Lead Engineer, System Performance
Top Benefits
About the role
The Alberta Electric System Operator (AESO) is responsible for the safe, reliable, and economic planning and operation of the Alberta Interconnected Electric System. We provide open and non-discriminatory access to Alberta’s interconnected power grid and also facilitate Alberta’s competitive wholesale electricity market. The AESO strives to foster an inclusive, diverse and equitable workplace where people feel respected and welcomed for who they are, together we deliver high performance and innovative results.
Job Description
If you are a current AESO employee or contractor, please view openings and apply through our internal site at
Workday
.
Reporting to the Manager, Reliability Requirements & Market Support, the Lead Engineer, System Performance will lead technical assessments to address emerging system performance challenges driven by increasing non-controllable generation. Key issues include real-time balancing, frequency regulation, and decreasing system strength.
The role involves using advanced modeling tools to analyze system behavior, define study scopes, and identify solutions through updates to ancillary services, ISO rules, market design, reliability standards, and operational procedures. The Lead Engineer will also guide junior engineers and collaborate across AESO teams and with external stakeholders.
This position is ideal for someone who can bridge engineering and market perspectives to enhance system reliability in a transforming grid.
This full-time opportunity offers a competitive salary, and a variable pay program. We also have paid vacation and flex time, health and dental benefits, mental health support, a defined contribution pension plan, and learning and development opportunities as part of your overall compensation package. We support a hybrid work environment, where the team is in the office on Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays. Mondays and Fridays are flexible for where you work best.
You will enjoy working with us if:
- You flourish in a hybrid work environment, where the team is in the office on Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays. Mondays and Fridays are flexible for where you work best.
- You thrive in a fast-paced, challenging, and dynamic environment and are looking for an opportunity to embark on transformative industry change.
- You enjoy working in a team of bright professionals, and work and learn in a diverse atmosphere – our team and colleagues have varied backgrounds, experiences, and perspectives.
- You embrace change and pivot and adapt with ease.
- You have a curious mind and appreciate opportunities to broaden your skill set.
- Your superior time management and prioritization skills show your strong commitment to meeting deadlines and providing sound judgement calls.
- You have a strong business acumen, combined with the ability to work with internal and external stakeholders in a professional and constructive manner.
- You have a knack for leading, motivating, and mentoring staff.
- You value professionalism and understand the importance of handling sensitive/confidential situations delicately.
- You are interested and engaged in both technical leadership and helping people achieve their key results and career objectives.
Accountabilities include but are not limited to:
- Lead the development, maintenance, and/or procurement of software and models to assess system performance, including in the areas of demand balancing and frequency regulation.
- Identify and implement opportunities for improving system performance.
- Implement and oversee system performance monitoring.
- Supervise, train, and develop engineers working in the same or related areas.
- Participate in market evolution initiatives by advising on the engineering impacts of changes and overseeing their implementation in a systems context.
What you’ll bring to us:
-
B.Sc. in Electrical Engineering or a related field
-
P.Eng., registered or eligible for registration with APEGA
-
12+ years of electric power industry experience, with solid technical knowledge in power system operations.
-
Technical expertise is required in the areas of:
- Power system dynamics, especially in the context of frequency stability
- Control systems
- Simulation and modeling, especially in the context of electrical systems
- Probabilistic analysis, especially in the context of reliability
- Generator and/or IBR operations and technical capabilities
- Performance monitoring, especially in the context of compliance with ISO rules
-
The role requires:
- Understanding the interplay between system performance objectives, technical specifications or requirements, AS product design, and economic costs and benefits
- Productive interdisciplinary collaboration, involving the communication of complex engineering concepts to experts in other areas
- Understanding the legal / regulatory framework that applies to the Alberta electricity industry
- Strategic thinking, critical thinking, and creativity
-
The exercise of influence across the AESO and the electricity industry
Application deadline: August 5, 2025
#LI-Hybrid
If you are contacted for a pre-screening and/or interview, please advise of any accommodation measures required to enable you to fully participate. Information received relating to accommodation measures will be addressed confidentially.
The Alberta Electric System Operator is unable to accept unsolicited agency resumes.
The Alberta Electric System Operator, and its members, officers, employees and agents (collectively, the "AESO") is committed to protecting personal information provided to it. When you submit your personal information to the AESO for the purpose of pursuing employment with the AESO, the collection, use and disclosure of personal information is in accordance with the provisions of the Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act (FOIP Act) of Alberta.
As noted, the AESO is mandated to maintain the safe and reliable operations of the provincial power grid. As part of meeting its obligations, the AESO may require the successful candidate to undergo a criminal background check for the position. This collection of personal information for the purposes of a check will be conducted in accordance with Section 33 of the FOIP Act.
About Alberta Electric System Operator
The Alberta Electric System Operator (AESO) manages and operates the provincial power grid.
We're a not-for-profit organization serving in the public interest. We work with industry partners and the government to make sure reliable power is there when you need it. Whatever changes happen in the world, Albertans can rely on us to manage the electricity markets and meet your energy needs. From integrating renewable energy into your life to developing the grid, the future for electricity in Alberta looks bright.
