Power Systems Advisory Engineer

NRTC is a member-driven and technology-focused company providing solutions for rural utilities. The Power Systems Advisory Engineer will support electric cooperatives by offering engineering insight, planning support, and implementation guidance to develop smart grid technology roadmaps and enhance operational efficiencies.

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
• Demonstrated proficiency with engineering modeling software and Microsoft Office tools
• Proven experience applying engineering expertise in a client‑facing, advisory, or shared‑services context
• Professional Engineer (PE) license preferred; ability to obtain licensure within six (6) months of employment required if not currently licensed