Principal Planning Engineer

Principle Planning Engineer – Permanent Full Time – Perth CBD

We are seeking a highly skilled and strategic engineering leader to drive innovation in our Grid Transformation function. This role offers the chance to shape the future of WA’s power system, providing expert technical leadership in transmission planning while mentoring a high-performing team. If you’re passionate about large-scale, complex engineering projects and want to play a pivotal role in ensuring a secure, reliable, and evolving energy network, we’d love to hear from you! 

Your Role in Action  

• Provide accurate and robust technical advice to support Area Manager decisions, initiatives and business objectives.
• Prepare transmission strategies, standards and guidelines to enable a transmission system fit for the future
• Scope and justify complex transmission projects, provide operational advice, and manage stakeholder expectations.
• Drive process improvements through research, development, and innovative technology
• Provide technical, economic and commercial quality assurance assessment of Planning Engineer reports, including new connection studies, existing plant modifications, incident reports and operational procedures etc
• Develop tools, processes, and documentation to support network limit equations for AEMO.
• Assist Planning Engineers with the determination of complex network limitation equations.
• Conduct risk assessments and contingency planning for system operations beyond Planning Criteria.
• Perform specialist studies relating to rotor angle, small signal, frequency and voltage stability, electromagnetic transients and corona.
• Perform incident investigations and work with generators and customers to define control system settings to maximise power system security.
• Mentor Planning Engineers and Senior Planning Engineers to nurture an environment of technical excellence, economic principles and commercial acumen.
• Provide technical support to the Asset and Operations planning teams.
• Manage project budgets to meet estimates and prevent overruns.
• Build strong relationships with key stakeholders, including AEMO, EPWA, System Management, and customers.

What Makes You a Great Fit 

• Degree Qualification in Engineering (Electrical) discipline
  Eligible for CPEng / NPER registration
• At least 9 + years 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;
  • Strategy, standards and model development
  • Large generation and load connection studies including assessment of dynamic behaviour, control system assessments and tuning of parameters.
  • 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 transmission networks
• 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.

Applications close on 23rd May 2025 

We value diversity and inclusivity, encouraging applications from all backgrounds, including women, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people, and LGBTQIA+ communities. Find out more about 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)