Senior Operations Planning Engineer

Company Description

Apex Clean Energy was founded with a singular focus: to accelerate the shift to clean energy. Through origination, construction, and operation of utility-scale wind, solar, and storage facilities, distributed energy resources, and green fuel technologies, Apex is expanding the renewable frontier across North America. Our mission-driven team of more than 400 professionals uses a data-focused approach and an unrivaled portfolio of projects to create solutions for the world’s most innovative and forward-thinking customers. For more information about how Apex is building the energy company of the future, visit apexcleanenergy.com.

Apex strives to excel in every phase of project realization, from origination and financing to construction and asset management. Our mission-driven team seeks determined, resolute individuals who strive to innovate and go above the call of duty, and who will relentlessly do their part to help accelerate the shift to America’s clean energy future. 

Job Description

Apex Clean Energy is seeking a Senior Operations Planning Engineer to join our growing Transmission Department. Reporting to the Senior Vice President of Development Strategy, in close coordination with Apex’s Asset Management Team, and with full support of the existing Transmission team, the Senior Operations Planning Engineer will support near-term transmission planning and operational readiness for a growing portfolio of wind, solar and storage generation assets. This role focuses on evaluating grid performance, identifying transmission risks, assessing the impact of outages/upgrades, and implementing solutions to ensure reliable and optimized operation of projects in both pre-COD and operational phases.

The ideal candidate for this role will have six or more years of directly related experience combining strong technical expertise in power systems and production cost modeling with a practical understanding of how transmission constraints and DA/RT markets impact renewable asset performance and revenue.

This is a unique and exciting opportunity to take part in the industry’s shift to clean energy onboard a recognized leader in this space that continues to grow exponentially while also becoming a highly skilled subject matter expert in all aspects of power system planning and energy market analysis.

Hours/Type: Full Time

Exempt

Department: Transmission

Travel: 5%

Primary Responsibilities

Near-Term Transmission Planning & Economic Analysis

• Perform power system studies (steady state power flow, contingency analysis, etc.) to evaluate near-term grid conditions impacting operating assets.
• Maintain a repository of scheduled outages that are likely to significantly impact operational assets and assess their impact through detailed studies.
• Track and evaluate the impacts of transmission upgrades and outages across the portfolio.
• Develop, benchmark, and maintain economic models to forecast congestion, LMPs, basis, and other key project economics.
• Analyze drivers behind transmission constraints, curtailment risk, and congestion patterns affecting operational assets.
• Support operational readiness and decision-making through scenario analysis informed by various studies.
• Improve existing methodologies and identify tools to better evaluate congestion, curtailment, and nodal price impacts.

ISO/RTO Engagement

• Monitor and analyze planning and operational data from ISOs/RTOs (e.g., congestion reports, outage schedules, planning models).
• Participation in ISO/RTO specific stakeholder processes related to near term transmission planning and markets/operations.

Stakeholder Collaboration and Operational Asset Support

• Partner with Asset Management and Operations teams to diagnose and mitigate transmission-related performance issues.
• Provide actionable recommendations to improve deliverability and reduce curtailment and basis exposure.
• Collaborate closely with Operations, Trading, and Commercial teams to inform bidding strategies, revenue forecasts, and risk mitigation strategies.
• Coordinate with external consultants as needed for specialized studies.

Work Environment

Works primarily traditional office hours in an indoor office environment. Flexible work hours allowed when work duties and business operations permit.

Qualifications

Success Profile

To succeed as a Senior Operations Planning Engineer at Apex Clean Energy, you’ll need to excel within the following criteria:

• Master’s degree in electrical engineering, power systems, or related
• 6+ years of combined experience in markets, operations, and transmission planning with deep knowledge of those fundamentals
• Strong understanding of power systems, economic analyses, and production cost modeling
• Demonstrated experience supporting the operation of renewable assets in this capacity
• Deep understanding of existing market financial instruments and trading mechanisms (FTRs, ARRs, etc)
• Strong knowledge of congestion management, LMP/basis and curtailment drivers, and DA/RT market dynamics.
• Experience in appropriate system modeling tools (PSLF, PROMOD, GRIDVIEW, UPLAN, PSSE, TARA, and/or other tools used for the role)
• Ability to take part in collaborative efforts with peers and colleagues
• Excellent planning and organizational skills
• Exemplary standards of honor, ethics, quality, communication, and productivity
• High attention to detail
• Strong interpersonal skills, demonstrated success at meeting deadlines, and the ability to manage many tasks, people, and projects simultaneously
• A positive attitude and comfortable being flexible, adaptable, and solutions-oriented
• Working from our headquarters in Charlottesville, Virginia would be preferred, but a remote position could be discussed for the right candidate.

Additional Information

How You’ll Grow

At Apex Clean Energy, our professional development plans focus on helping people at every level of their career to identify and use their strengths to do their best work every day. From entry-level employees to senior leaders, we believe there’s always room to learn. We offer opportunities to help sharpen skills in addition to hands-on experience in the dynamic, fast-paced renewable energy industry. From on-the-job learning experiences to a robust multi-week onboarding experience to formal development programs, our professionals have a variety of opportunities to continue to grow throughout their career.

What Apex Can Offer You

At Apex Clean Energy, we know that great people make a great company. We value our people and offer employees a broad, best-in-class range of benefits.

• A mission-driven, energetic environment that supports and encourages our people to do their best work every day.
• A respect for and celebration of individuality, differences, and uniqueness
• Collaborative and driven professional workforce committed to supporting your ideas and feedback and accelerating your potential
• Ongoing support and guidance such as on-the-job learning, hands-on experience, and mentorship
• Training, strategies, and tools to support your personal and professional growth
• Team atmosphere of diverse professionals committed to making an impact as an organization
• Opportunities to volunteer and give back to our local communities
• Exceptional benefits such as medical and dental; 401(k) with corporate match
• Base and bonus commensurate with experience
• Responsible Paid Time Off plus standard company holidays
• Benefits Offered: comprehensive high-deductible health plans, dental and vision insurance plans, short-term and long-term disability, group life insurance, 401(k) corporate matching, flexible spending arrangements, company paid parking and cell phone, fitness and wellness corporate discounts

Apex Clean Energy, Inc. is an Equal Opportunity Employer that recruits and hires qualified candidates without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, age, national origin, ancestry, citizenship, disability, or veteran status.