Planning Engineer Jobs in Colorado (NOW HIRING)

Denver, Colorado, 80205, United States of America
Are you looking for an exciting job where you can put your skills and talents to work at a company you can feel proud to be a part of? Do you want a workplace that will challenge you and offer you opportunities to learn and grow? A position at Xcel Energy could be just what you're looking for.
This position can be hired at the Entry, Staff, or Senior level, depending on the candidates' overall experience, qualifications, and interview. This position will be based in Denver, Colorado on a hybrid (3 days per week in the office) work schedule.
Key Job Performance Criteria (will differ based upon job level)
Perform Comprehensive Power System Planning Studies, including:

• Steady-State Load Flow Analysis under normal and contingency conditions (N-1, N-1-1, and extreme events) to identify system limitations and develop mitigation strategies.
• Short-Circuit and Protection Coordination Studies to ensure appropriate equipment ratings, relay coordination, and breaker duty compliance, including assessments for system modifications and new interconnections.
• Dynamic Performance Assessments, including Transient Stability and Small-Signal Stability Studies to evaluate rotor angle stability, voltage recovery, and oscillatory damping performance under a wide range of system disturbances.
• Electromagnetic Transient (EMT) Analysis for evaluating control interactions and fast dynamic phenomena associated with large power electronic loads (e.g., data centers), inverter-based resources (IBRs), and FACTS devices, leveraging PSCAD/EMTDC.
• Geomagnetic Induced Current (GIC) Studies aligned with NERC TPL-007 standards to assess geomagnetic disturbance impacts on transformers and bulk electric system reliability.

Support Regulatory Compliance and Model Validation Activities:

• Perform NERC TPL-001-5.1 compliance assessments, including extreme event analyses such as CIP-014 physical security risk assessments, wide-area event simulations, and black start restoration studies.
• Support dynamic model validation efforts per WECC and NERC MOD standards, ensuring fidelity of generator, inverter, and composite load models for stability studies.

Conduct Advanced Inverter-Based Resource (IBR) Integration Studies:

• Assess grid-forming/grid-following inverter technologies and their impact on system strength, transient behavior, and control interactions.
• Apply IEEE 2800 requirements for IBR performance, including ride-through, reactive power support, and fast frequency response capabilities.
• Address challenges of high renewable penetration and develop mitigation strategies to maintain bulk power system reliability.

Support Western Interconnection and Regional Planning:

• Coordinate with WestConnect Planning Management Committee, WECC Reliability Subcommittees, and interconnection working groups to support transmission expansion planning, regional policy compliance, and reliability initiatives.
• Engage in regional and subregional transmission planning processes, contributing to multi-utility studies and cross-border resource integration scenarios.

Perform Resource Interconnection and Transmission Service Studies:

• Execute System Impact Studies (SIS) and Facility Studies consistent with FERC Order 2023 and regional tariffs.
• Evaluate interconnection requests for conventional generation, IBRs, storage, hybrid resources, and emerging technologies such as microgrids and aggregated DERs under FERC 2222 frameworks.
• Recommend necessary transmission reinforcements, upgrades, or operational solutions to accommodate new resources and loads.

Evaluate Grid-Enhancing Technologies (GETs):

• Analyze and model Dynamic Line Rating (DLR), Advanced Power Flow Controllers (APFC), and Topology Optimization (TTO) to maximize transmission efficiency and capacity without traditional infrastructure expansion.
• Support cost-benefit assessments and pilot project implementations for GETs in collaboration with operations and asset management teams.

Automation and Digitalization:

• Develop and maintain Python-based automation tools to streamline study execution, scenario management, and results post-processing for PSSE, PSLF, TARA, TSAT, PSCAD simulations.
• Advance digital workflows to reduce engineering effort, improve repeatability, and enable high-volume interconnection and compliance studies.

Reporting, Regulatory Filings, and Knowledge Dissemination:

• Author and deliver technical reports, regulatory filings, and executive summaries for internal leadership and external regulatory agencies.
• Present findings at regional stakeholder meetings, industry conferences (e.g., IEEE PES, CIGRÉ), and technical workshops to communicate planning approaches and emerging challenges.

Industry Engagement and Representation:

• Represent Xcel Energy in NERC working groups, IEEE technical committees, WECC Model Validation Working Group, WestConnect Planning forums, and other industry task forces focused on dynamic performance, renewable integration, and bulk power system reliability.

Mentorship and Technical Leadership:

• Mentor engineers, interns, and analysts on advanced simulation methodologies, IBR modeling, EMT techniques, and emerging grid technologies.
• Provide technical leadership to internal teams, fostering expertise development in grid dynamics, automation, and planning best practices.
• Lead internal technical workshops and contribute to the development of best-in-class planning documentation and standards.
• Support development of capital budgets, conceptual transmission projects, and economic analyses in joint planning contexts.

