Renewable Energy Planning Engineer

We recognize our competitive advantage -- our people. We believe in our people, who share our vision of meeting the needs of our employees, customers, and communities and who carry out the continued success of the company.

Our employees are committed to the company's foundational values: integrity, excellence, teamwork, environmental stewardship, and community commitment. In turn, we invest in our employees, providing opportunities for challenge and advancement and offering a competitive compensation package.

Posting End Date:  at 11:59PM HST

BRIEF POSTING DESCRIPTION:

The P YB ANALYTICAL PLANNING SVCS Department of the P INTEGRATED GRID PLANNING Division at Hawaiian Electric Company has 2 Management vacancies available.  (Role: PROFESSIONAL)

JOB FUNCTION:

Performs planning, economic, engineering analyses, and project management related to near-term action plans and long-range resource planning to advance the Company’s decarbonization and renewable energy goals and maintaining system reliability. Provides technical support on planning initiatives, strategies, and policies that contributes to the Company’s economy-wide decarbonization strategy.

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS:

• Near-term Action Plans and Long-range Planning Initiatives
  • Plans, designs, develops, coordinates, specifies, and directs near-term action plans and long-range system planning for Oʻahu, Hawaiʻi Island, Maui, Molokaʻi, and Lānaʻi systems. Independently carries out complex or novel assignments resulting in the development of new or improved techniques and procedures. Develops and evaluates plans and criteria for a variety of projects and activities.
  • Assists with developing process strategies and scenarios for analysis. Interprets and develops summaries and recommendations from results of scenario analysis using resource screening, capacity expansion and optimization, and production cost software for company policy, system planning criteria, generating resource procurements, and new or improved planning or evaluation techniques, procedures and/or methodologies.
  • Plans, designs, develops, specifies, and coordinates system planning projects related to near-term action plans, including reliability analyses (i.e., adequacy of supply) and project benefit analyses.
  • Creates, develops, and/or delivers expert testimony on planning issues, responses to information requests, and other assignments supporting planning and procurement before various external agencies such as the Hawaii Public Utilities Commission (PUC), the State Legislature, and Public Advisory Groups.
• Risk Analysis
  • Performs analysis (broad engineering, operational, regulatory, and resource planning) in support of the development of corporate strategies (i.e., net-zero decarbonization by 2045) and development of key strategic initiatives, including engineering support in risk assessment and risk evaluation, performance incentives, and renewable portfolio standard compliance. Provides summaries and creates presentation materials to communicate the strategies and plans to senior management and the Board of Directors.
  • Researches, develops, coordinates, and evaluates political, regulatory and technical changes, innovations, and progress related to integration of supply-side and demand-side resources. Develops avoided costs computations related to independent power producer contract proposals.
• Resource Planning
  • Develops, modifies, tests, implements, documents, and operates complex technical engineering/scientific programming models supporting effective resource planning evaluations/recommendations. Creates, develops, maintains, and directs the maintenance of critical generation resource databases. Conducts research of current and emerging applications programming technological advances, specifically in modeling and simulation techniques.
• Project Management
  • Prepares and presents administrative reports/documents such as project schedules, project status, strategic action plan, budget inputs, and risk assessments. Serves as the technical advisor and/or consultant for inter-and intra-departmental work groups, as well as Company Representative on specific assignments.
  • Assigns, directs, and reviews work assignments of planning, engineering, and clerical personnel, and provides training as appropriate. Prepares and presents administrative reports/documents such as project status, strategic action plan (goals and objectives), budget inputs, and training requirements.
  • Researches, develops, coordinates, and evaluates political, regulatory, and technical changes, innovations, and progress related to integration of various energy resources to the Oʻahu, Hawaiʻi Island, Maui, Molokaʻi, and Lānaʻi systems.

• Participates in Company emergency response activities as assigned, including any activities required to prepare for such emergency response.

BASIC QUALIFICATIONS:

Knowledge Requirements

• Thorough knowledge of engineering principles and theories normally acquired through a college level curriculum resulting in a bachelor’s degree in a relevant engineering discipline or equivalent experience.
• Thorough knowledge of utility planning principles including, but not limited to, electric power systems generation, transmission, and distribution planning normally acquired through a college level curriculum in a relevant engineering discipline or equivalent utility work experience.
• Thorough knowledge of personal computers, and related software applications to include MS Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and Project. Previous experience with specialized electric utility simulation and resource planning/optimizing models such as Plexos and the ability to develop, modify, test, implement, document, and operate complex technical engineering/scientific computer models in programming languages such as Visual Basic.
• Thorough knowledge of generation resource planning methodology including the integration of supply and demand-side resources. Understanding of transmission and distribution system considerations.
• Thorough understanding of methods of avoided costs computations, and a thorough understanding of executed purchase power agreements with Independent Power Producers.
• Thorough knowledge of utility economic analysis methods including, but not limited to, derivation of financial parameters, calculation of revenue requirements, and the ability to perform various economic analyses.
• Working knowledge of PUC, environmental, and other state and federal laws and regulations as related to planning activities.
• Professional engineer license highly preferred to allow development and/or delivery of planning/engineering expert testimony before the PUC.

