Senior Distribution Planning and Advanced Analysis Engineer 1 - Grid

Responsibilities

• This senior-level engineering role is part of Sargent & Lundy’s Distribution Planning and Advanced Analysis group. The position offers a hybrid work arrangement, combining in-office work with remote flexibility. As a Senior Associate Engineer, you will lead and support advanced technical studies involving distribution system performance, distributed energy resource (DER) integration, power quality, electromagnetic transients (EMT), system planning, and protection coordination/relay settings.

• Lead load allocation, load flow, short-circuit, flicker, and protection coordination studies on electric distribution networks.

• Evaluate the impact of existing and proposed loads (including electric vehicles and data centers) and DER interconnections on voltage regulation, equipment loading, power quality, and overall service reliability.

• Conduct regulator and capacitor bank placement studies to support Volt/VAR optimization initiatives.

• Support DER interconnection applications for wind, solar photovoltaic (PV), battery energy storage systems (BESS), and traditional thermal generation, including system impact and hosting capacity studies.

• Perform protection coordination studies and develop relay setpoints and configuration files to ensure the safety and reliability of the power distribution system in accordance with industry standards and regulations.

• Evaluate protection system impacts associated with DER interconnections, including fault current contributions, anti-islanding requirements, directional protection, transfer trip schemes, and IEEE 1547 compliance.

• Perform arc-flash hazard assessments and protection system evaluations in accordance with IEEE 1584 and NFPA 70E requirements.

• Support utility clients in protection modernization initiatives involving digital relays, feeder automation, and advanced distribution management systems (ADMS).

• Lead power quality data analysis, feeder reliability studies, EMT analysis, and distribution automation evaluations involving recloser and switch placement.

• Assist clients in adhering to relevant regulatory and industry standards such as ANSI C84.1; IEEE 519, 1159, 1366, 1453, 1547; UL 1741; Small Generator Interconnection Procedures (SGIP); and associated guidelines.

• Prepare client reports, presentations with detailed summary of findings from power system analysis, and recommendations to modernize the distribution grid.

• Provide mentorship, peer review, and technical training to entry/mid-level engineers in the team.

• Support the lead engineers in the preparation of requests for proposals (RFP) and technical presentations for marketing the team’s capabilities to multiple clients, both nationally and internationally.

• This role offers a hybrid work arrangement. You'll spend three days a week in the office, giving you the flexibility to work remotely for two days.

• Dependent upon your location, this opportunity offers a generous relocation package.

Qualifications

• We do not sponsor employees for work authorization in the U.S. for this position.

Essential skills and experience:

• This position requires a degree from an ABET-accredited engineering program.

• Minimum of five years of experience performing electric utility distribution system planning, protection engineering, DER interconnection studies, hosting capacity analysis, and advanced power system studies for utilities, consultants, developers, or independent system operators.

• Demonstrated experience performing load flow, short-circuit, protection coordination, power quality, and reliability analyses.

• Experience conducting distribution system planning studies including N-1 contingency analysis, capacity assessments, feeder reconfiguration, non-wires alternatives (NWA), and integrated grid planning.

• Understanding of utility planning criteria, system reinforcement strategies, and capital project prioritization methodologies.

• Experience performing utility-scale renewable and energy storage interconnection studies including system impact, facilities, protection, transient stability, and electromagnetic transient assessments.

• Working knowledge of IEEE 1547-2018, IEEE 2800, NERC reliability standards, and utility interconnection requirements.

• Demonstrated experience identifying distribution system thermal and voltage constraints through load flow studies.

• Experience in harmonics and power quality analysis associated with inverter-based and distributed energy resources.

• Experience with all types of overcurrent protective devices including microprocessor relays, electromechanical relays, distribution reclosers, fuses, and low-voltage circuit breakers.

• Proficiency with distribution planning tools such as CYME, Synergi Electric, Milsoft Windmil, ASPEN, and CAPE for power flow, short-circuit, hosting capacity, and load transfer studies.

• Familiarity with key industry standards including IEEE, IEC, and ANSI.

Valued but not required skills and experience:

• Master’s degree in electrical engineering.

• Professional Engineer (PE) license preferred. FE/EIT certification required for candidates pursuing professional registration.

• Experience modeling inverter-based and renewable resources – including wind, solar PV, BESS, hybrid systems, and collector systems – using CYME, PSS/E, PSLF, ETAP, and PSCAD.

• Knowledge of interconnection processes for small generators