Early Career Electrical Engineer (ESSP)

WSP is currently initiating a search for an Early Career Electrical Engineering (ESSP) for our Phoenix, Arizona office.  The following location will also be considered: San Diego, California

Be involved in projects with our Power Delivery ESSP department and be a part of a growing organization that meets our clients' objectives and solves their challenges.  

This Opportunity

The successful applicant will be responsible for performing electrical studies and/or developing and troubleshooting supervisory control and data acquisition (SCADA) systems for utility and industrial/commercial clients. Applicable power systems primarily include conventional and renewable generation facilities, substations, transmission systems, and distribution systems.

Your Impact

• Protective Relaying: short circuit and symmetrical component analysis, time-current coordination, protection scheme and criteria development, relay settings calculation, integration with SCADA systems, NERC compliance, and arc flash analysis.  Applicable software:  AcSELerator Quickset (SEL-5030), AcSELerator Architect, GE Enervista, ASPEN Oneliner, SKM-PTW, ETAP, RSCAD/RTDS Bullet 2 related to impact and responsibilities of the role 

• Power System Planning Studies: steady-state real and reactive power flow including outage contingencies, generation interconnect feasibility, P-V and Q-V analysis for voltage stability margins, dynamic stability performance, automation of large batch simulations, working with models from NERC regional entities (WECC, MRO, SERC etc.), NERC compliance.  Applicable Software: PSS/E, PSLF, PowerWorld, Python Scripting 

• Design Studies: substation grounding, corona and electric and magnetic fields, insulation coordination (lightning, switching surge, and contamination performance), transient (time domain) simulation, power quality (harmonics, voltage flicker, over/under voltage, etc.), motor starting, AC interference (transmission line interaction with railroads and pipelines).  Applicable Software: CDEGS, ATP-EMTP, PSCAD

• Networking and Communications: design and configure network and communication paths for Remote Terminal Units (RTUs), protective relays, meters, Human Machine Interface (HMIs), PLC’s and other SCADA system equipment; develop basic specifications for fiber optic, microwave, power line carrier, or radio communication paths; travel to project sites to troubleshoot and commission network and communication systems.  Applicable network and communication protocols: DNP, Modbus, SEL Communication Protocol, Goose Messaging, IEC 61850 

• Logic and Control Systems: develop and implement logic and control schemes for remote and local operation of power system equipment; develop programs on various platforms for implementation of these schemes; travel to project sites to test and commission the control schemes.  Applicable Logic and Control Platforms: SEL RTAC, Orion, Cooper SMP, GE-D20

• Data Acquisition: Prepare points lists of all data to be transferred between control centers and controlled apparatus, assign and program data addressing and routing information, develop Human Machine Interface (HMI) screens, travel to project sites to test and commission data transfer schemes. Applicable Software: Wonderware, Clearview, AcSELerator RTAC, Visual Basic, OSIPI, Python scripting, etc. 

• Support senior engineers with research and recommendations of fundamental components identified in design requirements, as well as field equipment applications and operations.

• Write technical reports summarizing research with findings and conclusions, generating complete, accurate, and concise documentation using sketches, calculations, electronic systems, spreadsheets, and software.

• Assist technical staff and project managers with risk identification and assessment, offering input and analysis with design concepts, construction, mitigation and improvement activities, and remediation projects.

• Work with cross-functional teams in executing project work, including project controls, business deployment, construction, procurement, document control, and permitting teams.

• Complete training on assigned tasks.

• Perform additional responsibilities as required by business needs.

• Exercise responsible and ethical decision-making regarding company funds, resources, and conduct, and adhere to WSP’s Code of Conduct and related policies and procedures. 

• Perform additional responsibilities as required by business needs. 

Who You Are

Required Qualifications

• Must be recent Engineering Graduate (Bachelor’s Degree), or enrolled in a university pursuing a degree in engineering 

• Analytical mindset with an ability to exercise sound judgement in evaluating situations and making decisions.

• Strong interpersonal and communication skills when interacting with others, expressing ideas effectively and professionally to an engineering and non-engineering audience.

• Ability to work independently with minimal supervision, as well as part of a team to meet business objectives.

• Basic proficiency with technical writing, office automation, software, technology, math principles, predictive models, spreadsheets, and tools.

• Proven track record of upholding workplace safety and ability to abide by WSP’s health, safety and drug/alcohol and harassment policies. 

• Ability to work schedules conducive to project-specific requirements that may extend beyond the typical workweek.

• Occasional travel may be required depending on project-specific requirements.

Preferred Qualifications

• Within one (1) year of graduation 

• GPA above 3.0/4.0 

• Power system courses covering topics such as three-phase power, load flow and reactive compensation, protective relaying, symmetrical components, transmission line theory, power system transients, dynamic stability, and power system electromagnetics 

• Internships and experience in technical areas and software listed in the Job Description section 

• Engineer In Training (EIT) certification, with the expectation to work toward professional engineering registration (PE) 

Disclaimer:  

• Relocation assistance is not available for this position. 

WSP Benefits:  

WSP provides a comprehensive suite of benefits focused on providing health and financial stability throughout the employee’s career. These benefits include coverage related to medical, dental, vision, disability, and life; retirement savings; paid sick leave; paid vacation (or other personal time); paid parental leave; and paid time off for purposes of bereavement, voting, and/or attendance at naturalization proceedings.  

Compensation:

Expected Salary (all locations): $76,800 - $93,800

WSP USA is providing the compensation range that the company in good faith believes it might pay and offer for this position, based on the successful applicant’s education, experience, knowledge, skills, abilities in addition to internal equity and specific geographic location. WSP USA reserves the right to ultimately pay more or less than the posted range and offer additional benefits and other compensation, depending on circumstances not related to an applicant’s sex or other status protected by local, state, and/or federal law.