Power Systems Advisory Engineer

NRTC is a member-driven and technology-focused organization that provides solutions to rural electric and telephone members. They are seeking a Power Systems Advisory Engineer to support utility cooperatives in developing smart grid technology roadmaps and providing practical engineering insight and planning support.

Responsibilities:

• Serve as a trusted engineering advisor to member cooperatives by clarifying objectives, understanding operational constraints, and translating needs into practical engineering approaches and phased roadmaps
• Lead discovery conversations with engineering, operations, and leadership stakeholders to define problems, constraints, decision criteria, and success measures; document findings in clear, action-oriented summaries
• Communicate complex technical concepts in decision-ready language for both technical and non-technical audiences, including executive-level briefings and board-ready materials
• Execute and/or review distribution planning and power system studies, including protection and coordination, arc-flash, fault duty, voltage management and optimization, and power quality assessments, with clear mitigation recommendations
• Develop study scopes, assumptions, and methodologies that reflect cooperative realities and align recommendations with implementable next steps
• Provide distributed generation and interconnection planning support, including screening, system impact evaluations, and mitigation options for generators, batteries, and behind-the-meter resources
• Support the development and improvement of member DG processes by creating repeatable engineering screens, standard work, data requirements, timelines, and templates
• Lead reliability and system modernization planning, including feeder improvement concepts, device strategies (reclosers, sectionalizers, DA devices), and integration considerations for SCADA and field automation
• Partner with member teams to translate reliability goals (e.g., SAIDI/SAIFI) into prioritized, fundable portfolios of projects and operational improvements
• Contribute to wildfire risk mitigation planning by aligning engineering approaches to risk reduction outcomes, coordinating with internal advisory resources and external partners as needed
• Provide owner’s engineer support on select projects, including design and study reviews, validation of assumptions, procurement/specification input, and implementation oversight
• Own end-to-end delivery of assigned projects, including scoping, scheduling, internal coordination, quality assurance, and timely completion of deliverables
• Produce high-quality, defensible technical deliverables such as models, memoranda, reports, and diagrams suitable for reuse and audit
• Support development and refinement of engineering service offerings through standard scopes, estimating tools, reusable templates, and 'starter packages' that improve consistency, utilization, and speed to launch
• Identify opportunities to extend or deepen member engagements and coordinate with advisory teams to support continuity from assessment through planning, engineering, and implementation
• Other duties as assigned

Requirements:

• Strong knowledge of electric distribution system planning, including load forecasting, circuit performance, voltage and reactive power management, capacity constraints, and contingency analysis
• Experience performing and/or reviewing power system studies such as load flow, short circuit, protection and coordination, and reliability or resiliency assessments
• Working knowledge of distributed energy resources (DER) and distributed generation (DG) integration, including interconnection screening, system impact evaluation, mitigation strategies, and hosting capacity–style approaches
• Familiarity with grid modernization and field automation concepts, including distribution automation devices and SCADA considerations
• Proficiency in distribution system modeling and analysis tools and the ability to apply results to real‑world operational and planning decisions
• Ability to structure, document, and defend engineering analysis, including defining assumptions, validating data, and clearly explaining results
• Strong advisory skills, including the ability to lead discovery, diagnose root causes, and translate ambiguous issues into well‑defined engineering problems
• Ability to develop and communicate multiple solution options with clear tradeoffs related to cost, risk, timeline, and operational impact
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to convey complex technical concepts to both technical and non‑technical audiences
• Ability to self‑manage and support multiple member utilities in a shared‑services or remote environment while delivering high‑quality, defensible work products
• Bachelor of Science in Engineering from an ABET‑accredited institution or equivalent combination of technical education and relevant experience required
• Six (6) or more years of experience working with electric utilities; experience with electric cooperatives strongly preferred
• Professional Engineer (PE) license preferred; ability to obtain licensure within six (6) months of employment required if not currently licensed
• Demonstrated proficiency with engineering modeling software and Microsoft Office tools
• Proven experience applying engineering expertise in a client‑facing, advisory, or shared‑services context
• Experience with electric cooperatives strongly preferred
• Professional Engineer (PE) license preferred