GridSME's Vision

GridSME empowers the world's energy future by hiring the industry's best SMEs to solve the grid's most complex problems. Our company provides the environment for the industry's experts to grow their careers and provide valuable services to our clients. In doing so, we help our clients successfully adapt to the grid's evolution. We want to be the platform where our people can find the intersection between what they are passionate about, what they are good at, and what adds value to our clients and our company. We intend for you to participate and contribute to this core objective of the company.

Power Systems Engineer

We measure GridSME's success by the caliber of people on our team, the quality of work they produce, and the growth of our fan base over time. Our company fosters initiative, open and candid communication, ownership, and teamwork – all necessary for our team to achieve its objectives. You will be expected to drive teamwork and collaboration with the entire GridSME team. This position reports to Taylor McClain, Director of Engineering, but has responsibilities to all GridSME team members, managers, Directors, Practice Leads, and CEOs. GridSME is a growing company, and you may be asked to assist with other projects in addition to your regular job responsibilities.

JOB RESPONSIBILITIES

Engineering Consulting Work
- Assist developers in making Interconnection Requests
- Develop technical details in support of Interconnection Requests
- Develop preliminary Single-Line Diagrams for developer’s projects
- Lead the auxiliary services necessary to effectively develop client Interconnection Requests that include:
  - Regional power flow and dynamic base cases
  - Intuitive understanding of general Interconnection Processes and ability to research specifics
  - Ability to interpret Single-Line Diagrams and Vendor Data to develop system models
  - Research tariffs, business practice manuals, and other utility, system operator, and regulatory guidance documents
- Use tools such as Aspen OneLiner and AutoCAD for electrical system drafting and design of transmission, generation, and distribution projects.
- Lead our consulting teams with client work related to all aspects of our Engineering, Reliability & Compliance, and Technical Services Practice Areas
- Perform PSCAD EMT Model development and transient studies for projects in the renewable energy sector
- Use power flow tools (e.g., DSA Tools, PSLF, PSS/E, PSCAD) to support consulting projects related to generator model validation, large and small-scale generation projects, reliability assessments, etc.
- Manage and lead client projects, communicate with clients and internal team members, and coordinate activities
- Participate in industry training and working groups (IRPTF, WECC Modeling Working group, IRPGW, WTUI, etc.), preferred.
- Experience performing technical engineering analysis to assess and demonstrate our clients’ compliance with certain NERC Reliability Standards (e.g., FAC-008, MOD-025/026/027, PRC-005, PRC-019, PRC-024, PRC-025), preferred.
- Experience with Generator Model Validation activities for NERC compliance (i.e., MOD-025, MOD-026, and MOD-027) and system operator data submittal requirements (e.g., CAISO TPP, ERCOT, preferred.
Overall Teamwork:
- Demonstrate flexibility in learning and growing into all of our current and future services (e.g., generator model validation, NERC compliance, grid technology, energy storage, solar, wind, and inverter-based resource challenges, etc.)
- Help us build and improve GridSME's culture by living out our Guiding Principles
- Demonstrate flexibility in learning and growing into any of our current and future services depending on client and team needs
- Work and collaborate with the entire GridSME team. We focus on each other's success
- Recruit and develop resources that can provide value to our clients
- Manage projects, engagements, and work with the entire GridSME team. We focus on each other’s success
Challenge the Status Quo:
- Continuously work on areas of the company in need of focus and improvement
- Assist the Leadership Team with our strategic direction and always offer input and feedback

DESIRED TECHNICAL SKILLS

Experience with Transmission Planning and Generator Interconnection studies as well as regional regulatory knowledge of generation interconnection processes and procedures of ISOs/RTOs and utilities across the United States
Experience with generation interconnection studies for renewable generation resources and energy storage projects.
Experience performing simulations and studies supporting long-term transmission planning for reliability and resource adequacy, including contingency analysis (steady state and transient stability), power flow modeling, deliverability and capacity assessments, and NERC/Regional Entity compliance reporting.
Experience conducting and analyzing transmission planning alternatives studies.
Ability to develop process controls and quality assurance tools to ensure study accuracy.
Adept at analyzing and assessing the transmission system in response to requests for long-term transmission service or the interconnection of a new generator or load.
Well-developed skills performing quantitative analysis, running load flow studies, and fatal flaw analysis using PSSE, PSLF, and similar power flow analysis tools.
Ability to develop electrical system single-line diagrams, 3-line diagrams, and site layouts.
Possess a basic understanding of protection systems, telemetry, and metering.
Experience developing studies, tools, controls, and processes to meet NERC and Regional Entity Reliability Standards.
Programming skills in C++, Python, or VBA programming languages is a plus.

DESIRED BUSINESS SKILLS

Strong project management, time management, and problem-solving skills.
A penchant to identify and remediate inefficiencies in processes.
Critical thinking and resource prioritization to provide our clients the most value.
Ability to adapt to a changing environment and make timely decisions.
Ability to work and communicate with technical and non-technical clients.
Work collaboratively within a team environment.
Excellent written and oral communication skills.

