Engineer Specialist, Ems Integration

The Alberta Electric System Operator (AESO) is responsible for the safe, reliable, and economic planning and operation of the Alberta Interconnected Electric System. We provide open and non-discriminatory access to Alberta’s interconnected power grid and also facilitate Alberta’s competitive wholesale electricity market. The AESO strives to foster an inclusive, diverse and equitable workplace where people feel respected and welcomed for who they are, together we deliver high performance and innovative results.

Job Description

If you are a current AESO employee or contractor, please view openings and apply through our internal site at Workday.

We are looking for a talented Engineer Specialist, EMS Integration to join our Grid Reliability Operations Division. As an integral part of the greater Operation Systems department, the EMS Management team is primary accountable to maintain the integrity and security of the General Electric (GE) Energy Management System (EMS) to AESO standards through the collection, organization, management, and presentation of data. 

The Engineer Specialist, EMS Integration will be leading from a technical perspective the Operations Systems team in delivering on projects, real time support and strategic planning of the GE Energy Management System (EMS) and the Market systems with a focus on control room implementation and operation.  This will be aligned with the team’s purpose, leading the reliable operation of an ever-changing complex market and electrical system for the benefit of all Albertans.

The Engineer Specialist, EMS Integration will provide expertise on all technical and engineering designs relating to the Grid and Market (GM) investment plan, ensuring all enhancements, upgrades, processes, and integration components are well designed, implemented, and supportable.

This Specialist role encompasses change leadership, strategic thinking and decision making required to drive the future growth and support as part of the Operations System team.  In addition, broad technical, integration, project and Realtime support awareness, knowledge and leadership are necessary to ensure system requirements, design and implementation meet the needs of the business and are in line with Critical Infrastructure protection (CIP) and all associated AESO Standards.

This full-time opportunity offers a competitive salary, and a variable pay program. We also have paid vacation and flex time, health and dental benefits, mental health support, a defined contribution pension plan, and learning and development opportunities as part of your overall compensation package. We support a hybrid work environment, where the team is in the office on Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays. Mondays and Fridays are flexible for where you work best.

Signs you will enjoy working in this team:

• You are comfortable with change and innovation and thrive in a dynamic environment.

• You enjoy working in a team of bright professionals and collaborating with others.

• You can multitask and balance multiple files and projects in flight.

• You have an aptitude for identifying efficiencies and improvements, sharing ideas and enjoy getting others onboard.

• You enjoy enabling other employees’ work success, growth, and development.

• You are a collaborator and working effectively at all levels of an organization, with the ability to influence others to move toward consensus.

Accountabilities include but are not limited to:

• Oversee the Engineering design on energy management system changes and enhancements, ensuring future operation and integration opportunities are identified and evaluated.

• Assess and communicate risks associated with Grid and Market reliability due to the technology transformation.

• Maintain and demonstrate deep understanding of the different technology solutions in the EMS environment, including future and emerging trends and technologies.

• Relate complex technical solutions in ways to highlight risks, opportunities, and decisions to non-technical resources.

• With change leadership lens, support the near to long term planning of product roadmaps, technical capability development and engineering approaches.

• Support the EMS Manager and Director, Operations System with decisions relating to product direction, design, and the capital portfolio.

• Provide coaching and mentoring to junior staff on EMS engineering design, system integrations and implementations.

• Lead the adoption of advanced engineering tools, techniques, and practices in a specialized area within the Alberta electricity industry and abroad by hosting industry discussion groups and/or participating in conferences and/or international standards association committee work. e.g., DEMSWG, NASPI, GE CAB and ITC

• Collaborates with AESO senior leadership and decision makers, as well as external stakeholders, communicating engineering aspects, findings, recommendations, and risks.

• Act as the energy management system product architect and consult with business enterprise architects in evolution of the grid and market tools.

• Partners with wide circle of contacts and involves them in generating mutually beneficial opportunities and outcomes.

• Provide support where needed to troubleshoot and solve development and production issues.

• Execute on established AESO cyber & physical policies and procedures across the BES systems to ensure AESO’s compliance with all Critical Infrastructure Program (CIP) related standards.

What you’ll bring to us:

• Bachelor of Science Degree in, Computer Science, Electrical Engineering, or equivalent from an accredited university.

• Professional designation from the Association of Professional Engineers and Geoscientists in Alberta (APEGA) or equivalent.

• Minimum 14 years of applicable experience.

• Expert level knowledge of issue resolution on EMS applications and GE Eterra product suite.

• A broad, enterprise-wide view of Operations and appreciation for business strategy, processes, and capabilities, enabling technologies, and governance.

• Supporting real time operation of EMS Applications, GE Eterra product suite including upgrades, enhancement, issue investigation and resolution.

• Demonstrated experience leading or developing enterprise-scale business and technical solutions and roadmaps.

• A background for clearly conveying business strategy, business processes and workflow automation, business initiatives and Ops initiatives, and value realization.

• Strong situational analysis and decision-making abilities with a high level of attention to detail.

Application deadline: May 26, 2024

If you are contacted for a pre-screening and/or interview, please advise of any accommodation measures required to enable you to fully participate. Information received relating to accommodation measures will be addressed confidentially.

The Alberta Electric System Operator is unable to accept unsolicited agency resumes.

The Alberta Electric System Operator, and its members, officers, employees and agents (collectively, the "AESO") is committed to protecting personal information provided to it. When you submit your personal information to the AESO for the purpose of pursuing employment with the AESO, the collection, use and disclosure of personal information is in accordance with the provisions of the Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act (FOIP Act) of Alberta.

As noted, the AESO is mandated to maintain the safe and reliable operations of the provincial power grid. As part of meeting its obligations, the AESO may require the successful candidate to undergo a criminal background check for the position. This collection of personal information for the purposes of a check will be conducted in accordance with Section 33 of the FOIP Act.