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Power System Planning Engineer Jobs in Virginia (NOW HIRING)

Senior Mission Planning Engineer - TeraWave

Reston, VA

$108K - $149K/yr

  • Medical

  • Dental

  • Vision

  • Life

  • Retirement

  • PTO

You are the critical bridge spanning the full mission planning chain - from system-level ... Strong understanding of spacecraft subsystems and how they constrain operational planning (power ...

Power Systems Engineer

Reston, VA · On-site

  • Medical

  • Dental

  • Vision

  • Life

  • Retirement

  • PTO

Oversee system development across electrical, power, energy, and control systems to optimize design ... Refine engineering processes to eliminate waste while preserving and scaling successful practices.

New

Showing results 21-40

Power System Planning Engineer information

Are power system planning engineers in high demand?

Power system planning engineers are in high demand due to the growing need for reliable and efficient electrical grids, especially with the integration of renewable energy sources. The role often requires knowledge of grid modeling, load forecasting, and power system analysis, and employment opportunities are expected to grow as the energy sector expands and modernizes.

What is the difference between Power System Planning Engineer vs Power System Operations Engineer?

AspectPower System Planning EngineerPower System Operations Engineer
CredentialsBachelor's or Master's in Electrical Engineering, relevant certificationsBachelor's in Electrical Engineering, operational certifications
Work EnvironmentDesigning and analyzing future power system expansions, planning grid reliabilityMonitoring and controlling current power system operations, real-time decision making
Industry UsageUtility companies, energy consultancies, grid operatorsUtility companies, grid control centers, energy providers

Power System Planning Engineers focus on designing and planning future power grid infrastructure, while Power System Operations Engineers manage real-time system performance. Both roles require electrical engineering expertise but differ in their daily tasks and objectives.

What are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive as a power system planning engineer?

To thrive as a Power System Planning Engineer, you need a solid background in electrical engineering, power systems analysis, and typically a bachelor's or master's degree in electrical engineering. Familiarity with specialized software such as PSS®E, ETAP, or PowerWorld, as well as knowledge of relevant industry standards and regulatory requirements, is essential. Strong analytical thinking, problem-solving abilities, and effective communication skills help you collaborate with stakeholders and present technical findings clearly. These skills are crucial for ensuring reliable, efficient, and future-ready electrical grids that meet growing energy demands.

What is a power system planning engineer?

Power System Planning Engineers are professionals who design, analyze, and plan the development of electrical power systems. Their work ensures that power generation, transmission, and distribution networks can meet current and future energy demands reliably and efficiently. They use specialized software and modeling techniques to assess system capabilities, forecast growth, and recommend upgrades or new infrastructure. These engineers also consider factors like renewable integration, regulatory standards, reliability, and cost-effectiveness in their planning process.

What are some common challenges faced by power system planning engineers when integrating renewable energy sources into the grid?

Power System Planning Engineers often encounter challenges such as maintaining grid stability, managing variability in power generation, and ensuring adequate transmission capacity when integrating renewable energy sources. Balancing supply and demand becomes more complex due to the intermittent nature of renewables like wind and solar. Additionally, engineers must coordinate with multiple stakeholders—including utility companies, regulatory bodies, and equipment manufacturers—to develop solutions that meet technical, economic, and regulatory requirements.

What job categories do people searching Power System Planning Engineer jobs in Virginia look for?

The top searched job categories for Power System Planning Engineer jobs in Virginia are:

What cities in Virginia are hiring for Power System Planning Engineer jobs?

Cities in Virginia with the most Power System Planning Engineer job openings:

Lead Electrical Power Engineer

Mpr Associates, Inc.

Alexandria, VA • On-site

$171K - $178K/yr

Full-time

Re-posted 10 days ago


Job description

Overview

MPR is a multi-discipline, specialty engineering and consulting firm founded in 1964 and headquartered in Alexandria, Virginia. MPR makes challenging projects successful, delivering safe and reliable technical solutions across the entire project or product life-cycle to benefit our clients and society as a whole. MPR provides high quality services to the Power (including Nuclear), Federal, Health & Life Science, and Consumer Products industries.

