners, and customers.
Excellent verbal and written communication skills for internal and external (e.g., IEEE, NERC, SERC) meetings and presentations as well as development of papers and technical reports.
The ability to work well in a team environment (both in-person and virtual).
Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with peers and customers.
Values teamwork and works effectively in a team environment across multiple business functions.
A mindset that is self-motivated, results-oriented, and innovative.
Strong attention to detail and motivation for high quality, accuracy, and timeliness.
Strong time management and organizational skills required to balance multiple projects simultaneously and adhere to deadlines.
Ability to prioritize work effectively, exercise sound judgment, and accurately complete multiple tasks with limited oversight.
Knowledge of electrical theory/electrical characteristics of network transmission systems.
The skills to continually review technical and industry literature to stay abreast of industry changes, technological advances, and new areas of transmission planning business opportunity.
Strong customer focus.