Expert Grid Innovation Engineer

We’re seeking a curious, tenacious professional to support cross-departmental innovation efforts on PG&E’s electric transmission grid. This role is ideal for someone who has built a strong foundation in electric power systems and has developed a product-oriented mind- and skill set. In this position you’ll have a unique opportunity to influence how California's transmission grid evolves to support electrification, data center growth, and emerging energy technologies. Successful solutions developed in this role may influence future transmission planning and operational practices within PG&E and across the utility industry. The successful candidate will begin their assignment with a six-month rotation in Transmission Planning to deepen their understanding of PG&E's planning processes, tools, and interconnection challenges before transitioning into the Grid Innovation role to apply those insights to transmission innovation initiatives. This is a highly collaborative role that requires empathy, technical fluency, and a systems-thinking approach. You’ll be a connector breaking complex challenges into actionable solutions, bridging transmission planning with real-time operations, and technical ingenuity with customer needs. This position is hybrid, working from your remote office and your assigned work location based on business need. The assigned work location is in Oakland, CA. The team has an expectation of working from Oakland office up to several days per month. Also, the role will require up to 20% travel throughout PG&E’s service territory. PG&E is providing the full salary/pay range for this position. The actual amount paid to an individual will be based on multiple factors, including, but not limited to, internal equity, specific skills, education, licenses or certifications, experience, market value, and geographic location. The range to reasonably expect will be between the minimum and the midpoint of the range. The final decision will be made on a case-by-case basis related to the factors above. This job is also eligible to participate in PG&E’s discretionary incentive compensation programs. Bay Area Minimum: $140,000.00 Bay Area Midpoint: $189,000.00 Bay Area Maximum: $238,000.00 Reporting Relationship This position will have a matrixed reporting structure. You will primarily report to the Manager of Innovation Framework & Execution, with additional reporting responsibilities to leaders within Transmission Planning and Large Load Development teams. You will collaborate closely with Transmission Operations and Local Customer Engagement teams. Job Responsibilities Lead innovation for transmission grid transformation Drive the assessment and development of new technologies and processes to expand grid capacity and flexibility Collaborate with internal teams, utilities, and vendors to evaluate and iterate on innovative new solutions Benchmark industry best-practices for large-load interconnections, especially data centers Keep the customer experience at the center of every solution Develop business plans that articulate the expected benefits and costs of innovative solutions, with a close eye on rate and systems impacts Translate technical findings into compelling executive summaries that inform enterprise decision-making Pilot, learn, and scale novel transmission solutions Stand up cross-functional teams and project governance to pilot novel technology pilots with real impacts on large-load customers Translate complex discussions with inherent uncertainty into tactical checklists of clear next steps, following PG&E’s Lean Operating System Facilitate cross-functional evaluations of pilot outcomes and develop recommendations for scaling successful solutions Evaluate solution feasibility, operational readiness, and scalability, and develop implementation roadmaps from concept through deployment Support broader transmission innovation initiatives Flexibly jump in to support emerging relevant priorities across GRID Act as transmission innovation subject matter expert during PG&E-hosted events such as Pitch Fest Qualifications Minimum: Bachelor’s Degree in engineering or equivalent experience Experience with grid modeling software (e.g. CYMDIST, PSLF, TARA, Aspen, or similar tools) 7 years of electric utility related experience Desired: Bachelor’s degree in Electrical Engineering 8+ years of electric utility, transmission planning, transmission operations, or related power systems experience Previous experience in power flow, short circuit, and transient studies Previous experience with writing code using Python and EPCL Familiarity with NERC TPL-001-05, MOD-26, and MOD-32 standards Experience with grid digital twins, AI/ML applications, and advanced analytics Experience evaluating DERMS, EMS, ADMS, or grid flexibility management platforms Experience supporting large-load, hyperscale, or data center interconnections Experience evaluating emerging technologies, startups, or conducting technical due diligence Technology innovation, R&D, or pilot deployment experience Advanced degree (M.S. or Ph.D.) in Electrical Engineering or related field preferred Knowledge, Skills, Abilities Ability to lead and influence cross-functional technical teams and project stakeholders Strong communication and presentation skills, with the ability to translate complex technical information into clear, actionable insights for audiences at all levels. Ability to adapt to change and quickly pivot, with a strong bias for action and results Ability to be creative, versatile, efficient, and productive in the face of ambiguity and change Ability to lead complex, cross-functional initiatives that impact multiple business functions Ability to rigorously define and enforce prioritization of feature development, defeating scope creep and delivering the most impactful iterative results