Power Systems Engineer - Development Lead (Hybrid)

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.

The person in this position serves as subject matter expert and technical lead within the PSTD department. Supports highly complex power system analytical assignments, leads technical discussions and implementation of software developments based on the Software Development Life Cycle (SDLC) methodology, including development/reviewing/approving functional and non-functional business requirements, software design, test plans, and integration plans for both electricity market systems and advanced power systems applications. Ensures test cases for software changes are consistent with intended business requirements to minimize exposure to any unintended business consequences. Acts as project lead to implement policy changes and Operational enhancements initiatives. Maintain good relationships with other internal departments and with associated software vendors as appropriate to implement software changes in efficient and team spirit manner. Leads analysis of highly complex technical issues and business rules and presents results to other ISO's departments and external market participants in conferences, workshops, market simulations calls, and other internal and external stakeholder meetings as required to implement new market design policies, and new market and advanced power systems applications enhancements.

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

• Leads project implementation teams to enable successful implementation of key projects and initiatives from inception to production delivery. Partners with project teams including project management office, policy, legal, and other ISO's operations business units, ensuring software development lifecycle of complex power systems software applications are successfully implemented based on industry best practices and SDLC methodology.
• Performs and leads teams performing complex mathematical and engineering analysis of market software and advanced power systems applications results to determine optimality of solutions with respect to incurred cost and impact on reliability of the power system grid.
• Performs and leads duties needed to supplement designing, testing, documenting, user training or other such activities associated with market applications, power system advanced applications, and other support legacy applications, including coordination with external market participants during market simulations, and responding to market participants disputes or inquiries when necessary.
• Ensures complete and accurate documentation of implemented application or modification is developed and maintained to provide permanent records or system component and backup material with focus on adherence to requirements and compatibility of all segments of the project including the quality of work done by others.
• Demonstrates a thorough knowledge of policy issues and related matters, and works under minimum supervision. Anticipates, identifies and resolves implementation, design and integration-related problems or potential problems within assigned areas, and may propose solutions to such issues. May propose solutions to issues and problems outside of assigned areas of responsibility.

Level of Education and Discipline

• A Bachelor's degree (BA, BS) or equivalent education, training or experience in Engineering with Power Systems emphasis or Economics with Energy Market focus.
• Master's Degree strongly preferred
• PhD preferred

Amount of Experience

• Equivalent years of education and training, plus six (6) or more years related experience.

Type of Experience

Level of Education

A Bachelor's degree required. Master's degree or PhD preferred

Discipline

Engineering, specifically in power systems.

Amount of Experience

Six (6) or more years experience.

Type of Experience

• Experience in optimization.
• Requires subject matter experience in three or more of the following areas: 
  • knowledge of power system industry structure and electric utility operations, preferably in a similar ISO with market design or operation background
  • computer techniques for power systems analysis
  • power system operations, control, and planning, real-time power systems applications
  • advanced network applications such as voltage and dynamic stability analysis applications of mathematical optimization methods to solve power systems problems
  • common information model (CIM) and extension to market data
  • relational database and SQL language
  • software tools and programming concepts
  • In addition, knowledge of regulatory and economic analyses is preferred.

Additional skills and abilities

• Demonstrates fundamental leadership skills with the ability to work effectively in a team environment as team leader, facilitator and team member.  
• Ability to think technically and 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. 
• Must be able to handle a dynamic and changing work environment, and work independently with minimal supervision. 
• Strong computer skills in Microsoft Office Suite. 
• Self-motivated, problem solving skills and the ability to influence others without direct authority.  
• Must be able to lead technical discussions.

Additional details

Excellent mathematical analytical skills are required, including the ability to effectively communicate complex technical materials and concepts. Ability to think technically and practically to develop feasible solutions to problems keeping multiple conflicting considerations into account.

The pay range for this position is $123,900 - $206,500 / annually.

All your information will be kept confidential according to EEO guidelines.