Early Career Electrical Engineer (ESSP)

About the Role

WSP is seeking an Early Career Electrical Engineer (ESSP) for its Freeport, Maine office. Other eligible locations include Orlando, Florida; Fort Mill, North Carolina; Ann Arbor, Michigan; and Syracuse, New York. The role involves contributing to projects within the Power Delivery ESSP department.

Key Responsibilities

• Performing electrical studies.
• Developing and troubleshooting supervisory control and data acquisition (SCADA) systems for utility and industrial/commercial clients.
• Working with conventional and renewable generation facilities, substations, transmission systems, and distribution systems.

Specific Task Areas & Applicable Technologies

• Protective Relaying:
• Short circuit and symmetrical component analysis.
• Time-current coordination.
• Protection scheme and criteria development.
• Relay settings calculation.
• Integration with SCADA systems.
• NERC compliance.
• Arc flash analysis.
• Applicable Software: AcSELerator Quickset (SEL-5030), AcSELerator Architect, GE Enervista, ASPEN Oneliner, SKM-PTW, ETAP, RSCAD/RTDS.
• Power System Planning Studies:
• Steady-state real and reactive power flow including outage contingencies.
• Generation interconnect feasibility.
• P-V and Q-V analysis for voltage stability margins.
• Dynamic stability performance.
• Automation of large batch simulations.
• Working with models from NERC regional entities (WECC, MRO, SERC etc.).
• NERC compliance.
• Applicable Software: PSS/E, PSLF, PowerWorld, Python Scripting.
• Design Studies:
• Substation grounding.
• Corona and electric and magnetic fields.
• Insulation coordination (lightning, switching surge, and contamination performance).
• Transient (time domain) simulation.
• Power quality (harmonics, voltage flicker, over/under voltage, etc.).
• Motor starting.
• AC interference (transmission line interaction with railroads and pipelines).
• Applicable Software: CDEGS, ATP-EMTP, PSCAD.
• Networking and Communications:
• Design and configure network and communication paths for RTUs, protective relays, meters, HMIs, PLCs, and other SCADA system equipment.
• Develop basic specifications for fiber optic, microwave, power line carrier, or radio communication paths.
• Travel to project sites to troubleshoot and commission network and communication systems.
• Applicable network and communication protocols: DNP, Modbus, SEL Communication Protocol, Goose Messaging, IEC 61850.
• Logic and Control Systems:
• Develop and implement logic and control schemes for remote and local operation of power system equipment.
• Develop programs on various platforms for implementation of these schemes.
• Travel to project sites to test and commission control schemes.
• Applicable Logic and Control Platforms: SEL RTAC, Orion, Cooper SMP, GE-D20.
• Data Acquisition:
• Prepare points lists of all data to be transferred between control centers and controlled apparatus.
• Assign and program data addressing and routing information.
• Develop Human Machine Interface (HMI) screens.
• Travel to project sites to test and commission data transfer schemes.
• Applicable Software: Wonderware, Clearview, AcSELerator RTAC, Visual Basic, OSIPI, Python scripting.
• Support senior engineers with research and recommendations of fundamental components identified in design requirements, as well as field equipment applications and operations.
• Write technical reports summarizing research with findings and conclusions, generating complete, accurate, and concise documentation using sketches, calculations, electronic systems, spreadsheets, and software.
• Assist technical staff and project managers with risk identification and assessment, offering input and analysis with design concepts, construction, mitigation and improvement activities, and remediation projects.
• Work with cross-functional teams in executing project work.
• Complete training on assigned tasks.
• Exercise responsible and ethical decision-making.

Qualifications

• Recent Engineering Graduate (Bachelor’s Degree), or enrolled in a university pursuing a degree in engineering.
• Analytical mindset with sound judgment.
• Strong interpersonal and communication skills.
• Ability to work independently and as part of a team.
• Basic proficiency with technical writing, office automation, software, technology, math principles, predictive models, spreadsheets, and tools.
• Proven track record of upholding workplace safety.
• Ability to work schedules conducive to project-specific requirements that may extend beyond the typical workweek.
• Occasional travel may be required.

Preferred Qualifications

• Within one (1) year of graduation.
• GPA above 3.0/4.0.
• Power system courses covering topics such as three-phase power, load flow and reactive compensation, protective relaying, symmetrical components, transmission line theory, power system transients, dynamic stability, and power system electromagnetics.
• Internships and experience in technical areas and software listed in the Job Description section.
• Engineer In Training (EIT) certification, with the expectation to work toward professional engineering registration (PE).