Transmission Planning Engineer

INDEPENDENT ELECTRICITY SYSTEM OPERATOR (IESO)

Why join us? 

You’ve got great skills. And you want to use them in an organization where you know what you do every day matters. We get that.
We also know that ensuring Ontarians have access to affordable and reliable power doesn’t happen by accident. So we give you the tools, flexibility and support you need to achieve your goals, and development opportunities to help you grow. You’ll thrive in a collaborative, team-based environment that values your unique skills and experiences – and recognizes that when you do better, we become even better too.  

Who we are 

The Independent Electricity System Operator (IESO) works at the centre of the province’s power system, ensuring Ontarians have access to reliable and cost-effective electricity when and where they need it. We operate the province’s electricity grid 24/7, design, run and oversee the wholesale electricity markets, and plan and prepare to meet Ontario’s electricity needs – now and into the future.

 

The opportunity

Transmission Planning is responsible for initiating and supporting the implementation of transmission investments, at the provincial, regional and local level, and of distribution connected non-wire alternatives that enhance system performance, increase market efficiency and/or reduce cost for customers. Its power system plans form the basis for capital investment decisions, regulatory approvals and the development of commercial agreements to provide new transmission facilities and supply resources.

The Transmission Planning team produces assessments as required by NPCC and NERC that demonstrate its power system plans meet reliability standards, and they also provide transmission interface limits for resource adequacy assessments and to facilitate resource procurement activities. The team continually develops and evolves their planning processes to ensure that their processes continue to align with future procurement activities, stakeholder expectations and other processes within the IESO.

The current need for the Transmission Planning Engineer is within the Transmission Plan Integration team whose focus is on the following types of activities:

• Compliance assessments/reporting and standards development
• Assessments to support resource procurement activities
• Supporting bulk and regional planning
• Planning process development 

As needs and projects evolve, the successful applicant may take on a role within another team in our Transmission Planning division, which primarily executes bulk and regional planning.

The use of the title “Transmission Planning Engineer” shall be only used by incumbents who are PEO license holders that are competent in the field of electrical engineering. The use of the Title “Transmission Planning Specialist” shall be used by incumbents who are not PEO license holders or PEO license holders who are not competent in the field of electrical engineering.

Please note: this posting and that of Power System Planning Analyst represents one opportunity. The level of role (Engineer, Specialist or Analyst) for this opening will depend on the candidate's experience, qualifications and capabilities. Non-licensed applicants with early-career level experience are invited to view and apply to our Power System Planning Analyst role through the link below:

Power System Planning Analyst (20246)

What you'll do

The Transmission Planning Engineer will receive assignment from the Sr. Transmission Planning Engineer, Engineering Manager, and/or Manager in general terms on specific problems related to assigned areas of work,  obtain necessary data for problem solution, develop solutions to problems and produce the necessary justification (documentation, study results, etc.) to substantiate recommendations. Duties include:

• Develop and/or contribute to the development of plans and planning products related to the electricity transmission system. These plans and planning products include: bulk transmission plans, regional plans (e.g., IRRPs), and/or special purpose plans related to ensuring reliable performance of the electricity transmission system.
• Project manage the development of plans and planning products, including: documenting plan objectives, outcomes, deliverables, milestones, and setting the schedule/time lines.
• Build and maintain a familiarity with the tools and models commonly used to conduct transmission system assessments and analysis, including load flow simulation tools, economic evaluation tools, risk evaluation tools, electricity resource modeling tools, etc., including an understanding of the capabilities and limitations of these tools.
• Participate in economic evaluation of different options for meeting reliability needs as a transmission planning subject matter expert.
• Contribute to the development and continuous improvement of planning processes, procedures, tools and assumptions, including process documentation, quality assurance and quality control.
• Participate in stakeholder engagements, community engagements and/or consultations on planning matters, including occasionally acting as a subject matter expert on transmission planning matters and on specific plans and planning products.
• Act as the subject matter expert for transmission planning matters in support of IESO activities, including energy efficiency, electricity markets, resource development, and sector innovation.
• Liaise with government staff, Ontario Energy Board staff, and other sector agencies on planning matters, policy development and analysis, and joint initiatives, as required.
• Research and monitor development of municipal, regional, provincial, and/or federal laws and policies, including land use plans, growth plans, energy plans or targets, or other related policies or plans that have potential to influence electricity transmission needs, solutions, or opportunities within the scope of transmission plans.
• Prepare, and/or contribute to the preparation of, reports, briefs, written submissions, and/or information related to transmission plans and planning matters for IESO management and leadership, regulatory processes, stakeholder engagement and inquiries, and other proceedings.
• Maintain up to date knowledge of the state-of-the-art on transmission technologies, best practices related to transmission planning and integrated resource planning, and assist in bringing relevant external trends and practices to IESO’s planning.
• Participate in, or occasionally lead, the IESO’s participation in external industry forums, (e.g. joint studies, planning, and regulatory proceedings).
• Perform NERC/NPCC/Market Rules compliance activities, specifically:
  • Prepare and deliver evidence demonstrating compliance with NERC and NPCC requirements, including internal control documentation, work procedures, reliability standard audit worksheets, market manuals and training material.
  • Participate in reliability audits and presenting the evidence, as required.
  • Act as a subject matter expert for the IESO to support Market Participant compliance, such as: reviewing Market Rule exemption applications, reviewing NERC/NPCC Compliance Plans and Mitigation Plans, as necessary.
• Act as a subject matter expert to other departments and/or business units on matters related to transmission planning.
• Mentor and assist training of new and/or junior staff.
• Exercise limited/periodic supervision over assigned staff on special projects.
• Perform other duties as required

