Principal Planning Engineer

Principal Planning Engineer – Perth CBD – Permanent Full Time

We are seeking a highly skilled and experienced Principal Planning Engineer to provide technical leadership in our Grid Transformation function within Western Power. This role offers the chance to drive innovation and shape the future of Western Australia’s power system by providing expert technical leadership in transmission planning activities and the mentorship/development of a high-performing, technically proficient team.

The incumbent will specialise in the strategic planning and the facilitation of large transmission customer connections, including the integrating of large renewable energy sources (solar, wind), battery storage systems, large mining customers and strategic industrial developments. You will be responsible for ensuring the smooth integration of complex transmission infrastructure, focusing on optimizing system performance, reliability, and meeting regulatory requirements. You will collaborate with internal teams, external customers, and regulatory bodies to drive the success of key projects that contribute to the future of energy transmission.

The role requires both technical leadership capabilities, as well as excellent customer-facing communication skills, balancing the needs of existing customers, State government strategic objectives and the vast number of large transmission customers seeking connection to the Western Power transmission network.

If you’re passionate about working on large-scale, complex engineering projects, enabling meaningful decarbonisation outcomes, whilst ensuring a secure, reliable, and evolving energy network is maintained, 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.
• 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
• Justify complex transmission projects, provide operational advice, and manage stakeholder expectations.
• Drive process improvements through research, development, and innovative technology.
• 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. Witness and assess generator compliance tests.
• Mentor Planning Engineers and Senior Planning Engineers to nurture an environment of technical excellence, economic principle 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, 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;
  • 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 1 December 2025.

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) 

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