Sr. Engineer, Transmission and Interconnection

ABOUT AVANTUS

Avantus develops, owns, and operates utility-scale clean energy projects across California and the Desert Southwest. Our development pipeline represents one of the nation's largest portfolios of solar with integrated storage, capable of providing dispatchable power to 17 million Americans, day and night. With over a decade of industry leadership and strategic investment from KKR and EIG, Avantus delivers affordable, reliable clean energy solutions that meet America’s growing energy demand.

ABOUT THE POSITION

We are seeking a highly motivated and organized candidate for the Sr. Engineer, Transmission and Interconnection position. The successful candidate will demonstrate sound industry knowledge, superior communications, and detail-oriented organizational skills. This role reports to the SVP of Transmission. 

Avantus’ Transmission & Interconnection team is responsible for providing interconnection strategy of all utility scale solar & storage projects, performing analysis on the transmission system to identify capacity for potential projects, and leading the company through the necessary transmission & interconnection processes of utilities and ISO’s.  Avantus is active in multiple ISO’s and vertically integrated markets across the country, with multiple projects at various stages of development. 

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS AND RESPONSIBILITIES 

• Lead projects through the interconnection process from project inception though Commercial Operation for Avantus’ projects in ISO’s (CAISO, ERCOT, SPP, MISO, PJM, NYISO, NEISO) and vertically integrated markets (WECC).
• Perform power flow, stability, short circuit studies using PSLF, PSS/E, PowerWorld, TARA, UPLAN, ASPEN, PSCAD and other software as needed for project prospecting purposes.
• Evaluate transmission & interconnection tariffs, costs, timelines, queue, and processes for a variety of markets and provide strategy to the project teams.
• Coordinate efforts to meet all interconnection requirements including interconnection applications, interconnection studies, interconnection agreements, and post-IA project execution milestones.
• Negotiate interconnection study results and interconnection agreements with utilities toward favorable project outcomes.
• Lead communication and build relationships with utilities/ISOs and track interconnection progress to ensure projects are complete in a timely and cost-effective manner.
• Identify optimal interconnection locations in target markets based on multiple cross-functional siting criteria and in depth power flow and market basis risk analyses.
• Track changes to interconnection tariffs, business practice manuals, and key transmission upgrades in target markets.
• Collaborate on interconnection milestones with cross-functional team including Development, Origination, Accounting, Finance, Treasury, Legal, Land Acquisition, Land Entitlement, Procurement, HV Engineering, Optimization Engineering, Construction, & Operations. 

REQUIRED SKILLS AND QUALIFICATIONS

• Five (5) years minimum of related experience in interconnection & project development or transmission planning at a utility, ISO/RTO, or project developer.
• Deep understanding of CAISO & WECC utilities tariffs, interconnection processes, transmission service processes, transmission planning processes, and late-stage resource implementation processes.
• Demonstrated ability to work autonomously at a dynamic pace, find creative solutions, track major milestones, and prioritize several projects simultaneously.
• Ability to provide verbal and written summaries of interconnection processes, results, milestones, and statuses for both a technical and non-technical audience.
• Ability to read and negotiate long legal contracts (Interconnection Agreements, Power Purchase Agreements, Independent Engineer Reports, Financing Documents).
• Experience developing lasting relationships with utilities, consulting firms, ISO/RTOs, and regulators.
• Required: Strong capability in Microsoft Excel, PowerPoint, Word, Adobe Acrobat, & Google Earth.
• Preferred: Ability to use OASIS/OATI, GE PSLF, PSSE, UPAN, PSCAD, ASPEN, PowerWorld, and/or AutoCAD.
• Preferred: Bachelor’s and/or Master’s degree in Electric Power Systems Engineering and/or MBA
• Fluent in PSLF, PSSE, TARA, UPLAN (or PROMOD), PSCAD, ASPEN - requirements to Perform studies
• Can learn UPLAN if they know PROMOD (others are standard, power system eng will know these). 
• ISOs are negotiable 

NICE TO HAVE: 

• TARA can be learned 

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