Position Summary: Transmission Planning Engineer (Entry Level)
Annual Base Salary $70,000 - $88,666
This is an entry level position designed to develop technical expertise in transmission planning and power systems simulations. The Engineer performs work that involves conventional plans, investigations, studies, or modeling equipment with relatively few complex features and for which there are precedents. Activities are of limited scope requiring knowledge of principles and techniques commonly employed in power systems engineering. Engineer will work under the guidance of more senior engineers, learning the intricacies of planning and modeling tools used for system evaluations and contributing to large system studies that span multiple years into the future. As proficiency is gained, may work on portions of larger projects. Works under supervision and follows established procedures. May supervise or coordinate the work of interns, technicians and/or others and develop scope of work documents under the supervision of higher-level engineers. This role requires a balance of technical acumen and strong communication skills, as the entry-level engineer will need to convey technical concepts clearly and effectively to both technical and non-technical stakeholders. Communication will occur in various formats, including in-person meetings, virtual discussions, and written reports.
Essential Responsibilities:

• Under the direction of higher-level engineer or supervisor: performs model development, modeling reviews, design, and analysis of Xcel Energy assets using PSSE, PSLF, TARA, DSA Tools or similar software
• Develops study documentation and may assist with the development of procedures.
• Development of technical skillsets
• Coordinate the work of interns and technicians.
• Explores or implements new processes to improve the Integrated System Planning department's ability to perform its tasks

Minimum Requirements:

• Bachelor's degree in Electrical Engineering and/or Physics from ABET accredited curriculum (or recognized equivalency).
• 0+ years relevant engineering experience.
• EIT/FE (Engineer in Training/Fundamentals of Engineering) preferred.
• Graduate degree in fields above preferred.
• Course experience in Introduction to Power Systems (or similar course) preferred.
• Internship experience within power industry.

Position Summary: Staff Transmission Planning Engineer
Annual Base Salary $81,800 - $106,266
Working under general direction, demonstrates complete understanding and wide application of power systems engineering technical principles, theories, and concepts. Independently determines and develops approaches to solutions. Receives technical guidance on complex problems; completed work reviewed for adequacy in meeting objectives. May lead small/medium projects or implement critical projects under direction of higher-level engineer or supervisor. May provide work direction to other professionals and/or staff. Represents the organization in providing solutions to difficult technical issues associated with specific projects. Frequent inter-organizational and outside customer contact. Demonstrates a broad knowledge and proficiency of precedents in the power systems modeling and transmission planning, a good knowledge of related specialties, and general knowledge of other related disciplines. May be asked to support company within Regional Transmission Organization (RTO) working groups and/or task forces. This role requires a balance of technical acumen and strong communication skills, as the staff engineer will need to convey technical concepts clearly and effectively to both technical and non-technical stakeholders. Communication will occur in various formats, including in-person meetings, virtual discussions, and written reports.
Essential Responsibilities:

• Scopes and/or performs power system simulations to evaluate reliability. Work is checked by a higher-level engineer or manager
• Develops study documentation and may assist with the development of procedures.
• Supports and maintains compliance with NERC and FERC standards through evidence development.
• Constructs information and data to be exchanged with other Integrated System Planning groups and external entities
• Power systems studies engineer: Coordinates model development activities to ensure all metrics of RTO/RE and internal criteria are met
• Transmission planning engineer: Develops simple scopes of work to guide long-range transmission system plans

Minimum Requirements:

• Bachelor's degree in Engineering and/or Physics from ABET accredited curriculum (or recognized equivalency).
• 2+ years of demonstrated experience.
• Experience with at least one power system transmission analysis tool, such as PSSE, TARA, EMS, ASPEN, CAPE, PROMOD, PLEXOS, PowerWorld, PSCAD or other similar analysis software.
• Demonstrates broad knowledge and proficiency in power systems studies or transmission planning, knowledge of related specialties, and general knowledge of other related disciplines.
• EIT/FE (Engineer in Training/Fundamentals of Engineering) strongly preferred.
• Graduate degree in fields above preferred.

Position Summary: Senior Transmission Planning Engineer
Annual Base Salary $97,000 - $129,266
Applies extensive technical expertise and has full knowledge of other related disciplines. Performs as a staff advisor and consultant in a technical specialty, a type of facility or equipment, or a program function. Carries out complex or innovative assignments requiring the development of new or improved techniques and procedures. Work is expected to result in the development of new/improved techniques and procedures or new/refined equipment, materials, processes, products, and/or scientific methods. Represents the organization as the prime technical contact on contracts and projects and interacts with senior external personnel on significant technical matters often requiring coordination between organizations. Work is performed without appreciable direction and considerable latitude is exercised in determining technical objectives of assignment. Guidance relates largely to overall objectives, critical issues, new concepts and policy matters. Completed work is reviewed from a relatively long- term perspective, for desired results. May assign tasks to and direct engineers, technicians, craft personnel and administrative staff, including coordination and review of work assignments. Responsible for (and may lead) multiple projects of moderate to large size or portions of major projects. This role requires a balance of technical acumen and strong communication skills, as the senior engineer will need to convey technical concepts clearly and effectively to both technical and non-technical stakeholders. Communication will occur in various formats, including in-person meetings, virtual discussions, presentations to leadership, and written reports.
Essential Responsibilities:

• Power systems studies engineer: Leads and performs modeling and analysis activities for steady state and stability simulations
• Transmission planning engineer: Develops scopes for studies to guide long-range transmission system plans and coordinates with other Integrated System Planning departments to ensure assumptions align across subdisciplines
• Effectively communicates the results of studies and department endeavors to a wide range of audiences through written and verbal means
• Improves Integrated System Planning procedures and techniques through largely self-directed work. Resolves difficult technical and business problems
• Implements, without substantial direction, NERC and FERC compliance activities as an SME. Activities are coordinated through the Integrated System Planning department and with external entities
• Assigns tasks to lower-level engineers, interns and technicians. Mentors and provides training materials for less experienced engineers to ensure group development

Minimum Requirements:

• Bachelor's degree in Engineering and/or Physics from ABET accredited curriculum (or recognized equivalency).
• 5+ years with nationally recognized certification, 7+ years without certification.
• Experience with multiple power system transmission analysis tools such as PSSE, TARA, EMS, ASPEN, CAPE, PROM