Market Operations Engineer Lead - Electric Reliability Council of Texas

At ERCOT, our diverse and dynamic work environment provides a platform on which employees can work together to build the future of the Texas power grid and wholesale market utilizing the latest technologies and resources. We encourage you to join our talented, dedicated workforce to develop world-class solutions for today and tomorrow’s energy challenges while learning new skills and growing your career. ERCOT is committed to fostering diversity and inclusion at all levels of our company. It is the cornerstone of our corporate values of accountability, leadership, innovation, trust, and expertise. We accept and celebrate those that join us and recognize that individuals with a wide variety of talents, ideas, and experiences propel the innovation that drives our success. A diverse and inclusive workforce strengthens us and allows for a collaborative environment to solve the challenges that face our industry today and in the future. ERCOT offers the flexibility to work both in and out of the office within the state of Texas, providing our employees with an enhanced work life balance. Working in our market operations division allows for a unique and dynamic opportunity to be at the forefront of the wholesale electricity markets in Texas. You will gain hands-on experience in market design initiatives and real-time operations of the wholesale market while developing your leadership, engineering, and data analysis skills. Engineering support for the wholesale electricity market in Texas. Monitors system conditions and market performance. Works closely with both internal and external stakeholders concerning issues related to the wholesale market construct within the ERCOT Protocols. Helps ensure consistency and stability of the market. Acquires the skills and knowledge to provide engineering and analytical support for the wholesale market and grid operations. Prepares and validates models of the electric power systems. Applies principles of electricity market theory to understand market behavior and outcomes. Investigates methods for data analysis to develop improved analytical tools. Monitors and analyzes the wholesale electricity market. Generates and maintains market reports per requests and protocols. Assists the management team and senior experts in providing technical assistance to PUCT, industry and stakeholder groups. Recommends, reviews and tests proposed changes to the ERCOT wholesale market systems and design. Under supervision, helps to ensure all wholesale market activities have been successfully completed per protocols and works closely with Market Participants to resolve issues concerning wholesale market and grid operations. JOB DUTIES Understands the basic principles, theories and concepts related to the profession and learns how to apply them within the ERCOT culture. Follows standard practices and procedures in analyzing situations or data from which answers can be readily obtained. Contributes to specific objectives and outcomes as directed. ADDITIONAL JOB DUTIES Market Operations Engineer 2&3 Assists in monitoring and analyzing the ERCOT wholesale market Develops understanding and knowledge of competitive energy markets and trends Develops and maintains knowledge of the wholesale market and ERCOT grid operations in order to support Market Participant business needs Acquires the skills and knowledge to begin to anticipate and resolve issues within the ERCOT wholesale market and grid operations using power engineering knowledge Generates and maintains market reports per requests and protocols Assists the management team and senior experts in providing technical assistance to PUCT, industry and Stakeholder groups With guidance from senior team members and/or management, assists in addressing Market Participant questions pertaining to the daily market and grid operations activities Attends stakeholder, industry, and PUCT meetings under the direction of the ERCOT management team Escalates issues to the Supervisor and/or Manager in a timely manner when necessary Develops strong working relationships with other internal departments Performs engineering studies using the ERCOT network models to analyze conditions and events on the system Tests and validates changes to market applications Market Operations Engineer Senior (above +) Serves as Subject Matter Expert Uses expert judgment to provide remedies for Market Participants disputes within the ERCOT market Communicates frequently and upon own initiative to stakeholders regarding the application of protocols Generates and/or reviews presentation materials for stakeholder, industry, and ERCOT board meetings Lends professional expertise to guide projects and help teammates as assigned by management Market Operations Engineer Lead (above +) Provides advice and leadership to lower level staff. Makes recommendations to management regarding issues outside of bounds of existing rules and processes. Acts as a business lead for internal and external projects as assigned by management. Works directly with Market Participants and vendors in discussing current systems and reviewing design changes and enhancements. Serves as Subject Matter Expert. Uses expert judgment to provide remedies for Market Participants disputes within the ERCOT market. Communicates frequently and upon own initiative to stakeholders regarding the application of protocols. Generates and/or reviews presentation materials for stakeholder, industry, and ERCOT board meetings. Lends professional expertise to guide projects and help teammates as assigned by management. Design and/or develop analytics tools to monitor and analyze the ERCOT wholesale market. QUALIFICATIONS EDUCATION Bachelor’s degree in Engineering, Economics, or related discipline or a combination of education and experience that provides