NRDC is a non-profit environmental advocacy organization. We use law, science, and the support of 3.1 million members and online activists to protect the planet's wildlife and wild places and to ensure the rights of all people to clean air, clean water, and healthy communities. NRDC was founded in 1970 and our people helped write some of America's bedrock environmental laws, including the Clean Water Act and many of the implementing regulations. Today, our team of more than 700 lawyers, scientists, economists, policy advocates, communications experts, and others work across the United States and the globe from our offices in Beijing; Chicago; New Delhi; New York; San Francisco; Santa Monica; and Washington, D.C. 

Position Summary 

NRDC is seeking a Power Grid Engineer to work with the Sustainable FERC Project (FERC Project) team in the Climate & Energy Department in our Washington, New York, or Chicago offices. The successful candidate is an expert in the field of power systems and electrical engineering, and can serve as a mentor and advisor on power systems issues for FERC Project colleagues and others at NRDC. This person will lead initiatives with the scope of responsibilities outlined below, and has the ability to communicate complex ideas, anticipate potential objections, and persuade others to adopt a different point of view. 

The Power Grid Engineer will participate in and represent the interests of the FERC Project and NRDC at regional transmission organizations (RTOs) and other grid planning regions, likely with an early focus in PJM, Midcontinent Independent System Operator, and Southwest Power Pool. They will represent NRDC and the Sustainable FERC Project in relevant RTO stakeholder forums and work closely with other members of the Sustainable FERC Project, other NRDC staff, and the Sustainable FERC Project coalition. They also will engage, as circumstances require, with federal and state energy regulators. This person will report to the RTO Director in the FERC Project and work closely with the FERC Project team. They will analyze transmission planning scenarios, assumptions, sensitivities, and other inputs into the planning process, and help to identify the regional and interregional transmission plans and projects necessary to advance NRDC’s power sector goals. This person would also support our efforts to deploy advanced transmission technologies (e.g., high performance/advanced super-efficient conductors, dynamic line rating technology, phase angle regulators), and apply “smart from the start” planning approaches to prioritize existing infrastructure corridors and minimize community and environmental impacts. 

The position you are applying for is part of the bargaining unit represented by The Washington Baltimore News Guild (WBNG / The Newsguild-CWA Local 32035).  

• Participate in and represent the interests of NRDC in RTO stakeholder forums addressing regional and interregional transmission planning and interconnection issues, with the goal of improving transmission planning assumptions, processes, and outcomes. 
• Provide input to grid planners for power flow model assumptions for load, demand, capacity, generation shift, and other variables. 
• Analyze to what extent interregional transmission projects can better meet system needs than separate sets of regional projects. 
• Identify opportunities and advocate for grid planners to integrate the use of advanced conductors, high-voltage direct current lines, grid-enhancing technologies, re-use of existing rights-of-way, and integration of distributed energy resources into their system plans wherever feasible, including but not limited to meeting near-term system needs as regional and interregional grids are being built out. 
• Critique RTO analyses of plants designated as “reliability must-run” units. 
• Identify consolidated transmission solutions that are more cost effective than those identified via siloed RTO transmission planning processes such as reliability planning, economic planning, and interconnection planning, and develop approaches for planning methods and processes to ensure RTOs look for such consolidated solutions as well. 
• Develop technical justifications for RTOs to identify the most cost-effective transmission solutions and ensure transmission additions are in the public interest. 
• Help to identify benefit metrics to reflect the value that transmission and non-wires solutions bring to customers and offer methodologies and provide analysis to monetize these benefits. 
• Work with NRDC staff and FERC Project coalition members to provide written input to grid planners and the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) on planning, cost allocation, and interconnection queue issues. 
• Engage with federal and state energy regulators to advance objectives. 
• Perform or direct technical analysis necessary to educate decisionmakers.  
• Effectively articulate and communicate technical information, both verbally and in writing, to diverse audiences. 

• BS or advanced degree in mechanical or electrical engineering or related concentration.
• Minimum of ten years or relevant work experience. Prior utility or government experience is desirable.
• At least two years of experience in transmission system planning and operations including complex power flow, short circuit, and stability studies.
• Experience in quantitative and qualitative analysis.
• Proficiency in relevant technical transmission system modeling approaches (e.g., capacity expansion, production cost, and power flow analysis) and tools (e.g., PLEXOS), including relevant open source models.
• Interest in understanding and applying power market dynamics and economics considerations to transmission planning processes and solutions.
• Ability to approach problems from an advocate’s perspective and develop engineering-based solutions to those problems.
• Ability to understand and critique power flow analysis and transient stability analysis.
• Ability to analyze information, formulate responses, and convey them in writing and through oral presentations. 
• Ability to build relationships, effectively collaborate and engender trust from peers and colleagues. 
• Demonstrate good judgment, strong work ethic, collegiality. 
• Ability to travel, approximately 20% annually (more travel is likely early in the candidate’s employment as they become familiar with RTO stakeholder forums.)
• Commitment to NRDC’s mission, values, and DEI principles. 

NRDC is committed to advancing diversity, equity, and inclusion, both in our work and in our workplace. We believe that celebrating and actively welcoming diverse voices and perspectives is essential to solving the planet's most pressing environmental problems, and we encourage applications from candidates whose identities have been historically under-represented in the environmental movement. 

We are an equal opportunity employer and do not discriminate in hiring or employment on the basis of race, color, religion, gender, gender identity or expression, marital status, sexual orientation, national origin, citizenship, age, disability, veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state, or local law. Pursuant to the San Francisco Fair Chance Ordinance, we will consider for employment qualified applicants with arrest and conviction records.  

We offer competitive salaries, excellent benefits, and a supportive working environment. Salary is based on a nonprofit scale and is commensurate with skills and experience. Internal equity will be reviewed and considered to determine a final offer. For this position, the salary range is $150,000 to $170,000.  

NRDC operates under a hybrid work model. Employees are required to come to the office 8 days per month. 

As a science-based organization, NRDC aims to do our part to help contain the COVID-19 public health crisis. For the sake of health, safety, and equity, we ask that people be vaccinated unless they have an approved medical or religious accommodation or other exemption in accordance with state and local law. We consider a person to be vaccinated two weeks after receiving one full course of a CDC-approved vaccine. In accordance with state or local law, new hires will be asked to attest to vaccination, those wishing to do so may request medical or religious accommodations or other exemptions via NRDC Employee Relations. NRDC treats all vaccine-related data confidentially, in keeping with local, state, and federal laws. 

To apply, visit www.nrdc.org/careers and upload your résumé and cover letter. Please mention where you saw this posting and upload any additional materials that showcase your abilities. Due to the high volume of applications, we will contact only those candidates we would like to interview. Please no phone calls, emails, or in-person résumé drop-offs. 

If you experience technical problems while applying or if you are a person with a disability and need assistance applying online, please reach out to iCIMS Customer Care at 1-800-889-4422. 

For more about NRDC, visit www.nrdc.org.