Lead Market Operations Engineer - Demand Response

Provides advanced engineering and analytical support for the Texas wholesale electricity market and ERCOT grid operations. Monitors system conditions and market performance, applies electricity market theory to understand market behavior and outcomes, and anticipates and resolves issues within the ERCOT Protocols framework. Works with limited supervision and serves as a technical resource to Market Participants, the PUCT, industry and stakeholder groups, and internal departments. Develops improved analytical tools, validates proposed market system changes, and supports demand integration, load profiling and demand response initiatives. Provides guidance to less experienced team members.

Job Duties – Senior level

• Monitors and analyzes the ERCOT wholesale market and grid conditions and recommends design and system modifications and enhancements as needed to efficiently integrate demand-side participation.
• Anticipates and resolves issues within the ERCOT wholesale market and grid operations using power engineering knowledge and experience.
• Performs engineering studies using the ERCOT network models to analyze conditions and events on the system.
• Prepares and validates models of electric power systems and applies electricity market theory to explain market behavior and outcomes.
• Maintains advanced knowledge of competitive energy markets, industry trends, the ERCOT Protocols and grid operations in order to advance demand integration efforts.
• Generates and maintains market reports per requests and Protocols.
• Proposes and creates new solutions for data acquisition, analysis and reporting, applying tools such as SQL, SAS and Python.
• Supports the development and revision of Protocols, guides and business procedures related to the wholesale market and demand integration.
• Addresses Market Participant questions pertaining to daily market and grid operations activities, including load profiling and modeling.
• Supports load sampling, data collection and analysis, and the maintenance of profiling and modeling systems used for demand integration.
• Contributes to cross-functional, matrixed teams, setting goals and priorities, aligning timelines and deliverables with subject matter experts, and driving demand response initiatives to completion.
• Develops and applies proven and innovative approaches to quantifying the impact of ERCOT and Market Participant demand response programs.
• Provides technical assistance to the management team, the PUCT, industry and stakeholder groups, including support for demand response program development.
• Attends stakeholder, industry and PUCT meetings, provides technical input, and prepares and delivers presentations to internal groups, and Market Participant subcommittees and committees.
• Works independently, using sound judgment, and escalates issues to the Supervisor and/or Manager in a timely manner when necessary.
• Builds strong working relationships with internal departments and external stakeholders.
• Mentors and provides technical guidance to less experienced engineers and analysts.

Job Duties – Lead level (above plus)

• Sets the technical vision and direction for wholesale market engineering, anticipating emerging market, grid and load trends and translating them into long-range priorities and roadmaps for the organization.
• Develops and applies proven and innovative approaches to quantifying the impact of ERCOT and Market Participant demand response programs.
• Serves as a recognized subject matter expert who develops new theories, methods and market-design concepts that shape the future ERCOT market construct.
• Evaluates market performance and emerging risks and proposes strategic market design and system enhancements aligned with ERCOT reliability and market objectives.
• Anticipates enterprise-wide issues before they materialize and develops creative, durable solutions, exercising wide latitude for decisions whose impact extends beyond the department.
• Defines the strategy and standards for engineering studies and power system modeling, including forward-looking scenario analysis, and directs the work of others performing them.
• Provides strategic direction for load profiling, modeling and demand integration, anticipating the reliability impacts of substantial new load growth and overseeing the data and systems that support it.
• Sets scope and direction for multi-phase projects that implement and enhance market operations systems, aligning delivery with long-term strategic priorities.
• Shapes the long-term evolution of ERCOT Protocols, guides and business procedures, including those enabling market participation in demand response programs.
• Develops and drives the strategy for demand response program development and consolidation across departments, holding teams accountable for successful implementation.
• Leads cross-functional, matrixed teams, setting goals and priorities, aligning timelines and deliverables with subject matter experts, and driving demand response initiatives to completion.
• Influences regulatory direction by providing strategic input to the PUCT and other regulators on proposals and rulemakings, anticipating the market and reliability impacts of policy changes.
• Represents ERCOT as an industry thought leader on panels, committees, advisory boards and working groups, and brings back industry practices and insights that inform ERCOT strategy.
• Builds consensus among stakeholders with differing interests, including Market Participants and the Independent Market Monitor, to advance market solutions.
• Advises senior executives, Board members and regulators on strategic challenges, opportunities and tradeoffs, communicating complex technical topics to diverse audiences.
• Defines the vision for data acquisition, analytical tools and reporting capabilities, sponsoring innovation and overseeing the market reports produced per requests and Protocols.
• Serves as the escalation point for complex Market Participant disputes and questions, identifying systemic root causes and driving procedural or design changes that prevent recurrence.
• Identifies and drives business process improvements, and tracks and forecasts demand response trends and their potential impacts on ERCOT.
• Builds strategic partnerships with universities and other RTO/ISOs, publishes market-leading conceptual papers, and develops the next generation of technical leaders through mentoring and coaching, fostering a high-performing, collaborative culture.

REQUIRED EXPERIENCE

• Senior: Minimum of 5 years of job-related work experience in excess of degree requirements.
• Lead: Minimum of 8 years of job-related work experience in excess of degree requirements.

Salary and level will be based on overall experience as determined by ERCOT.

PREFERRED EXPERIENCE

• Experience performing data analysis and engineering studies in the electric utility or wholesale electricity market environment.
• Ability to communicate technical subject matter effectively to a diverse range of audiences.
• Proficiency in SQL and/or SAS.
• Experience with data analysis using Python.
• Knowledge of ERCOT markets, ERCOT Protocols and the ERCOT stakeholder process.
• Knowledge of demand response programs, in ERCOT and/or other jurisdictions.

EDUCATION

• Bachelor’s Degree: Electrical Engineering or related field (Required).
• Or a combination of education and experience that provides equivalent knowledge to a major in such fields is required.

WORK LOCATION – Taylor, TX:

• Employees will be required to be on-site in Taylor, TX at a minimum of 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. ,

ERCOT is firmly committed to equal employment for all qualified persons without regard to race, sex, medical condition, religion, age, creed, national origin, citizenship status, marital status, sexual orientation, physical or mental disability, ancestry, veteran status, genetic information or any other protected category under federal, state or local law.

Expected Salary Range:

About Us

The Electric Reliability Council of Texas (ERCOT) manages the flow of electric power to 27 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 54,100 miles of transmission lines and 1,250 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 Benefits

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.

Internship Program

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.

Engineer Development Program

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.

Grid and Market Solutions Development Program

System Operator Development Program

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.