Stability and Special Studies Principal Engineer

Job Description

The successful candidate will be part of a team of engineers responsible for planning the bulk transmission systems for Georgia Power Company, Alabama Power Company, and Mississippi Power Company. The team’s primary focus is system stability—including voltage stability, rotor angle stability, frequency stability, resonance stability, and converter-driven stability—and special studies—including switching transients (capacitor bank, transformer, and line energization; breaker transient recovery voltage analysis), insulation coordination, transmission power quality (harmonics, harmonic filter bank design, flicker evaluations, motor starting), unbalanced power flow, load evaluations, post-event root cause analysis, and other specialized technical studies as required. The successful candidate will collaborate with multiple groups including other teams within System Planning, Transmission Control Centers, Research and Development, Operating Company Power Delivery and Generation departments, neighboring transmission systems, etc. The position will also be responsible for presenting study results to senior leadership, management, and internal and external customers for information and support.

This position is best suited for an individual desiring a technical career path responsible for leading and performing power system technical studies in support of various groups within Southern Company. The group provides the ideal environment for power system engineers to pursue advanced academic degrees (e.g., master’s and/or Ph.D.) due to exposure to a wide range of power system subjects, including unique emerging technologies encountered in the modern electric utility industry.

Primary Job Responsibilities

• Provide technical leadership for assigned areas of responsibility.
• Represent Southern Company on applicable industry committees in a technical leadership role, providing guidance and ensuring Southern Companies’ business needs are being met.
• Perform special technical studies requiring advanced power system modeling and techniques.
• Engage and work with industry experts.
• Prepare engineering analyses, studies, guidelines, and technical reports.
• Review, organize, and analyze study results to ensure product accuracy.
• Lead the study of advanced power electronics technologies to improve bulk power system stability.
• Provide specialized expertise in stability and special studies (power quality, transients, etc.) utilizing planning tools and creative solution development.
• Aid in the preparation of policy recommendations to influence, lead, and shape industry initiatives.
• Research regulatory and industry initiatives affecting the BPS.
• Investigate special technical issues impacting the BPS.
• Coordinate with teams in System Planning to develop innovative and cost-effective solutions.
• Participate in internal Southern Company Committees.
• Provide technical training courses for internal customers.
• Participate in and lead (where appropriate) regional and national organizations, such as NERC and SERC working groups and task Forces, EPRI research initiatives, and IEEE Standards Development groups, which are shaping national technical and energy regulatory policies.
• Perform special technical studies, as requested, in support of Southern Company and its Operating Companies.

Education and Professional Association

• Bachelor’s degree in electrical engineering from an ABET accredited institution is required.
• PE License is a plus.
• Advanced degree (master’s and/or PhD) in Electrical Engineering is a plus.
• Publication of technical papers (e.g., IEEE, NERC, CIGRE, etc.) is a plus.

Work Experience

• Electric utility experience is highly desired.
• Knowledge of electrical equipment, protection systems, and power system operation is strongly desired.
• Experience performing Transmission Planning stability and steady-state studies is desired.
• Experience performing power quality, switchgear application, transient voltage phenomena, or other equipment application studies (such as EMT studies) that require advanced power system modeling and techniques is desired.
• Experience developing and presenting material with a NERC or a Regional Entity (SERC, WECC, MRO, NPCC, Texas RE, RF), Industry Committee (IEEE, etc.), Subcommittee, Working Group or Task Force is desired.
• Familiarity with industry standards (e.g., IEEE, CIGRE, etc.) is desired.
• Experience applying protection and control systems, developing protective relay settings, and performing short-circuit analysis that required advanced power system modeling and techniques is desired.
• Experience performing synchronous machine, inverter-based resource (IBR), and power electronics interfaced technology studies that require advanced power system modeling and techniques is desired.
• Experience working with power system models and simulation tools and the capability to independently conduct power system studies and develop reports of key findings with recommendations is desired.
• Strong understanding of NERC Reliability Standards is desired.

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities

A successful candidate will have:

• The ability to independently analyze and resolve technical problems.
• Strong analytical skills and a drive to solve complex engineering problems.
• The ability to tailor technical communications for diverse audiences including workgroups, partners, and customers.
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills for internal and external (e.g., IEEE, NERC, SERC) meetings and presentations as well as development of papers and technical reports.
• The ability to work well in a team environment (both in-person and virtual).
• Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with peers and customers.
• Values teamwork and works effectively in a team environment across multiple business functions.
• A mindset that is self-motivated, results-oriented, and innovative.
• Strong attention to detail and motivation for high quality, accuracy, and timeliness.
• Strong time management and organizational skills required to balance multiple projects simultaneously and adhere to deadlines.
• Ability to prioritize work effectively, exercise sound judgment, and accurately complete multiple tasks with limited oversight.
• Knowledge of electrical theory/electrical characteristics of network transmission systems.
• The skills to continually review technical and industry literature to stay abreast of industry changes, technological advances, and new areas of transmission planning business opportunity.
• Strong customer focus.

About Southern Company

Southern Company (NYSE: SO ) is a leading energy provider serving 9 million customers across the Southeast and beyond through its family of companies. Providing clean, safe, reliable and affordable energy with excellent service is our mission. The company has electric operating companies in three states, natural gas distribution companies in four states, a competitive generation company, a leading distributed energy solutions provider with national capabilities, a fiber optics network and telecommunications services. Through an industry-leading commitment to innovation, resilience and sustainability, we are taking action to meet customers' and communities' needs while advancing our goal of net-zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2050. Our uncompromising values ensure we put the needs of those we serve at the center of everything we do and are the key to our sustained success. We are transforming energy into economic, environmental and social progress for tomorrow. Our corporate culture has been recognized by a variety of organizations, earning the company awards and recognitions that reflect Our Values and dedication to service. To learn more, visit www.southerncompany.com .

Southern Company invests in the well-being of its employees and their families through a comprehensive total rewards strategy that includes competitive base salary, annual incentive awards for eligible employees and health, welfare and retirement benefits designed to support physical, financial, and emotional/social well-being. This position may also be eligible for additional compensation, such as an incentive program, with the amount of any bonus/awards subject to the terms and conditions of the applicable incentive plan(s). A summary of the benefits offered for this position can be found here https://seo.nlx.org/southernco/pdf/SOCO-Benefits.pdf . Additional and specific details about total compensation and benefits will also be provided during the hiring process.

Southern Company is an equal opportunity employer where an applicant's qualifications are considered without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, disability, veteran status, genetic information, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, or any other basis prohibited by law.

Job Identification: 15128

Job Category: Engineering

Job Schedule: Full time

Company: Southern Company Services