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The Public Utilities Commission is looking for their next Regulatory Engineer who will be responsible for directing the comprehensive technical engineering function for the Commission related to distributed energy resources which includes interconnection, energy storage, and distribution grid hosting capacity. This individual will also be responsible for making expert technical engineering recommendations in the review, analysis, and coordination of the activities of professional engineers and technical support staff.  The overall goal of this position will be to ensure that programs and procedures are effectively and efficiently administered in accordance with established engineering standards. 

Responsibilities include:

• Advise Commissioners and Commission staff on how to apply the appropriate statewide interconnection standards and technical requirements and known good utility practice or industry standards to integrated distribution planning, hosting capacity, and contested issues in DER dockets and complaints.
• Lead on work related to the statewide Technical Interconnection and Interoperability Requirements, including supporting the Distributed Generation Workgroup’s Technical Subgroup and review of utility Technical Specification Manuals.
• Monitor utility and DER industry technical standards and good utility practice.

The Public Utilities Commission does not sponsor applicants for work visas or Optional Practical Training Extensions for STEM Students.  Individuals must be legally authorized to work in the US at the start of employment.

This is a "hybrid" telework eligible position that will require in-person meetings as well as in-office work, the ability to telework will be based on business needs of the unit and is at supervisory discretion.

This position is eligible for relocation expenses per the MN Govt Engineers Council contract and will be addressed as necessary during the interview process.

Minimum Qualifications

Two (2) years of professional engineering experience that demonstrate the following duties:

• Ability and /or experience understanding and interpreting power flow models, system impact studies, facilities studies, and affected system studies
• Ability and/ or experience differentiating between technical and policy considerations

And

• Bachelors degree in Engineering from an EAC-ABET accredited engineering program
• An EIT Certificate with the Minnesota Board of Architecture, Engineering, Land Surveying, Landscape Architecture, Geoscience and Interior Design (AELSLAGID) or successful completion of the Fundamentals of Engineering (FE) Exam within eighteen months of employment

An advanced degree in Electrical Engineering, Power System Engineering, or another related field will substitute for professional experience, as follows:

Doctorate degree = 2 years of experience

Master's degree = 18 months of experience

Minimum Qualifications assessed at interview

• Ability and/or experience understanding or applying federal, state, and local laws and regulations concerning interconnection of distributed energy resources operated in parallel with an electric utility’s distribution grid.
• Ability to communicate in writing and orally on complex technical engineering issues to a broad audience.
• Leadership and interpersonal skills needed to resolve issues, identify rationale behind areas of agreement and disagreement, and identify possible solutions.

Preferred Qualifications

• Utility distribution engineering and/or DER engineering experience
• Understanding and/or experience with industry standards and practice related to DER and distribution-level interconnection.
• Five (5) years of professional engineering experience
• Licensure as a professional engineer with the Minnesota Board of Architecture, Engineering, Land Surveying, Landscape Architecture, Geoscience, and Interior Design (AELSLAGID) or ability to obtain licensure through Comity (Reciprocity). (If obtaining licensure through Comity, a temporary permit from AELSLAGID must be provided to PUC HR prior to starting employment.)
• Experience working with people of diverse backgrounds and marginalized communities.

Additional Requirements

This position requires successful completion of a background and reference check.

About Minnesota Public Utilities Commission

The Minnesota Public Utilities Commission (Commission) regulates three cornerstone service industries in Minnesota's economy, i.e., electricity, natural gas and telephone. The Commission’s mission is to create and maintain a regulatory environment that ensures safe, adequate and efficient utility services at fair, reasonable rates consistent with State telecommunications and energy policies. It does so by providing independent, consistent, professional and comprehensive oversight and regulation of utility service providers. One of the key functions of the commission in performing this mission is to balance the private and public interests affected in each docket, and to make decisions that appropriately balance these interests in a manner that is “consistent with the public interest.”

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