Lead, Sr. Engineer II or Sr Engineer -Market Design (Remote eligible)

Southwest Power Pool (SPP) is about more than power. We’re about the power of relationships. Our employees have the opportunity to work together to ensure electricity is delivered reliably and affordably to the millions of people living in our service territory. We have been voted one of Arkansas’ Best Places to work by Arkansas Business and we are looking for a member of our team who is passionate about our mission to keep the lights on!

We have a core ideology here at SPP that we stand by: Do the right thing, for the right reason, in the right way.

We believe in supporting our employees through a fantastic benefits package:

• Competitive and transparent pay with bonus opportunities
• Excellent insurance package including three great medical plans to choose from, employer-paid short-term disability, long-term disability, and life insurance
• Relocation bonus (if applicable)
• Hybrid working environment for positions that are eligible
• Fantastic contributions to your retirement through a 401(k) savings plan with employer-match benefits and a pension (defined benefit plan) fully funded by SPP

PLEASE NOTE: SPP is not able to sponsor employment visas or student-work authorizations (STEM OPT) for this position. Please ensure you are eligible to work in the U.S. without sponsorship prior to applying.

 COMPENSATION INFORMATION The salary range(s) represents our good faith estimate for the role at this time. While we strive to provide competitive and transparent compensation, there may be circumstances where an offer is above or outside of the listed range. We are open to discussing salary expectations with qualified candidates considering factors such as the candidate's qualifications, skills, competencies, experience and geographic location will all be considered during the hiring process.

• Lead Engineer – Market Design Salary Range: $138,000 - $151,000
• Senior Engineer II – Market Design Salary Range: $125,000 - $137,000
• Senior Engineer – Market Design Salary Range: $108,000 - $123,000

Overview
The Engineer is responsible for understanding the current market design, recommending and analyzing the impact of design modifications, and supporting the development of market design expertise throughout the organization. This position supports the Market Working Group by developing and facilitating market design changes through the SPP stakeholder process and performing market analysis as necessary to support those changes. This position will interact with multiple working groups in support of market design changes and issues. The Engineer will work closely with SPP Operations, Legal, Regulatory, Settlements, Training, and other Markets departments to assure that the implemented software and processes are consistent with the market design. This position will work with market participants, vendors, FERC, and other RTOs/ISOs in recommending changes to SPP's market design and market policy. This position will share responsibility, within the Market Design team, for facilitating discussion, design changes and providing market analysis for western markets efforts. This position will share responsibility for coordinating market design changes and analysis between Markets+and the SPP Integrated Marketplace. The Engineer is expected to manage individual and team work efforts, lead teams to preform market analysis and market changes, develop market metrics, and develop market reports. This position is responsible for facilitating internal and external discussions regarding markets and presenting market design changes to various SPP stakeholder committees and working groups.

Core Responsibilities

Applies to all levels:

• Understand the Company’s market rules and apply the knowledge to key business functions.
• Coordinate and communicate with SPP market participants and member companies regarding the SPP markets.
• Analyze and review market data for indications of market weaknesses through the development of ad hoc analysis.
• Document analysis and studies in written reports and communicate findings to internal staff and external stakeholders.
• Provide technical expertise to SPP committees and working groups.
• Support FERC filings by providing data and assisting in drafting transmittal letters and testimony.
• Understand and comply with SPP Policies and Procedures.
• Maintain full accountability in making decisions and meeting deadlines.
• Research and analyze the design of other RTOs/ISOs markets.
• Facilitate market design changes through the SPP stakeholder process.
• Support Working Groups as necessary.
• Review and develop education materials related to the market design and support the training and development of junior-level market design staff and SPP market participants and member companies.

Specific Core Responsibilities - Lead Engineer – Market Design 

• Develop and maintain markets simulation and design assessment platforms to inform Market Design on potential design changes.
• Provide leadership and engineering judgment for market design and analysis efforts.
• Independently recommend market design changes to management and help facilitate and support the initiatives, where appropriate, through the SPP stakeholder process.

Required Qualifications

Applies to all levels:

• Bachelor’s Degree of Science in Engineering, that is: From a university that meets the requirements to sit for the Professional Engineering exam (in Arkansas, that is most typically a degree from an ABET accredited university or a graduate degree from a college that has an ABET accreditation), In a calculus-based engineering field. Preferred degree programs are Electrical Engineering, Computer Engineering, Industrial Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, or Systems Engineering

Lead Engineer - Market Design

• 12 years of relevant Engineering experience; or
• 11 years of relevant Engineering experience with a Master’s Degree in Electrical, Computer, Industrial, Mechanical or Systems Engineering; or
• 10 years of relevant Engineering experience with a Doctoral degree in Electrical, Computer, Industrial, Mechanical, or Systems Engineering.
  • A Professional Engineer license is required for this role; however, 12 years of relevant Engineering experience may be considered in lieu of a Professional Engineer License

Sr. Engineer II - Market Design

• 9 years of relevant Engineering experience; Professional Engineer License or Advanced degree in related field of study may satisfy one (1) year of experience requirement. Two (2) years of experience may satisfy both a Professional Engineer License and an Advanced degree in a related field.

Senior Engineer – Market Design

• 5 years of relevant engineering experience. Professional Engineer License may satisfy one year of experience requirement.

Preferred Qualifications

All levels

• In addition to required undergraduate degree in Engineering, an advanced degree in economics, math, or other related field of study is preferred
• Experience with data manipulation and analysis of large data sets
• Experience in utility industry, utility operations, RTO/ISO operations or energy trading
• Experience with RTO/ISO Market formulations and optimization techniques
  • Experience with either prototyping market formulation changes or software used to study market formulation changes

Other Requirements

All levels

• Ability to support cross-team and multi-team initiatives and projects and manage the market design components of potentially complex analysis projects
• Strong facilitation, presentation, and public speaking skills
• Strong interpersonal and team-building skills
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills
• Demonstrate proficiency in business acumen and professional conduct
• Demonstrate the ability to function with constantly changing and multiple priorities
• Demonstrate strong organizational skills
• Ability to recognize and address strategic issues important to Market Design
• Proficient at organizing and conducting complex technical and analytical studies
• Skilled at analyzing complex issues and communicating results to diverse stakeholders
• Strong knowledge of electric market concepts and ability to apply understanding
• Competence with communication and data handling software such as Microsoft Office
• Ability to provide training to junior staff

Expected Hours of Work

This is a full-time position. The typical work schedule is Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Work hours may vary based on organizational and operational needs, as determined by management. Occasional extended or nonstandard hours may be required.

Travel Requirement: This position requires moderate travel for in-office employees (10–15%) and moderate travel for remote employees (15–25%).

Southwest Power Pool is an equal opportunity employer that makes employment decisions without regard to race, religion, color, national origin, citizenship, sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, veteran status, age, disability status or any other characteristic protected by applicable law. Further, Southwest Power Pool makes good faith efforts to employ and advance in employment qualified protected veterans and qualified individuals with disabilities. If you need a reasonable accommodation for any part of the application process, please contact us at HR@spp.org and let us know the nature of your request. We will only respond to messages left that involve a request for a reasonable accommodation in the application process.

 At SPP we believe in a culture of belonging. Learn more here: Culture of Belonging - Southwest Power Pool.