Principal Engineer, Planning

The Alberta Electric System Operator (AESO) is responsible for the safe, reliable, and economic planning and operation of the Alberta Interconnected Electric System. We provide open and non-discriminatory access to Alberta’s interconnected power grid and also facilitate Alberta’s competitive wholesale electricity market. The AESO strives to foster an inclusive, diverse and equitable workplace where people feel respected and welcomed for who they are, together we deliver high performance and innovative results.

Job Description

If you are a current AESO employee or contractor, please view openings and apply through our internal site at Workday.

The Principal Engineer in Planning is a senior-level role responsible for offering technical leadership, executing AESO's strategy, improving the organization's technical capacities through engineering talent development and mentorship, and fostering cross-functional collaboration to advance our business with a strong emphasis on both technical expertise and strategic direction. 

In this position, the Principal Engineer, Planning will be responsible for providing strategic thinking, leadership and vision on matters related to system planning for the AESO to continue to meet its long-term planning mandate of ensuring a reliable and affordable transmission system.  You will work closely with the Chief Engineer, other Principal Engineers, people leaders as well as internal and external stakeholders as required on all matters related to long-term planning.

This full-time opportunity offers a competitive salary, and a variable pay program. We also have paid vacation and flex time, health and dental benefits, mental health support, a defined contribution pension plan, and learning and development opportunities as part of your overall compensation package. We support a hybrid work environment, where the team is in the office on Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays. Mondays and Fridays are flexible for where you work best.
You will enjoy working with us if:

• You value flexibility to support life and personal needs. We offer a flexible work practice where some weeks may require more onsite presence during key business or operations events.

• You thrive in a fast-paced and dynamic environment and are looking for an opportunity to embark on transformative industry change.

• You enjoy working in a team of bright professionals and participating in lively debates.

• You appreciate working and learning in a diverse atmosphere - our team and colleagues have varied backgrounds, experiences, and perspectives.

• You embrace change and pivot and adapt with ease.

Signs you will thrive in this role:

• You have aptitude for raising the education and competency of others and are skilled in instructing processes and technical concepts.

• You enjoy shaping and empowering the next generation of technical talent. The Principal Engineer plays a key mentorship role to professional engineers and staff at all levels.

• Strong ability to collaborate with peers and management team to provide technical leadership.

• Comfortable working in a matrix environment and influencing with or without direct authority across the organization.

• Guides resolution of conflict in complex situations and navigates ambiguous situations for high quality outcomes. 

Accountabilities include but are not limited to:

• Accountable for providing strategic thinking and guidance on the AESO's system planning framework, process, and approach.

• Contribute to the developments and updates of the Transmission Regulation and various policy discussions in view of the ongoing grid transformation.

• Lead the development of new cost-benefit framework to determine the need for economic transmission expansion.

• Accountable for the technical and reliability oversight on transmission planning activities for the long term planning horizon of 20 years.

• Engage with near-term operations teams to coordinate reliability considerations.

• Engage with TFOs (Transmission facility owners) and other industry partners to develop relationships to ensure efficient coordination of various long-term planning drivers and considerations.

• Leads the development of the application of new legal & regulatory requirements, interprets and advises of changes to requirements and may represent the AESO in regulatory proceedings (present & defend), which could include deciding regulatory strategy and timing of applications with an awareness of external factors. 

• Identify long-term system risks and develop planning methodologies to mitigate the identified risks.

• Work closely with other internal stakeholders, integrating system planning considerations into other AESO workstreams.

• Accountable for the technical oversight and continuous support on the competitive process transmission projects if any.

• Be the standard owner of all the planning related Alberta Reliability Standards and International Organization of Standardization (ISO) rules. Review the Reliability Standard Audit Worksheets (RSAWs) and evidence prepared by the planning teams and lead the AESO team during Western Electricity Coordinating Council (WECC) audits.

• Participate in industry working groups to advocate for AESO’s view and ensure continued alignment of AESO’s approach with the industry.

• Maintain regular contact with the Distribution Facility Owners (DFOs) regarding coordination of their long term plans with the transmission system plans.

• Maintain a strong understanding of development trends in the industry.

What you’ll bring to us:

• Bachelor’s degree in Electrical Engineering.

• Professional Designation in Engineering (P.Eng.) and active membership with APEGA required.

• Fifteen years or more years of engineering experience in the electric utility industry, with a focus on the areas of transmission planning, power system operations, power system models and analysis, interconnections, regulatory/compliance, and engineering economics.

• Comprehensive understanding of electricity sector regulatory framework in Alberta, AESO Tariff, reliability standards, transmission facilities, and economic concepts.

• Responsible for the all the planning related Alberta Reliability Standards and ISO rules, including the, review the RSAWs and evidence prepared by the planning teams and lead the AESO team during WECC audits.

• Understanding of regulatory framework in other jurisdictions would be considered an asset.

• Proven communication skills in articulating and presenting technical concepts and results in a concise and easy to understand manner to a wide range of internal and external stakeholders.

• Proven experience in building and leading effective engineering teams.

• Proven experience in transmission development Need Application approval process.

• Managing and developing strategic working relationships with business partners and stakeholders.

• Experience with analysis and evaluation skills to apply technical knowledge with strategic thinking.

Application deadline: April 25, 2025
 

If you are contacted for a pre-screening and/or interview, please advise of any accommodation measures required to enable you to fully participate. Information received relating to accommodation measures will be addressed confidentially.

The Alberta Electric System Operator is unable to accept unsolicited agency resumes.

The Alberta Electric System Operator, and its members, officers, employees and agents (collectively, the "AESO") is committed to protecting personal information provided to it. When you submit your personal information to the AESO for the purpose of pursuing employment with the AESO, the collection, use and disclosure of personal information is in accordance with the provisions of the Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act (FOIP Act) of Alberta.

As noted, the AESO is mandated to maintain the safe and reliable operations of the provincial power grid. As part of meeting its obligations, the AESO may require the successful candidate to undergo a criminal background check for the position. This collection of personal information for the purposes of a check will be conducted in accordance with Section 33 of the FOIP Act.