MPR is a group of highly skilled and motivated people who value interesting, challenging technical work and have a desire for continuous learning. MPR's value is our people, and we continue to grow by hiring new individuals with an interest in expanding their technical, leadership, and business capabilities.

General Job Description

MPR is seeking Lead Electrical Power Engineers for full-time positions at our Alexandria, Virginia, East Lyme, Connecticut, and Burlington, Massachusetts offices. MPR engineers bring their energy, passion, and natural curiosity to help solve unique and challenging problems for clients spanning the utility, commercial power, and federal services industries.  Successful candidates will contribute to and lead projects involving all manner of design, analysis, specification, test, modification, and failure investigation of power systems and equipment.  MPR engineers engage on a variety of projects associated with a diverse set of industries to include distributed energy resources, renewable energy sources, commercial nuclear, new nuclear (fusion / fission), grid modernization, transmission and distribution facilities, transmission system substations, and petrochemical and steel facilities.

MPR is an adaptive technical organization that identifies and responds to our clients' needs while helping them frame their problems into workable technical and managerial solutions. For over 50 years, MPR has been the organization to which our clients turn for specialty engineering solutions developed with integrity and technical excellence. MPR values the leadership, loyalty, integrity, and commitment to excellence developed during military service.

Duties/Responsibilities
  • Planning and leading electrical power system analysis and design efforts, including coaching and mentoring other engineers through execution of the work.
  • Engagement with our clients including engineering, management, maintenance, and quality team members.
  • AC and DC electrical power system studies, including load flow, short circuit, protective device coordination, and transient stability studies.
  • AC and DC electric power system alternatives evaluations and root cause failure investigations for all manner of power system components.
  • Evaluations and calculations for demonstrating compliance with applicable NERC, ISO, and NRC regulations.
  • Design, procurement, testing and installation of excitation systems and voltage regulation systems for synchronous machines, including:
    • Specifying equipment performance requirements and evaluating equipment capabilities against those performance requirements.
    • Consideration of all applicable design constraints including electrical performance requirements, mechanical fitup, interface with existing controls, and environmental factors.
    • Oversight of equipment procurement and design verification testing.
    • Development of equipment design submittals including drawings, qualification reports, technical manuals, and design review evaluations.
    • Oversight of equipment installation and commissioning.
Qualifications

Education

  • Bachelor of Science, Electrical Engineering (BSEE) or Master of Science, Electrical Engineering (MSEE) degree from an ABET-accredited university.

Technical Skills and Experience

  • At least 5 years work experience in the field of electrical power systems.
  • Strong analytical skills with a fundamental understanding of the underlying first principles of engineering including, but not limited to, the physics of electricity, magnetism, and three-phase power.
  • Familiarity with, or the ability to quickly become familiar with, industrial design standards, codes and regulations including but not limited to IEEE standards and NERC regulations.
  • Experience using electrical analysis tools to develop solutions for electrical power system problems. The analysis tools used by MPR vary depending upon the needs of our clients. Example tools include MATLAB, ETAP, EMTPRV, PSCAD, and ANSYS.
  • Experience specifying, designing, and developing design verification test programs.
  • Able to work closely with engineers of all backgrounds and experience to deliver comprehensive solutions to multi-disciplinary problems.
  • Desire and capacity to work in a dynamic engineering environment, often working several technically-diverse projects simultaneously.
  • Operational Naval Nuclear Power experience is considered a plus.

Skills - Personal

  • Excellent verbal and written communication skills with the ability to communicate effectively with clients and senior management.
  • Willingness and capability to lead and motivate project teams, encourage teamwork, manage change, and make timely, effective decisions.
  • Motivation and desire to tackle new problems, take on new responsibilities, and work diverse projects in new areas.
  • Good time management and organization skills.
  • MPR's culture and heritage is firmly rooted in engineering excellence. Successful candidates must have a passion for solving problems and engaging with clients.

Travel

As required by project assignments, estimated 10% - 20%.

MPR Associates, Inc. is an equal opportunity and affirmative action employer, who participates in E-Verify. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, national origin, sex, religion, age, disability, veteran's status, sexual orientation, gender identity, genetic information or any other classification as required by applicable law.

Employment Type: OTHER