Principal Planning Engineer

Principal Planning Engineer – Permanent Full Time – Perth CBD

We’re seeking an experienced Principal Planning Engineer with strong PLEXOS modelling expertise to provide technical leadership across system and transmission planning and play a key role in delivering studies that shape large‑scale, complex engineering projects. In this role, you’ll lead and mentor high‑performing engineers while developing study scopes, technical justification, and business cases that underpin major network and market‑facing investments.

You’ll be accountable for delivering high‑quality power system and market studies, leveraging PLEXOS to inform system limits, outage planning, operational constraints, and long‑term network investment decisions. You’ll also ensure studies progress through the required governance, approvals, and budget processes in a timely and well‑controlled manner.

Your Role in Action  

• Provide accurate and robust technical advice to support Area Manager decisions, initiatives and business objectives, with a focus on PLEXOS-based studies.
• Lead and quality‑assure PLEXOS studies supporting system normal and planned outage conditions, including the development of network limit equations and constraints provided to AEMO.
• Oversee technical, economic, and commercial assurance of Planning Engineer outputs, including new connection studies, plant modifications, operational procedures, and incident investigations.
• Develop and maintain PLEXOS models, assumptions, processes, and documentation to ensure consistency, transparency, and regulatory confidence.
• Assist Planning Engineers in determining complex network limitation equations, translating detailed modelling outputs into clear operational and planning advice.
• Perform risk assessments and contingency planning for system conditions outside planning criteria, including delayed reinforcements, unforeseen load or generation connections, and abnormal operating scenarios.
• Undertake and oversee specialist power system studies, including rotor angle, small signal, frequency and voltage stability, electromagnetic transients, and other advanced analyses as required.
• Support incident investigations and work with generators and customers to define control system settings that maximise power system security; witness and assess generator compliance testing where required.
• Provide senior technical support across Asset Planning, Operations Planning, and Transmission Planning teams, including coaching and mentoring of Planning, Senior Planning, and Graduate Engineers.
• Drive continuous improvement through research, innovation, and the introduction of improved modelling tools, techniques, and ways of working (including enhancements to PLEXOS workflows).
• Manage accurate budgeting and cost tracking for customer‑funded and internal projects to meet estimates and avoid overruns.
• Build strong relationships with internal and external stakeholders, including System Management, Access Solutions, Customer Relations, AEMO, project managers, peer engineering functions, generators, and major customers.
• Foster a collaborative, open, and high‑trust team environment that promotes technical excellence, sound economic principles, and commercial acumen.

What Makes You a Great Fit

• Degree Qualification in Engineering (Electrical) discipline.
• Eligible for CPEng / NPER registration.
• Relevant broad and extensive knowledge and expertise with demonstrated strong technical experience covering the following areas:
  • Planning, design, operation and maintenance of electricity transmission networks;
  • Large generation and load connection studies including assessment of dynamic behaviour, control system assessments and tuning of parameters;
  • Generator compliance testing;
  • Economic and financial evaluation techniques.
• Extensive knowledge of the techniques and systems associated with effective dynamic, transient, power quality and capacity planning assessments. Specific knowledge of power system analysis in respect to dynamic, transient and other performances and including harmonics and electromagnetic transients and corona.
• Strong knowledge of power system plant and application, with direct experience in planning or power system analysis.
• Good understanding of energy and capacity market principles and strong knowledge of utility regulatory frameworks.
• Extensive knowledge and experience in the development, implementation and maintenance of constraint equations.
• Broad and or deep range of technical knowledge and expertise gained through comprehensive experience in generator compliance testing, small signal stability analysis and control system tuning requirements.
• High competency in report writing with excellent interpersonal, communication and negotiation skills.

By joining Western Power, you will contribute to powering a cleaner energy future. We are dedicated to fostering career development and promoting a healthy work-life balance, empowering you to drive innovation as we develop a network that will serve the Western Australian community for generations. You will also benefit from a range of perks and opportunities, including:

• Over 50% of our employment opportunities are driven by career progression.  
• Flexible work arrangements to support part time work, working hours and working from home arrangements. 
• The opportunity to purchase up to four weeks of additional leave per year. 
• Access to salary packaging, social club activities, and discounted health insurance and gym membership. 
• An award-winning employee recognition and benefits programme. 
• An innovative team culture that’s enabling the transition to renewable energy and decarbonisation.   
• In addition to standard leave, enjoy three wellness leave days each year.
• Access to end-of-trip facilities at our Perth office and South Metro Depot, perfect for cyclists.
• 22 weeks paid parental leave and 5 days of First Nations cultural leave to support family and cultural connections.

Applications close on 21 April 2026. 

We value diversity and inclusivity, encouraging applications from all backgrounds, including women, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people, and LGBTQIA+ communities. As a WORK180-endorsed employer for women, we are proud of our commitment to inclusion. You can learn more about this through our Reconciliation Action Plan and Disability Access and Inclusion Plan. 

Learn more about Western Power here: About (westernpower.com.au) 

Find out how we’re building A Network for Life: A network for life (westernpower.com.au)