Planning Engineer

The Planning Engineer I (Transmission Projects) is responsible for supporting the development, documentation, and management of transmission project needs cases for regional transmission, substation, and network upgrade projects. This position serves as a key technical resource in advancing projects from initial need identification through regulatory approval and project execution by coordinating engineering studies, consultant activities, outage requirements, utility relocations, and stakeholder engagement.

The position works closely with System Operations, Transmission Planning, Project Management, Member Cooperatives, regulatory agencies, consultants, and external utility owners to ensure projects are supported by technically sound needs assessments and can be executed safely, efficiently, and in compliance with applicable planning and reliability criteria.

The Impact You'll Make In This Role:

ESSENTIAL JOB FUNCTIONS:

• Lead the development, documentation, and maintenance of transmission project needs cases, including identifying reliability, asset condition, operational, load growth, generation interconnection, and regulatory drivers that support project justification.
• Coordinate technical studies and engineering evaluations required to support project need determination, including review of power flow, contingency, stability, asset health, and operational analyses prepared by internal staff and external consultants.
• Manage and oversee engineering consultants performing planning studies, design support, needs assessments, routing support, and regulatory documentation. Review consultant work products for technical accuracy, completeness, schedule adherence, and compliance with project objectives.
• Serve as the primary technical liaison for project need development with internal stakeholders, neighboring utilities, MISO, regulatory agencies, cooperative members, and other project participants.
• Coordinate transmission and substation outage sequencing with System Operations and project teams to support construction schedules while maintaining system reliability and minimizing customer impacts.
• Lead coordination efforts associated with relocation of facilities owned by railroads, telecommunications providers, pipeline companies, distribution cooperatives, municipalities, and other external utility owners affected by transmission projects.
• Develop and maintain project outage plans and construction sequencing strategies in collaboration with engineering, operations, construction, and external stakeholders.
• Lead stray voltage assessment, testing, mitigation coordination, and stakeholder communications associated with transmission line and substation projects. Coordinate testing activities with consultants, member cooperatives, landowners, and regulatory agencies as required.
• Support project permitting and regulatory filings by providing technical information, engineering analyses, responses to agency data requests, and documentation supporting project need and alternatives evaluations.
• Participate in MISO planning processes, regional planning initiatives, and joint utility project activities to support project development and ensure consistency between regional planning assumptions and project needs.
• Coordinate project-related engineering data, schedules, technical reports, and study results to ensure accurate project records and support internal and external reporting requirements.
• Provide technical support during project development, design review, construction planning, commissioning, and project closeout activities.
• Assist in identifying project risks, constructability concerns, operational constraints, and stakeholder impacts during project development and implementation.
• Prepare technical presentations, reports, and supporting materials for management, regulatory proceedings, member cooperatives, public meetings, and stakeholder engagement activities.
• Other duties as assigned.
  

Your Experience and Expertise:

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS:

Education & Experience: Bachelor of Science Degree in Electrical (power option preferred) Engineering or directly related major. Experience in electric utility transmission planning, transmission project development, project engineering, system operations, or related utility engineering functions preferred.

Skills:

• Strong understanding of electric transmission systems, substations, utility construction practices, and reliability requirements.
• Ability to evaluate engineering studies and translate technical findings into project need justifications.
• Strong project coordination, organization, and stakeholder management skills.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office applications.
• Experience with project scheduling software such as Oracle Primavera P6, Microsoft Project, or similar scheduling tools preferred.