EPCOR Careers

Highlights of the job

We are hiring a full time permanent Engineer, Grid Transformation position working out of Edmonton, AB.

In this position, you will be part of a small, dedicated Grid Transformation team in EPCOR’s Electricity Operations that is tasked with guiding and supporting greater electrification and de-carbonization of energy in our community while minimizing costs and maintaining reliability.

You will be responsible for helping to build, integrate, communicate and support the execution of our grid transformation strategy. This will include delivering technical and strategic assignments, acting as a technical and project management lead for projects, developing standards and scope for areas of execution, interfacing with vendors, conducting research, acting as a liaison to other technical groups in Electricity Operations, participating in cross functional working groups and contributing to the development of plans, business cases and regulatory submissions that support EPCOR’s grid transformation program.

This position may be eligible for EPCOR’s hybrid work program.

What you’d be responsible for

• Providing input to department plans and directions and implementing stratum appropriate deliverables within the context of the Grid Transformation business plan.
• Recommending Grid Transformation technology strategy and research activities and supporting their implementation.
• Coordinating and supporting the development and implementation of engineering studies, analysis of results, marketing, regulatory submissions, business cases, funding applications and other documents for grid transformation activities, as well as business, regulatory and operational strategies.
• Creating and delivering presentations, and representing EPCOR in public settings to help drive EPCOR’s grid transformation agenda.
• Identifying issues impacting operational performance and supporting initiatives for continuous improvement to ensure productivity, quality, reliability and safety.
• Providing technical level input to identify and evaluate technologies for non-wire opportunities, DER integration, demand-side technologies or other grid modernization technology platforms.
• Increasing the awareness of grid evolution, modernization and grid technology across EPCOR through written articles, presentations or other activities.
• Participating in cross-functional teams to ensure adequate understanding of system engineering or grid technology needs, such as data requirements, procedures and/or cross-functional processes.
• Liaising with other teams within EPCOR to organize and lead cross functional working groups related to grid technology.
• Developing and maintaining productive working relationships with internal and external groups.
• Mentoring and directing the work of junior engineering staff as assigned by management.

What’s required to be successful

• B.Sc. in Engineering (e.g. Electrical, Civil, Mechanical, Chemical).
• A Professional Engineer (P.Eng.) in good standing and registered with APEGA.
• 5+ years of progressively responsible experience in electric utility or energy engineering or operations, preferably in multiple technical domains.
• Understanding of DERs (DG, EV, Energy Storage) and DERMs systems, including telecommunication systems.
• Established skills in economic modelling, business case development or alternatives analysis.
• Experience with Distribution Design, Planning, Construction, Protection & Control, Power System Modelling, System Control Operations or Customer Connections background related to power systems.
• Experience with and ability to perform analysis, research and project development and management.
• Knowledge of the following Alberta laws:
  • Public Utilities Act
  • Electric Utilities Act
  • Hydro and Electric Energy Act
  • Water, Gas and Electric Companies Act.
• Knowledge of the following Alberta regulations:
  • Micro-Generation Regulation
  • Municipal Own-Use Generation Regulation
  • Small Scale Generation Regulation
• Awareness of the following Alberta Utility Commission rules:
  • Rule 007: Applications for Power Plants, Substations, Transmission Lines, Industrial System Designations, Hydro Developments and Gas Utility Pipeline
  • Rule 024: Rules Respecting Micro-Generation
• Awareness of the following codes and guidelines:
  • Canadian Electrical Code (CEC), Part 1: Safety Standard for Electrical Installations
  • CEC, Part 3, No. 1: Overhead Systems
  • CEC, Part 3, No. 7: Underground Systems
  • CEC, Part 3, No. 9: Interconnection of Distributed Resources and Electricity Supply Systems
  • Alberta Electrical Utility Code
  • EPCOR Customer Connection Guide
  • City of Edmonton Design and Construction Standards Volume 7 – Underground Power Distribution Systems
  • Technical Requirements for the Interconnection and Interoperability of Distributed Energy Resources on EPCOR’s Electric Distribution System
• Experience with the Alberta Energy Market or an aptitude for understanding the working of the market.
• Knowledge or experience in assisting with AUC regulatory filings, economic modelling, finance or other ROI modelling.
• Sound knowledge of electric transmission and distribution power systems, methods, and engineering
• Ability for strategic planning capabilities to support DER research and integration, while maintaining a focus on the safe the reliability delivery of power.
• Ability to support initiatives, working independently or collaboratively and applying good judgement with limited data.
• Creative problem solving coupled with an ability to manage a wide variety of issues simultaneously.
• Strong analytical and problem solving skills to meet commitments.
• Strong ability to support and provide guidance to other team members, as well as adapt to different styles of communication.
• Effective communication skills, including writing for and occasionally publicly speaking to a wide variety of technically diverse audiences on highly technical engineering topics.

As the ideal candidate, you have a passion for learning across different domains and topics and can appreciate the challenges and benefits of widespread adoption of distributed energy resources, such as solar generation, electric vehicle charging, battery storage and other emerging technologies within an electricity distribution and transmission system context. You can navigate ambiguity and are a very strong verbal and written communicator capable of contributing to collaborative and innovating problem solving, and have demonstrated success working cross functionally. You are comfortable delivering presentations, tailoring the level of detail and messaging for each audience.

Other important facts about this job

Jurisdiction: Professional

Hours of work: 80 hours biweekly

Application deadline: July 28, 2024

EPCOR employees: please ensure that you are using your “@epcor.com” email address.

This position may be eligible for a $1,500 employee referral reward! Ensure you enter “Referral” as the source when you are applying.

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Please note the following information:

• A requirement of working for EPCOR is that you are at least 18 years of age, successfully attained a high school diploma (GED, or equivalent level of secondary education) and legally entitled to work in Canada. (A copy of a valid work permit may be required.)
• If you are considered for the position, clearance on all applicable background checks (which may include criminal, identity, educational, and/or credit) and professional reference checks is required. Some EPCOR positions require an enhanced level of background assessment, which is dictated by law. These positions require advanced criminal record checks that must also be conducted from time to time after commencement of employment.
• A technical/practical assessment may be administered during the selection process and this exercise will be used as a part of the selection criterion.
• To meet the physical demands required of some positions, candidates must be in good physical condition and willing to work in all weather conditions. Clearance on pre-placement medical and drug and alcohol testing may be required.