Engineering duties include:

• Complete the engineering studies required for bulk transmission plans, regional plans, NERC planning assessments, NPCC Area Transmission Reviews, planning and reliability outlooks, and for Ad hoc requests. This includes steady-state and transient assessments of the power system.
• Assess the load meeting capability of existing local networks in order to establish regional needs for Integrated Regional Resource Plans. Assess the load meeting capability of system reinforcement options in order to establish their technical performance for Integrated Regional Resource Plans.
• Assess transfer capability of the Ontario and Interconnected bulk system in the near-term and long-term planning horizons to ensure system adequacy and security, and in support of resource acquisitions.
• Assess the transfer capability of bulk system reinforcement options in order to establish their technical performance for bulk system plans.
• Perform technical feasibility studies for proponents to assess the reliability impact of proposed power system facilities and connections to the IESO-controlled grid.
• Perform assessments to determine the reliability of planned protection systems and programs, including: Remedial Action Schemes, the Under-Frequency Load Shedding Program, and protective relaying during overload conditions or power swings.
• Perform other specialized studies in the planning time horizon.
• Participate in joint planning studies with our neighbors and in other inter-Area activities, specifically:
  • Participate in appropriate NERC/NPCC committees, task forces and working groups.
  • Conduct joint studies of the interconnected system to ensure adequacy and security of the ICG due to planned modifications to neighboring systems.
  • On occasion, represent the IESO on interconnection committees and sub-committees as a technical subject matter expert.
• Participate in the standards development process as a subject matter expert from the IESO, specifically for the following activities:
  • Standard drafting activities pertaining to Planning Coordinator and Transmission Planner obligations.
  • Implementation of new standards pertaining to Planning Coordinator and Transmission Planner obligations, by providing input to standard voting activities and developing an IESO position for standards.
  • Implementation of new standards by recommending new or modified business processes.
• Prepare documentation and deliver presentations pertaining to engineering analysis.
• Sign or sign and seal documents as a P.Eng thus taking professional responsibility for one’s own work.
• On occasion, sign or sign and seal documents as a P.Eng for peer review, or to assume professional engineering responsibility for engineering work performed by unlicensed staff.

What you need to succeed

Education

• Engineering knowledge of electrical theory, power system analysis and control, mathematics, computers science and the like to conduct engineering, economic or analytical studies related to the management and control of the bulk power system.
• Knowledge of technical writing to prepare effective reports, as well as knowledge of how to deliver presentations on technical topics.
• This knowledge is acquired through the completion of an engineering/applied sciences degree from an accredited university or by having the equivalent education.
• License to engage in the practice professional engineering in Ontario and be competent in the field of electrical engineering.

Experience

• experience in the power system planning or operation. More specifically, the experience related to:
  • functions and characteristics of power system components
  • analytical studies and the application of computer techniques to solve power system problems
  • power system planning, operation, practices, and policies
  • electric energy, capacity, ancillary service and transmission rights market operations, practices, policies
  • Market Rules 

A period of over 6 years, and up to and including 8 years, is considered necessary to gain this experience.

What’s in it for you

• A comprehensive total rewards program, including best-in-class benefits and a flexible workplace 
• A challenging, fast-paced and collaborative team environment, where your perspectives and experiences matter 
• Leaders who support your growth and success through regular feedback and coaching 
• The opportunity to work with some of the brightest minds in the industry 
   

Deadline: February 17, 2025

For future reference, please ensure to save a copy of the job description as it will no longer be available once the posting closes.

At the IESO, we know that achieving great results depends on embracing diversity by attracting, developing and retaining people from a wide variety of backgrounds. We do this by ensuring our recruitment and advancement policies are fair and equitable, and by creating an accessible and inclusive environment – one that values every team member’s unique skills and experiences and ensures they have the support they need to achieve their potential. If you require accommodation during the recruitment process, please let us know. 

We thank you for your interest in a career at the IESO, but we will only contact those candidates selected for an interview. 

Note: The successful candidate must be eligible to work in Canada and will be subject to a background check.

The IESO offers a hybrid work model program to most of our employees, based on business needs. Individuals participating in the program can work an average of three days per week remotely within Ontario. It also offers three flex weeks when individuals can work remotely within Ontario. When working in the office, you will be located at our Mississauga location.

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