Principal Engineer - WA System Design and Transformation

Division: Western Australia & Strategy

Department: WA System Design & Transformation

Reference number: 13000

Engagement type: Permanent

AEMO at the Heart of Energy AEMO is Australia’s independent energy system and market operator and system planner. AEMO’s purpose is to ensure safe, reliable and affordable energy today, and enable the energy transition for the benefit of all Australians. Australian governments are now committed to a net zero economy for Australia by 2050 and our vision is to enable this. We have the once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to co-design the future of our energy systems, and our core values revolve around character, commitment, and connection. Join us as we contribute to this significant transition in the energy sector.

About The Role AEMO’s WA Future System Design & Transformation group is focussed on how we navigate the energy future, through identifying, planning for and managing emerging system challenges and opportunities, whilst ensuring Western Australians continue to have access to secure, reliable and affordable energy in the years to come. The WA Future System Engineering Team (FSE) takes a future-focussed and pragmatic system-wide engineering perspective to the SWIS’ energy transition. It is responsible for identifying, prioritising solutions to, and mobilising industry wide collaboration and support for, the most critical technical challenges of the energy transition.

Focused on the future of Western Australia’s main electricity system – the South West Interconnected System (SWIS) – and gas sector, you will be responsible for leading future focused engineering studies that support AEMO's ability to maintain power system security and reliability in the SWIS. This position will provide technical leadership within the WA FSE team and is responsible for supporting delivery of the broad scope of actions set out in AEMO's SWIS Engineering Roadmap, enabling the SWIS to transition to 100% renewables.

What You Will Be Doing

Support and lead delivery of major system design and transformation initiatives under the SWIS Engineering Roadmap and work collaboratively to coordinate and optimise delivery with other related engineering initiatives.

Define and deliver engineering studies and advice with considerations of the practicalities of timescales and the operational lens of AEMO.

Provide engineering expertise and advisory services to support reform development and implementation, by ensuring that new policy, regulatory and market mechanisms take appropriate account of technical and power system engineering requirements. This includes the delivery of projects and initiatives that help proponents value the service contributions from their assets, and early works for transition points, ready for handover to AEMO Operations

Translate AEMO’s latest technical understanding from the SWIS Engineering Roadmap into a form that can be easily digested by participants, market bodies, governments, and a wider non-technical audience.

Through this role, maximise the impact of Engineering Roadmap implementation efforts, helping communicate the value of AEMO’s work, and strengthening AEMO’s position as a trusted thought leader for the energy transition.

What You Will Bring To The Role

Degree in power system engineering or related field.

Deep expertise in the operation and planning of large power systems, and the engineering challenges that need to be addressed as the SWIS transitions.

Knowledge of electrical power system modelling and analysis tools (e.g., DIgSILENT PowerFactory, MATLAB, PSCAD) with the ability to automate processes and programs using a relevant programming language (e.g., Python).

Demonstrated experience making innovation and change happen, thinking strategically about the requirements of the future, being comfortable with ambiguity, and driving pragmatic outcomes in the face of resistance.

Experience in facilitating industry working groups and negotiating the resolution of complex issues across stakeholders with competing objectives and a variety of commercial and reputational drivers.

Benefits In return some of our benefits to you

Flexible working: work from home, part time, job share, hybrid options, and additional leave options

Professional development via projects, industry networks, job rotation, study assistance and more.

Give back with up to 4 days of volunteering leave per year.

Reward your hard work with annual performance bonuses (subject to eligibility).

Embrace a healthier you with our wellness program, discounted health insurance, gym perks and our comprehensive Employee Assistance Program (EAP).

About Our Process At AEMO we are committed to creating a diverse and inclusive workforce. We welcome people of all backgrounds, including people with disabilities and neurodivergence and those who identify as Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander. If you have any accessibility requireme nt s to support you during the application or interview process, simply let us know by emailing us a t talent@aemo.com.au

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