Principal Engineer - Grid Connections

This is a Permanent Full-time position based in Syd/Mel/Bis /Adelaide/Perth

AEMO at the Heart of Energy

We are the Australian Energy Market Operator (AEMO), committed to designing and operating a sustainable energy system that delivers safe, reliable, and affordable electricity and gas. Our mission includes facilitating the transition to a net-zero energy system by 2050, working collaboratively with industry partners to achieve 100% renewable generation capability by 2025. We have the once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to co-design the future of our energy systems, and our core values revolve around Character, Commitment, and Connection. 

Join us, as we contribute to this significant mission in the energy sector!

About the Team & the Position

AEMO’s System Design division is responsible for planning the power system in the context of unprecedented transformation. The rapid transition to renewable energy generation and electrification of many sectors (transport, industry etc) has seen sharp rises in proposed transmission connection projects. The Onboarding and Connections Group manages AEMO’s end to end process for connecting and registering generators into the National Electricity Market

In this role, you will

• own the role of technical lead for large and complex projects, providing technical leadership to external clients and AEMO project teams. 
• guide others in how to build an understanding of current power system behavior and limitations, and pragmatically align new generating plants with NEM operational requirements.

Position Responsibilities

• Lead the end to end connection of large, technically complex projects and providing expert guidance to regional team members on other regional projects through to commercial operation
• Proactively strengthen AEMO’s technical collaboration with clients by ensuring that individual project issues are constructively resolved, focusing on tangible outcomes and technical process improvements
• Ensure that decision making is fact-based, robustly documented, pragmatic and transparent
• Reinforce a service-oriented culture, based on client partnerships and close collaboration within AEMO and across industry
• Provide expert technical advice and technical decision making, utilising constructive and open problem solving processes, across the areas of performance standard assessment, power system stability, system strength remediation, registration and commissioning.
• Provide project-based mentoring, coaching and expert guidance to technical staff and key project stakeholders to ensure continuous improvement and development of technical staff
• Support regulatory changes to recognise and facilitate the integration of large scale renewable energy projects into the Australian electricity market
• Prepare clear, concise and high quality written and verbal communication to inform internal or external stakeholders on a range of issues for both technical and non-technical audiences and proactively build AEMO’s reputation as a trusted partner to generation developers, original equipment manufacturers, Government, Network Service Providers, Market Participants, Customers and other stakeholders.

Position Requirements

Skills & Experience:

• Demonstrated experience in leading medium - large technical project teams
• Demonstrated experience in owning and proactively delivering medium-large and technically complex projects, practicing a service oriented, outcome-focused and pragmatic approach to problem solving
• Demonstrated experience in supporting and developing technical expertise in teams via a structured and transparent approach.
• Relevant tertiary qualification in Electrical Engineering or other discipline relevant to power systems analysis
• Well-developed experience in managing generator connection processes, with strong experience in assessing and resolving generator and power system performance issues.
• Experience in negotiating the resolution of complex technical issues across stakeholders with competing objectives and a variety of commercial and reputational drivers.
• Understanding of the key commercial and legal issues impacting large scale infrastructure projects, and the commercial drivers of generation developers
• Ability to communicate technical/engineering concepts to the non-technical audience in a clear and easy to understand language.
• Knowledge of the electricity industry, NEM dispatch process, generator behavior and network constraints.
• Ability to manage competing priorities and stakeholder expectations under stringent project environments.

Education/ professional Certifications:

• Relevant tertiary qualification in Electrical Engineering or other discipline relevant to power systems analysis

In return some of our benefits to you

• Flexible working: work from home, part time, job share, hybrid options, and additional leave options
• Professional development via projects, industry networks, job rotation, study assistance and more.
• Give back with up to 4 days of volunteering leave per year.
• Embrace a healthier you with our wellness program, discounted health insurance, gym perks and our comprehensive Employee Assistance Program (EAP). 

About Our Process 

AEMO values diversity and inclusivity in the workplace, welcoming applications from all backgrounds without regard to age, disability, gender, sexual orientation, parental status, race, or religion. We are dedicated to accommodating applicants' needs during the application or interview process, simply let the us know by emailing us at ******@aemo.com.au.

If you would like to know more about working at AEMO, please check out our careers page for more information.