equivalent knowledge to a major in such fields. REQUIRED EXPERIENCE Level 2- Requires minimum 2 years related work experience in excess of degree requirements. Level 3- Requires minimum 3 years related work experience in excess of degree requirements. Senior Level – Requires minimum 5 years related work experience in excess of degree requirements. Lead Level - Requires minimum 8 years related work experience in excess of degree requirements. Salary and level will be based on overall experience as determined by ERCOT. PREFERRED WORK EXPERIENCE Demonstrates proficient technical skills with common business applications such as EXCEL and PowerPoint. Programming experience preferably with SQL or Python WORK LOCATION – Taylor, TX: Employees will be required to be on-site in Taylor, TX at minimum 2 days per week, or more, as needed based on the business needs as determined by management On-site schedules are flexible or may be rotated based on business needs as determined by the Manager Remote work is required to be performed from your Texas residence. Employees may opt to work on-site more than required or 100% of the time The foregoing description reflects the minimum qualifications and the essential functions of the position that must be performed proficiently with or without reasonable accommodation for individuals with disabilities. It is not an exhaustive list of the duties expected to be performed, and management may, at its discretion, revise or require that other or different tasks be performed as assigned. This job description is not intended to create a contract of employment with ERCOT. Both ERCOT and the employee may exercise their employment-at-will rights at any time. #LI-Hybrid Expected Salary Range: $144,161 - $260,000 Are you an ERCOT Employee? If so please log in to Workday to apply. The Electric Reliability Council of Texas (ERCOT) manages the flow of electric power to 24 million Texas customers - representing about 90 percent of the state's electric load. As the independent system operator for the region, ERCOT schedules power on an electric grid that connects more than 52,700 miles of transmission lines and 1,100 generating units. ERCOT also performs financial settlement for the competitive wholesale bulk-power market and administers retail switching for 8 million premises in competitive choice areas. ERCOT is a membership-based 501(c)(4) nonprofit corporation, governed by a board of directors and subject to oversight by the Public Utility Commission of Texas and the Texas Legislature. ERCOT's members include consumers, cooperatives, generators, power marketers, retail electric providers, investor-owned electric utilities (transmission and distribution providers,) and municipal-owned electric utilities. ERCOT offers an excellent benefits package, which includes health, dental, vision, life insurance, long/short-term disability insurance, long-term care insurance, Section 125 Flexible Spending Account, and a Retirement Savings Plan. The medical, dental, vision, and quality-of-life benefits offered by ERCOT are second to none. Full-time employees are eligible to enroll in benefits on the first of the month following the date of hire. Additionally, 401(k) plans are available to help employees plan for the future. The ERCOT Internship Program provides college students the opportunity to develop their skills in a professional work environment. Each intern will receive unique projects and assignments that aim to solve real challenges facing the electric industry. ERCOT internships provide professional learning experiences that offer meaningful, practical work related to each student's desired career path. Eligible candidates should be enrolled in an academic bachelors or post graduate degree program maintaining a GPA of 3.0 or higher. The ERCOT Engineer Development Program (EDP) is a 12- to 16-month, self-paced program geared toward entry-level engineers looking to start a career in the power industry. Through the program, an EDP Engineer receives one-on-one mentoring, specialized training, and exposure to the work performed by each of the engineering groups at ERCOT. The program allows engineers to develop the fundamental skills necessary to reach their full potential while gaining an understanding of the types of engineering work ERCOT has to offer. EDP management supports participants each step of the way as they progress through the program. Upon completion, graduates are placed as full-time engineers within one of ERCOT’s engineering groups. The GMS Development Program (GDP) is designed to provide entry-level and early career professionals with the skills necessary to become successful Power System and Computer Engineers. The program, which is based in ERCOT’s Grid and Market Solutions (GMS) Department, will provide experience in day-to-day work and instruction in the fundamentals of electric power systems engineering, grid and market applications, software programming, and IT service and operations management. The GDP offers one-on-one mentoring, training, field trips, and special assignments. These assignments allow GDP engineers to become knowledgeable and familiar with the various business areas at ERCOT. The GMS leadership team prepares GDP engineers for a future career at ERCOT in power systems and computer engineering. The System Operator Development Program (ODP) is intended to combine real-time daily operations in an exciting work setting to prepare participants with the vital skills necessary to be successful in such a critical position — providing 24x7x365 on-demand support to manage the flow of electric power to more than 26 million Texas customers. If you are new to the industry, this program introduces you to the Bulk Electric System by combining introductory courses with the NERC Certification Exam Preparation Program in preparation to pass the NERC Certification Exam.