Engineering Associate 1

Pay Grade

12

Deadline to Apply: July 8, 2026, at 11:59 p.m. CST

*Qualifications may warrant placement at a different job level.

Position Summary

The Engineering Associate position holds the responsibility for the safe, reliable, and economic round-the-clock operation of the generation, electric transmission, and distribution systems. Duties include Engineering responsibilities for the design, construction, maintenance, and operation activities of our power plants, transmission lines, substations, distribution system, gas systems, control centers and others. These Engineering duties may include continuous monitoring and balancing of energy flow and responding to system disturbances, along with all generation, distribution, and transmission activities that provide electric and gas services to customers.

The Transmission Planning Engineer is responsible for modeling, analyzing and the strategic development of the electric transmission system for the near-term and long-term planning horizons to ensure safe, reliable, and cost-effective delivery of power. The engineer performs tasks in four major functional classifications including modeling, analysis, regulatory/compliance and coordination of interconnections to the transmission system. The engineer performs technical studies to define the need for capital projects, tracks those projects for modeling and budgeting purposes, develops interconnection agreements with external stakeholders, develops and maintains software, databases and associated data, and ensures adherence to all national, state, and local electrical grid requirements. The role requires strong analytical ability, engineering judgment, and collaboration with internal departments, external customers and developers, neighboring service providers, regional entities, and regulatory bodies. 

Tasks and Responsibilities

• Utilize established procedures and processes to perform assigned tasks under direct supervision
• Assist with gathering information for both internal and external customers
• Attend seminars and other continuing education opportunities for professional development
• Design and update database and other software applications
• Utilizes established procedures and processes to perform assigned tasks under direct supervision
• Support, create and maintain organizational project and process improvement initiatives  
• Provide standby support to system operations
• Attends seminars, continuing education opportunities for professional development
• Exhibits engineering judgment/technical expertise  
• Decisions may have significant impact on timeline, cost, safety, or reliability
• Ensures the on-time, on-budget quality delivery of projects
• Processes content that is complex with diverse issues and problems
• Perform other duties as assigned
• Regulatory & Compliance
  • Ensure all planning studies and documentation meet applicable NERC Standards (e.g., CIP, FAC, MOD, NUC, PRC, TPL).
  • Monitor and assess changes to NERC reliability requirements and support audit preparation and evidence development.
  • Participate in regional planning processes with ERCOT and ERCOT stakeholders.
  • Prepare and support materials for regulatory filings, stakeholder meetings, and public processes.
  • Follow established organizational procedures and assist in developing and improving internal planning processes.
  • Participate in required training, seminars, and continuing education to maintain compliance knowledge.
• Modeling
  • Build, maintain, and validate transmission planning models using tools such as PSS®E, PowerWorld, PSCAD, DSA Tools, and other platforms as needed.
  • Ensure accurate integration of planning models with operational models and data systems.
  • Develop new modeling cases, track project inputs, and contribute to operator training scenarios including assisting operational planning studies as needed. 
  • Maintain supporting databases and software applications used for system modeling and analysis.
• Analysis
  • Analyze historical load, forecast future demand, and determine long range transmission system needs.
  • Perform steady state, short-circuit, dynamic stability, and other reliability assessments.
  • Conduct technical studies to support the near- and long-term planning horizon
  • Identify system deficiencies and recommend corrective action plans that include capital projects, including scope and cost justification.
  • Evaluate impacts of inverter-based systems, renewable integration, distributed energy resources, storage, and electrification trends.
  • Prepare technical reports, study results, and planning recommendations in support of proposed corrective action plans.  
• Interconnection
  • Assess interconnection requests for new transmission, generation, and major load additions.
  • Determine necessary upgrades and system reinforcements to accommodate new connections.
  • Coordinate interconnection related studies with ERCOT, neighboring transmission owners, customers and developers.
  • Respond to internal and external stakeholders regarding interconnection data, study results, planned projects, and related requirements.
  • Participate in ERCOT working groups and stakeholder forums as the organization’s representative. 

Minimum Skills

Minimum Knowledge and Abilities

Preferred Qualifications

• Bachelors of Science degree or higher in Electrical Engineering from an ABET-accredited four-year college or university
• Ability to receive Professional Engineering Licensure from Texas Board of Professional Engineers
• Experience with the Bulk Electric System
• Knowledge of power system analysis fundamentals and power systems analysis software (PSSE, PowerWorld, or DSATools)
• Technical writing experience or college course work in technical writing
• Experience with Computer Aided-Drafting systems and Bentley Microstation software
• Experience with project management and contract development
• Experience in technical writing or college coursework in technical writing
• Experience in database applications and/or programming (Python, SQL, Visual Basic)
• Experience with NERC audits and reliability standards
• Experience with ERCOT policies, protocols and guides 

Competencies

Minimum Education

Required Certifications

Working Environment

Physical Demands