At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead innovative power systems projects and help shape the future of renewable energy.
- Company: Join AECOM, a global leader in infrastructure consulting with a mission to deliver a better world.
- Benefits: Enjoy flexible work options, competitive pay, and a strong focus on your professional growth.
- Other info: Work in a supportive environment that values diversity, equity, and inclusion.
- Why this job: Be part of a dynamic team driving the energy transformation and making a real impact.
- Qualifications: Bachelor’s in Electrical Engineering and experience in power systems and grid compliance.
The predicted salary is between 82800 - 101200 $ per year.
At AECOM, we're delivering a better world. Whether improving your commute, keeping the lights on, providing access to clean water, or transforming skylines, our work helps people and communities thrive. We are the world's trusted infrastructure consulting firm, partnering with clients to solve the world’s most complex challenges and build legacies for future generations.
Our Resources, Industrial, Advisory and Program Management (RIPA) team have a new opportunity for a Principal Power Systems Engineer to join our team. As part of a dynamic team, you will primarily focus on developing and delivering grid connection projects and support the broader resources and industrial business. Our highly experienced team of specialists are actively involved across both development and construction phases of the projects (grid connected and off-grid) in the renewable energy sector, oil & gas and mining industries.
The Role:
- Lead power-system analysis and technical advisory for islanded mining networks and standalone power systems (SAPS), helping clients connect new generation and loads, maintain system security, and integrate renewables and storage without compromising operational reliability.
- The role spans two distinct regional systems: the North West Power System (NWPS), centered on Mount Isa, Queensland, and the North West Interconnected System (NWIS) in Western Australia's Pilbara.
- Experience and familiarity with either network is required; however, experience across both while preferred is not a prerequisite.
Key responsibilities:
- Lead steady-state and dynamic studies for islanded and weak power systems, including load flow, fault levels, protection coordination, voltage and reactive power, frequency response, transient stability, and contingency assessment.
- Ability to develop methodologies and scenarios to assess power systems in a variety of applications and frameworks both client-driven (for SAPS in particular) and to NSP and regional operator requirements for islanded networks (NWIS / NWPS).
- Ability to assess the integration of diesel and gas generation, solar PV, wind, battery energy storage, grid-forming and grid-following inverters, and large mining or industrial loads.
- Develop and review operating envelopes, generation and storage dispatch assumptions, reserve requirements, load-shedding schemes, and system restoration strategies.
- Prepare technical assessments for new connections, network augmentations, plant modifications and decarbonisation projects, translating study findings into practical design and operating requirements.
- Develop, validate and maintain power-system models; review model quality, assumptions and limitations; and provide clear, auditable study reports and recommendations.
- Engage with asset owners, network service providers, generators, operators and regional system coordination bodies to resolve technical issues and progress approvals.
- Lead technical workstreams, manage quality and delivery, mentor engineers, and contribute to proposals and client relationships.
Qualifications:
- Bachelor’s Degree in Electrical Engineering with a major in power systems and ideally have proven experience over 5 years (Senior) or 8 years (Principal) or more working for a design/engineering consultancy or an OEM or Utility dealing with grid compliance and system modelling, network planning and customer connections.
- Experience working on grid scale renewables (wind/solar/battery/hybrid) projects connecting into NEM & WEM within the Australian network is highly regarded.
- Your commercial acumen, coupled with your coaching and mentoring of junior staff will be critical.
- Understanding of transmission/distribution planning and connection process for VRE and dispatchable generating plants including energy storage and embedded generators.
- Knowledge of major generation technologies and applicable control systems.
- Experience leading connection process from concept planning through construction, testing & commissioning on grid scale VRE projects including registration.
- Understanding of technical requirements (NER schedules S5.2 and S5.3) and guidelines for connecting new generators and loads including compliance requirements for registration and commissioning.
- Hands-on experience using PSS/e, PSCAD and Digsilent PowerFactory for system studies.
- Proficient in Python Scripting, and working knowledge of ETAP.
- Understanding of concept design of grid scale VRE & BESS projects.
- Understanding of control and protection principles of high voltage substation equipment, transmission lines, generators, transformers, reactive equipment, etc.
- Experience in preparing technical design documentation/due diligence reports.
Power Systems Engineer in Perth employer: AECO
At AECOM, you'll be part of a dynamic team dedicated to delivering significant water infrastructure projects across Australia and New Zealand. We foster a culture of collaboration, innovation, and professional growth, offering flexible work arrangements, diverse project opportunities, and clear pathways for career advancement. Join us to make a meaningful impact while enjoying the benefits of a supportive and inclusive workplace.
