Distribution Strategy Engineer II, Senior, or Lead

Job Specifications

Black Hills Energy is people powered and purpose driven. Our team uses the power of energy to improve life for over one million customers in 800+ communities across the West and Midwest. We seek talented, caring people who embody our core values and contribute to a culture of inclusion and growth. As an organization, we believe the best part of working on our team is our commitment to making tomorrow better than today—for our customers, communities and each other.

This position will be responsible for short- and long-range planning studies; updating, validating, correcting, and developing distribution planning models; and supporting the electric operations teams with engineering field support, design layouts of new load additions, reviewing power quality concerns, and analysis of Distributed Energy Resources (DER) interconnections when needed.

Level II: $86,
Senior: $97,
Lead: $105,

Manager, Distribution Strategy

Cheyenne, Wyoming

Relocation assistance is available based on individual circumstances! Details to be shared during the offer process.

• Support reliability, operations, and future planning of our electric distribution systems (systems less than 25 kV). Investigating and analyzing system reliability performance data to report out to the organization.
• Evaluate, analyze, coordinate, and implement short- and long-term planning for reliability and capacity expansion (proposing system improvements), as well as Smart Grid and renewable applications on the distribution system. Develop supporting reports and present findings to leadership with corrective action plans to address deficiencies found within the studies completed.
• Providing operational support for voltage issues, transformer overloads with root-cause investigation, in addition to supporting outage coordination and safety procedures.
• Provide engineering responses for Operations support/questions and provide reasoning for the direction provided.
• Performing circuit analysis reviews for loading, phase balancing, voltage concerns, reactive power, fault current, protection coordination, and contingency planning using Synergi Electric modeling software.
• Coordinating line protection devices including reclosers, line fuses, and interrupter switches, while working with the System Protection Engineer to recommend distribution feeder breaker settings.
• Supporting staff with Distributed Energy Resources (DER) analyses and proposals.
• Apply standard engineering practices and techniques, utilizing prescribed methods in carrying out a sequence of engineering tasks. As needed, apply best practices for engineering related questions.

• Ensure compliance with federal, state, NERC and FERC regulations.
• Provide after-hours support to other BHE departments during outages and emergencies as needed.
• Other duties as assigned.

• Bachelor's degree in Engineering required.
• Minimum of 1 year of experience related to electrical distribution planning and/or electrical operations support and familiarity related to distribution planning software (Synergi Electric, CYME, Wind Mil, ASPEN) required as well.

• Bachelor's degree in Engineering required.
• Minimum 4 years of experience related to electrical distribution planning and/or electrical operations support and experience related to distribution planning software (Synergi Electric, CYME, Wind Mil, ASPEN) required as well.

• Bachelor's Degree in Engineering required.
• Minimum 7 years of experience related to electrical distribution planning and/or electrical operations support.
• Minimum (3) three years of experience related to distribution planning software (Synergi Electric, CYME, Wind Mil, ASPEN) required as well.

• Good understanding of the tools and how to perform various types of analysis studies in a distribution planning software (Synergi Electric, CYME, Wind Mil, ASPEN) platform.
• Detail-oriented with a focus on documentation and organization. Ability to prioritize workflow, establish schedule and monitor accomplishments with some Manager input.
• Ability to understand questions/needs being presented from Operations, develop an engineering response, and respond in a timely manner with some Manager input/review.
• Strong verbal and written communication skills with the ability to effectively communicate with staff at all levels within the organization. Be able to convey technical information to non-technical personnel.
• Some working knowledge of the utility electrical system design philosophy, types of electrical equipment, equipment operation, electrical circuits, drawings, and engineering analysis.
• Ability to read/understand electrical one-lines, control drawings and schematics, and apply fundamental concepts, practices, and procedures of electrical engineering with Manager oversight.
• Ability to maintain proficiency with programming, using, and automation of new…