Senior / Principal Power Systems Engineer

Job Description

Simple Thread stands at the intersection of software engineering and energy innovation. We don’t just perform studies; we build the tools that make those studies better, faster, and more accurate. We have a few openings to hire highly technical Engineers at the Senior to Principal level who are masters of the transmission grid and are passionate about evolving the industry through automation.

Reporting to the Director of Power Systems Modeling, you will serve as the primary Subject Matter Expert (SME) for transmission planning and generation interconnection. This is a high-impact technical role where your deep understanding of power systems will not only drive complex study work but also serve as the “blueprint” for our software development team. You are the bridge between traditional electrical engineering and modern digital transformation. You are also expected to contribute towards the successful completion of a range of consulting projects focused on power system planning studies involving Steady-State, Short Circuit, Transient Stability, Generator and Renewables Interconnections, Large Loads and Data Centers, Electromagnetic Transients (EMT), Model Quality Tests (MQT) and benchmarking, Power System Economics, Market Analysis, and Grid Resilience.

Key Responsibilities:

Execute Complex Power System Studies: Lead and perform advanced transmission planning and generation interconnection studies (System Impact, Feasibility, and Deliverability) across multiple North American markets (WECC, PJM, MISO, ERCOT, SPP, SERC, etc.).

Technical Authority on Interconnection: Act as the lead expert for both large-scale generation (including IBR) and large-load interconnection requests, navigating the specific tariff and reliability requirements of various RTOs/ISOs.

Product Strategy & SME Support: Collaborate directly with our software engineers to translate complex engineering workflows into automated tools. You will define the logic, “teach” the software team the engineering nuances, and validate the output of our internal automation frameworks.

Advanced Modeling: Build, tune, and validate high-quality power system models for steady-state, short circuit, transient stability, and EMT analyses using industry-standard tools.

Automation Mindset: While we have dedicated software developers, you will be expected to use Python and SQL to automate your own workflows and prototype new ideas that can be scaled into production-level software.

Support Business Growth: Collaborate with the leadership team to develop and implement strategies for expanding our consulting services, including identifying emerging needs and new market opportunities and service offerings.

Engage with Stakeholders: Build and maintain strong relationships with internal and external stakeholders, including utilities, RTOs, project developers, and regulatory bodies, to advocate for and advance Simple Thread’s projects.

Innovate and Improve: Lead the development of innovative methodologies and tools that enhance power systems analysis and streamline processes for both internal and client use.

Mentor and Lead: Guide and instruct team members using a strong technical understanding of generation (including IBR), transmission, interconnection, customer and load, and modeling principles.

Regulatory Compliance: Ensure all study work and automated processes adhere strictly to NERC and regional reliability standards.

Qualifications:

Education: Bachelor’s degree in Electrical Engineering with a focus on Power Systems; a Master’s or PhD degree is highly preferred.

Experience: Minimum of 8 years of experience in transmission planning, interconnection studies, EMT analyses likely gained within a utility, RTO, or specialized consulting firm.

Market Versatility: Proven track record of navigating the study processes and TARA/PSSE/PSCAD modules for multiple regions (e.g. ERCOT MQT, PJM GD, MISO RIST, CAISO GD, etc.).

Tool Proficiency: Expert-level command of PSSE, TARA, PSLF, PSCAD, EMTP, and PowerWorld.

Coding Literacy: Proficiency in Python is required for workflow automation. While you don’t need to be a full-stack developer, you must be comfortable reading/writing scripts and eager to work in a software-centric environment.

Load & Generation Expertise: Deep knowledge of both traditional generation and the unique challenges of Inverter-Based Resources (IBR) and large industrial load and data centers integration.

Communication: The ability to distill highly technical engineering concepts into clear requirements for software developers and actionable insights for clients.

Nice-to-Have Qualifications:

Experience with PowerGEM TARA’s automation API.

Familiarity with Git or other version control systems.

Experience with EM/ES interferences, grounding (GPR, step & touch) analysis using CDEGS,

Familiarity with arc flash analysis using ETAP

What We Offer:

A Great Team – Our team is the best part of working here. We only hire people who are fantastic teammates – competent and smart, sure, but also humble, positive, and generous.

Great Clients – We work with mostly small and medium clients, for whom our projects make a huge impact. We prioritize clients who are pleasant and good to work with, people who share our values of transparency and empathy.

Work From Home – We are a distributed company. Everyone works from home.

Flexible Work Schedule – We require a certain amount of overlap with the rest of the team, but if you have a predictable schedule, we can probably support it, e.g., ending at 3:30 every day or being out every Friday morning.

Good Work Life Balance (really) – We ask our team to work 40 hours a week*. That’s all: a good, productive 40 hours. And then we try our best to leave you alone off the clock. We do this in part because that’s how we want to live but also because we want our team to be recharged and ready to do their best when working. *If you need to work fewer than 40 hours, that might be possible too; let’s talk.

Competitive Compensation – We offer highly competitive salary and benefits, including generous time off, pension plan (401k or RRSP), FSA, medical and dental insurance, support for continuous growth and professional development. We hire remotely and adjust compensation to meet individual needs, but the standard salary range for this role is $145,000 to $225,000, varying highly with individual experience and strengths.

Simple Thread values diversity in all of its forms, and we hire the best person we can for each role, no matter your personal background. Research tells us that applicants who are female or non-binary, as well as applicants who are people of color, are less likely to apply for roles they do not feel 100% qualified for. If you think you meet more than 50% of our requirements but fewer than 100% of them, please apply. We’re imperfect communicators, so think of our job postings as the starting point for discussion rather than proof that you shouldn’t apply.