Skills Requirements

• Excellent written, verbal, and presentation communication skills. Ability to listen for details, formulate constructive and progressive ideas, and convey information in a positive manner.
• Strong project management and teamwork skills, including the ability to set goals and objectives, design processes and execute accordingly to achieve desired results.
• Ability to identify potential challenges, communicate issues timely and assist with modification of plans to adapt to changing circumstances.
• Strong interpersonal/leadership skills with the ability to work effectively with a variety of individuals, occasionally dealing with sensitive, difficult or confrontational issues.
• Excellent analytical, organizational, conceptual skills, and problem solving skills to handle various complex projects and programs.
• Ability to remain composed and flexible in a demanding work environment and adapt to rapidly changing priorities.
• Ability to develop and maintain working relationships with individuals at all levels.

Experience Requirements

• Multiple (5-7) years experience in one or more of the following areas: power system planning, generation planning, transmission planning, distribution planning or engineering related field.
• Design or operations of utility generation or transmission & distribution systems preferred.

Role: PROFESSIONAL 

Number of Vacancies: 2 

Work Schedule: Monday - Friday

Work Hours: 7:00 am - 3:30 pm 

Location: HECO Ward Avenue  

 Hiring Range: The hiring range for the Renewable Energy Planning Engineer [Req ID 7863] position is 92,300.00 to 117,700.00. The person selected will be placed according to his/her skills and qualifications. The hiring supervisor is ROBERT Y UYEUNTEN.

About Hawaiian Electric Companies
Hawaiian Electric Companies provide electricity and services to 95 percent of the state's 1.4 million residents. The company is also one of the state's leading employers and a major contributor and supporter of community and educational programs.

The demand for power that has fueled the growth of the Hawaiian Islands has been met by Hawaiian Electric Companies for well over a century. And as the next millennium unfolds, the company is committed to providing quality service and seeking clean local energy sources to power generations of Hawaii families and businesses to come. Visit us at http://hawaiianelectric.com.

Interested individuals should apply online. The application must clearly indicate the demonstrated experience/knowledge/skills/abilities the candidate possesses which specifically qualifies him/her for the position.

Should there be no candidates with this experience, the company may consider applicants without such experience who meet the knowledge/skill requirements. If such a candidate is hired, he or she will initially be placed on a development plan commensurate with his/her education and experience level.

Applicant Certification
By submitting an application for the position, candidates:
1. Authorize the Hawaiian Electric Companies to confirm all statements contained in the application and/or any materials submitted and made a part of the application as they relate to the position and to the extent permitted by law;
2. Authorize and consent to, without reservation, the Hawaiian Electric Companies sharing any and all information regarding previous or present employment, educational training or personal information from their records and from any other source with the hiring department or subsidiary company;
3. Release, discharge, and hold harmless, Hawaiian Electric Companies, from any and all liability for any damage which may be claimed as a result of furnishing such information to the hiring department or subsidiary company;
4. Authorizes release and transfer of all personnel records to be maintained by the hiring company in the event of an inter-company transfer; and
5. Authorize, direct, and consent to Hawaiian Electric Companies and/or its authorized agents to conduct investigations into candidates' background. These investigations may include, but are not limited to searches for information about applicants; record of criminal convictions to the extent permitted by law, education records, professional certifications, personal character references, and employment history.

EEO Statement
Hawaiian Electric Companies is an equal employment opportunity/affirmative action employer. We actively seek diversity among our employees. We do not discriminate on the basis of age, race, color, religion, sex/gender (including gender identity/expression), ancestry/national origin, disability, marital status, arrest and court record, sexual orientation, pregnancy, veteran status, genetic information, domestic or sexual violence victim status, or other protected categories in accordance with state and federal laws. We further encourage individuals with disabilities, minorities, veterans and women to apply.

Hawaiian Electric Companies complies with Title I of the Americans with Disabilities Act. Any request for reasonable accommodation needed during the application process should be communicated by the candidate to the HR Service Center at (808) 543-4848.

Affiliate Disclaimer
Hawaiian Electric Company, Inc., Maui Electric Company, and Hawaii Electric Light (“Company”) are Hawaii Public Utilities Commission (“PUC”) regulated companies. The disclosure relating to Affiliate Transaction Requirements that follows is made pursuant to the PUC’s Decision and Order No. 35962, issued on December 19, 2018, and subsequently modified by Order No. 36112, issued on January 24, 2019 in Docket No. 2018-0065.

By submitting your application, you understand and acknowledge that, if you are hired by the Company and subsequently transferred, assigned or otherwise employed by an Affiliate, said Affiliate will be required to make a one-time payment to the Company in an amount up to twenty-five percent (25%) of your base annual compensation.  

In addition, if you are hired by the Company and subsequently transferred, assigned or otherwise employed by an Affiliate or an Affiliate-Related Entity, for a period of one year, you cannot appear in negotiations or otherwise interact directly with the Company or work on the same matter that you worked on while with the Company. 

Affiliate is defined as “any person or entity that possesses an ‘affiliate interest’ in a utility as defined by section 269-19.5, Hawaii Revised Statutes (“HRS”), including a utility’s parent holding company, except as otherwise provided by HRS section 269-19.5(h).”

Affiliate-Related Entity is defined as “a third party that provides electricity-related services in a regulated utility’s service territory that has a material financial, operational, or ownership interest with an unregulated affiliate of the utility and of whom the utility has reasonable knowledge.” 

For a current list of all Affiliates and Affiliate-Related Entities, please see:
https://www.hawaiianelectric.com/about-us/key-performance-metrics/financial/affiliate-transactions

This list may be amended, updated or revised from time to time without notice.