Engineer, Load & Generation Siting – Transmission Expansion Planning

Location: Birmingham, AL, United States

Engineer, Load & Generation Siting - Transmission Expansion Planning

Transmission Expansion Planning Overview

This is one of the most exciting and dynamic times in recent history for the power industry as we evaluate and implement solutions to serve tremendous growth in our territories and to build the future of energy for the advancement of our customers and communities. Our Integrated Grid Planning organization and processes are the cornerstone of our ability to provide clean, safe, reliable and affordable energy to serve the growing needs of our customers. 

The Transmission Expansion Planning team is responsible for key functions of Integrated Grid Planning including systemwide analyses to continually assess and develop the best transmission expansion plan that provides reliability, affordability, and long-term value to the customers of the three electric Operating Companies (APC, GPC, and MPC) while concurrently informing retail load and generation siting. This team has multiple areas of responsibility that include the annual transmission expansion plan for each operating company, Georgia Integrated Transmission System (ITS) planning and coordination, retail transmission load evaluations, retail generation siting evaluations, NERC TPL steady-state reliability compliance studies, state regulatory and Integrated Resource Plan (IRP) transmission support, operations support and long-term outage coordination, and integrated system planning analyses for strategic 20-year planning.

The position listed below can be primarily located in Birmingham, AL (APC HQ) OR Atlanta, GA (GPC HQ) but will require limited travel between Birmingham and Atlanta locations.

Job Description: Engineer, Transmission Expansion Planning - Load & Generation Siting

The Load & Generation Siting team is responsible for conducting systemwide transmission analyses that support both company-owned generation development efforts and retail load interconnection evaluations across the three electric Operating Companies (APC, GPC, and MPC). The team primarily performs steady-state power flow analysis and develops transmission solutions that facilitate the reliable, economic, and timely integration of new generation resources and customer loads.

Engineers in this role evaluate transmission impacts associated with large customer load additions, new generation sites, industrial developments, data centers, and other emerging customer needs and provide valuable siting input to for optimal locations. These studies help identify potential system constraints, determine transmission infrastructure requirements, estimate project costs, and develop expansion alternatives that maximize speed to service and maintain system reliability while ensuring all costs and impacts are appropriately considered.

The successful candidate will work closely with stakeholders across Integrated Grid Planning, Resource Planning, Generation Development, Business Development, Project Management, Transmission Operations, and external customers to assess and integrate future load and generation growth. 

This position requires strong analytical and problem-solving skills, effective communication abilities, and a collaborative mindset in developing and communicating solutions across teams and multiple levels of leadership. Ultimately, the engineer will collaborate across these multifunctional teams to develop practical and reliable transmission solutions that balance customer needs, operational requirements, regulatory obligations, and long-term value.

Primary Job Responsibilities 

• Conduct transmission evaluations for large customer load interconnections, economic development projects, data centers, industrial facilities, and other customer growth opportunities. 

• Perform transmission planning studies supporting new company-owned retail generation siting opportunities, including solar, battery energy storage, thermal generation, and nuclear. 

• Develop transmission solution alternatives and estimate associated infrastructure requirements, costs, and implementation timelines. 

• Coordinate closely with internal planning groups, project development teams, operations teams, and business development teams. 

• Support Integrated Grid Planning, Generation Procurement activities, and strategic growth initiatives through transmission analysis and technical guidance. 

• Communicate study assumptions, methodologies, results, and recommendations to technical and executive audiences. 

• Maintain compliance with applicable planning criteria, reliability standards, and company processes while ensuring recommended solutions provide long-term value to customers.

• Engage in related industry committees and initiatives.
• Prioritize and be proactive in training and development.

Education

• Bachelor’s degree in Engineering from an ABET accredited institution is required (pending graduates will be considered).
• Electrical Engineering is preferred.
• Master’s degree in engineering or business is desirable.

• Professional Engineering License is desirable.

   

Work Experience

• Transmission planning experience, including electrical power system modeling and analysis, is preferred.
• Experience in generation development, procurement, and resource planning is desirable.
• Experience in bulk power operations or commercial operations is desirable.
• Experience in transmission design, maintenance, and protection and controls is desirable.
• Experience in transmission project management, estimating, and scheduling is desirable.
• Experience in transmission policy and services is desirable.
• Experience in any area of power delivery is desirable.

Skills and Knowledge

• Power system analysis with common industry tools, such as PSS/E and TARA 
• 8760 nodal analysis with common industry tools, such as PowerGem Probe
• Problem solving mindset able to engage across multiple efforts effectively
• Excellent communication, organization, and coordination skills

• Ability to evaluate complex study results, communicate technical information effectively to diverse audiences, and build consensus to guide informed decisions

• Clear and effective documentation skills
• Proficient with Microsoft Office applications and databases and AI technologies
• Power utility industry acumen in current issues, reliability, and regulation

Behavioral Attributes

• Self-motivated and results-oriented
• Strategic and innovative
• Collaborative and works well in a team environment with multiple stakeholders
• Adaptable to change and less established processes
• Analytical and detail-oriented
• Focus on process improvement, training, and mentoring others
• Strong customer focus
• Exhibits Southern Company’s “Our Values”

About Us

About the Organization