DESIRED EDUCATION/CERTIFICATIONS

Bachelor’s Degree or higher in Electrical Engineering, Power Systems, or similar.
1+ years of experience in a Power Systems Engineer role or Field Technician Role.
Ability to obtain Engineering-in-training or licensed Professional Engineer (PE), multi-state a plus.

Benefits & Compensation

COMPENSATION

The base salary range for this position is $90,000 to $120,000 per year, depending on qualifications and experience.

PAYROLL SCHEDULE

Pay is on the 7th (for the 16th to the end of the month) and the 22nd (for the 1st to the 15th) of each month. In addition to recurring payroll, a third monthly paycheck is earned via our Monthly Profit-Sharing Bonus Plan at the end of each month.

GRIDSME PROFIT SHARING BONUS PLAN

In this position, your base salary will be augmented by GridSME’s Profit-Sharing Bonus Program, which is a Monthly Cash Profit-Sharing Bonus (the “third monthly owners’ dividend check”). As a full-time employee, you will fully participate in GridSME's Profit-Sharing Bonus Plan after a 90-day waiting period for new hires. Our Profit-Sharing Plan is our incentive compensation system. For more information, see Appendix 1_GridSME Profit-Sharing Bonus Plan and the Evolution and Hidden Virtues document, which explains the history and principles built into our Profit-Sharing Plan.

401K PLAN AND COMPANY MATCH

GridSME offers a 401(k) retirement savings program. GridSME will match all employee 401(k) contributions up to 6% of your gross cash compensation (salary and bonuses). Employee and employer contributions begin on the first calendar day of the employee's second calendar month of service. Employer 401(k) match contributions vest immediately. For example, if the employee starts on June 15th, the employee will be eligible to participate in the 401k program and receive a company match effective the payroll period beginning August 1st.

HEALTH, DENTAL, VISION, AND LIFE INSURANCE BENEFITS

GridSME offers a group medical, dental, vision, and life insurance plan that you and your family are eligible to join. GridSME will pay 75% of the cost of the base medical and dental plan premiums and 100% of the base vision plan premium for you and your family. GridSME will only pay its share of the premiums for the healthcare plan that GridSME provides as the designated base plan for your area. You are eligible for health benefits on the first day of the first calendar month after your start date. GridSME has a tenure-based contribution scale that increases by 5% each full year of service, as of January 1st of the benefits calendar year, up to 95% of the base medical and dental plan premiums being paid by GridSME. For example, if you start on June 15th, your health benefits will begin on July 1st. Also, if you start on June 15th, 2024, your employer contribution will increase to 80% of the base medical and dental plan on January 1, 2026.

GridSME also offers a $100,000 Supplemental Life Insurance policy for all full-time employees with premiums covered 100% by GridSME.

GridSME also offers employees the opportunity to participate in a Flexible Spending Account (FSA) and a Dependent Care Flexible Spending Account as part of our employee benefits package. In addition, if you are on a high-deductible plan, which is our base medical insurance plan, you will also have the opportunity to participate in a Health Savings Account (HSA). FSA and HSA plans allow employees to set aside money pre-tax to pay for certain healthcare and dependent daycare expenses.

PAID TIME OFF

This position accrues two (2) weeks (80 hrs) of vacation per calendar year. This increases to three (3) weeks (120 hrs) on your three-year anniversary date and four (4) weeks (160 hrs) on your five-year anniversary date. In addition to vacation, this position accrues an additional five (5) days (40hrs) of Sick Pay per year, with the ability to roll and bank up to ten (10) days (80 hrs) total.

ANNUAL HOLIDAYS

GridSME observes the following holidays for a total of 12 paid holidays:

New Year's Day
Martin Luther King, Jr.'s Birthday
President's Day
Memorial Day
Independence Day
Juneteenth
Labor Day
Columbus Day / Indigenous Peoples' Day
Veterans Day
Thanksgiving Day
Day after Thanksgiving
Christmas Day
…plus, your birthday is always a day off – whether on a weekday, holiday, or weekend, you should not have to work on your birthday (your birthday off cannot be rolled or banked)

FLEXIBLE WORK LOCATION

This is a hybrid role with a flexible work location. You are welcome to work from your home office or GridSME’s Folsom office, depending on your needs and preference. Periodic travel may be requested for client site visits, internal/external meetings at our Folsom office or other locations, trainings, industry events, and other business functions.

FLEXIBLE WORK SCHEDULE

This position has the flexibility to work a standard schedule or an alternative 9/80 schedule. A 9/80 work schedule is a compressed work schedule consisting of eight 9-hour days, one 8-hour day, and one day off each two-week period. This alternative schedule gives our employees an additional 26 days off a year built into their schedule to help them unplug and maintain their work/life balance. Simply put, an employee can have every other Friday off on a 9/80 schedule.

EVALUATION PERIOD

The first ninety (90) days of your employment will be treated as an evaluation period when we assess your performance and fit with our culture. At the end of this 90-day evaluation period, we will hold a performance review session to discuss your performance against the job requirements and expectations. If your performance does not meet those requirements and expectations, we reserve the right to end your employment.