NES Fircroft · 1 week ago
Distribution Planning Engineer
United States
Full-time
Hybrid
Mid Level
$110K/yr - $140K/yr
3+ years expNES Fircroft is seeking an Electrical Engineer with proven distribution planning experience to support utility and large-scale grid modernization programs. The role involves performing system studies, developing capacity and reliability plans, and modeling distribution networks to ensure safe, reliable, and cost-effective operations.
RecruitingStaffing Agency
Hiring Manager
Parker Angel
Responsibilities
Planning Studies & Modeling
Build and maintain feeder and network models in CYME (load flow, voltage profile, contingency analysis, short-circuit)
Conduct capacity, reliability, voltage, and protection coordination assessments; recommend reinforcement, reconductoring, and switching solutions
Perform hosting capacity and DER interconnection studies (PV, BESS, EV charging), including anti-islanding and voltage regulation impacts
Execute load forecasting at feeder/segment level; analyze seasonal peaks, growth drivers, and coincident demand
Grid Modernization & Planning
Evaluate impacts of ADMS/OMS/AMI/SCADA data on planning assumptions and switching schemes
Support capital planning, long-range plans, and investment prioritization using risk and cost-benefit methods
Develop contingency plans and sectionalizing strategies to improve SAIDI/SAIFI and resilience
Standards, Compliance & Documentation
Apply NESC, relevant IEEE standards, utility design guides, and protection philosophies in planning outputs
Author clear study reports, one-line/feeder schematics, and stakeholder-ready presentations
Contribute to process improvements, data quality checks, and model governance
Cross-Functional Collaboration
Partner with operations, protection, distributed energy resources (DER), and GIS teams to validate models and implement solutions
Provide technical support during onboarding and training; coach junior engineers when needed
Qualification
Required
B.S. in Electrical Engineering (Power Systems emphasis preferred)
3–4+ years of experience in electric distribution planning with utilities or consulting firms
Hands-on proficiency with CYME (feeder modeling, load flow, fault analysis, voltage regulation, capacitor/VR settings)
Working knowledge of distribution protection, switching, reclosers, regulators, capacitor banks, and customer load characteristics
Familiarity with DER impacts (PV/BESS/EV), hosting capacity, and interconnection processes
Strong data analysis skills; proficiency in Excel; ability to interpret AMI/SCADA data
Excellent written/verbal communication; ability to produce clear technical reports and actionable recommendations
Authorized to work in the U.S
Preferred
EIT or P.E. (or progress toward licensure)
Experience with GIS (Esri/ArcGIS) integration, ADMS/OMS, and utility data systems
Scripting for workflow automation (Python, VBA, or SQL) is a plus
Experience with reliability analytics (SAIDI/SAIFI), resilience planning, and storm hardening
Exposure to other tools (e.g., PSSE, OpenDSS, Synergi) beneficial
Benefits
Comprehensive healthcare benefits including HSA and FSA options and 80% employee covered healthcare premiums.
3-4 weeks of PTO dependent on experience.
401k match
Company
NES Fircroft
NES Fircroft is one of the world’s largest technical and engineering recruitment specialist, offering jobs in Oil & Gas, Energy and Power.
1001-5000 employees
Funding
Current Stage
Late StageLeadership Team
Johnathan Johnson
Executive Director NES Fircroft
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