What do we do Manage and plan the power grid 24 hours a day When you need power, you expect it. We work with industry partners to keep electricity flowing throughout the province. Our system controllers balance supply and demand 24/7, making sure four million Albertans have power when they need it.
Manage and operate the energy markets In Alberta, companies own generation, transmission and distribution facilities. We dispatch the power sold by generators, using the lowest-priced electricity first and then the next lowest until the need for power has been satisfied. We also enforce transmission tariffs and regulations, keeping the market fair and open for everyone.
Plan the future of the system and its infrastructure As Alberta grows, so does its need for electricity. We plan ahead and expand the grid, ensuring the right transmission lines are built as efficiently as possible. As the province moves away from coal-fired power plants, we're enabling investment in renewable energy. In everything we do, our eye is always on the future.
Lead Engineer, System Performance
Top Benefits
About the role
The Alberta Electric System Operator (AESO) is responsible for the safe, reliable, and economic planning and operation of the Alberta Interconnected Electric System. We provide open and non-discriminatory access to Alberta’s interconnected power grid and also facilitate Alberta’s competitive wholesale electricity market. The AESO strives to foster an inclusive, diverse and equitable workplace where people feel respected and welcomed for who they are, together we deliver high performance and innovative results.
Job Description
If you are a current AESO employee or contractor, please view openings and apply through our internal site at
Workday
.
Reporting to the Manager, Reliability Requirements & Market Support, the Lead Engineer, System Performance will lead technical assessments to address emerging system performance challenges driven by increasing non-controllable generation. Key issues include real-time balancing, frequency regulation, and decreasing system strength.
The role involves using advanced modeling tools to analyze system behavior, define study scopes, and identify solutions through updates to ancillary services, ISO rules, market design, reliability standards, and operational procedures. The Lead Engineer will also guide junior engineers and collaborate across AESO teams and with external stakeholders.
This position is ideal for someone who can bridge engineering and market perspectives to enhance system reliability in a transforming grid.
This full-time opportunity offers a competitive salary, and a variable pay program. We also have paid vacation and flex time, health and dental benefits, mental health support, a defined contribution pension plan, and learning and development opportunities as part of your overall compensation package. We support a hybrid work environment, where the team is in the office on Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays. Mondays and Fridays are flexible for where you work best.
You will enjoy working with us if:
- You flourish in a hybrid work environment, where the team is in the office on Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays. Mondays and Fridays are flexible for where you work best.
- You thrive in a fast-paced, challenging, and dynamic environment and are looking for an opportunity to embark on transformative industry change.
- You enjoy working in a team of bright professionals, and work and learn in a diverse atmosphere – our team and colleagues have varied backgrounds, experiences, and perspectives.
- You embrace change and pivot and adapt with ease.
- You have a curious mind and appreciate opportunities to broaden your skill set.
- Your superior time management and prioritization skills show your strong commitment to meeting deadlines and providing sound judgement calls.
- You have a strong business acumen, combined with the ability to work with internal and external stakeholders in a professional and constructive manner.
- You have a knack for leading, motivating, and mentoring staff.
- You value professionalism and understand the importance of handling sensitive/confidential situations delicately.
- You are interested and engaged in both technical leadership and helping people achieve their key results and career objectives.
Accountabilities include but are not limited to:
- Lead the development, maintenance, and/or procurement of software and models to assess system performance, including in the areas of demand balancing and frequency regulation.
- Identify and implement opportunities for improving system performance.
- Implement and oversee system performance monitoring.
- Supervise, train, and develop engineers working in the same or related areas.
- Participate in market evolution initiatives by advising on the engineering impacts of changes and overseeing their implementation in a systems context.
What you’ll bring to us:
-
B.Sc. in Electrical Engineering or a related field
-
P.Eng., registered or eligible for registration with APEGA
-
12+ years of electric power industry experience, with solid technical knowledge in power system operations.
-
Technical expertise is required in the areas of:
- Power system dynamics, especially in the context of frequency stability
- Control systems
- Simulation and modeling, especially in the context of electrical systems
- Probabilistic analysis, especially in the context of reliability
- Generator and/or IBR operations and technical capabilities
- Performance monitoring, especially in the context of compliance with ISO rules
-
The role requires:
- Understanding the interplay between system performance objectives, technical specifications or requirements, AS product design, and economic costs and benefits
- Productive interdisciplinary collaboration, involving the communication of complex engineering concepts to experts in other areas
- Understanding the legal / regulatory framework that applies to the Alberta electricity industry
- Strategic thinking, critical thinking, and creativity
-
The exercise of influence across the AESO and the electricity industry
Application deadline: August 5, 2025
#LI-Hybrid
If you are contacted for a pre-screening and/or interview, please advise of any accommodation measures required to enable you to fully participate. Information received relating to accommodation measures will be addressed confidentially.
The Alberta Electric System Operator is unable to accept unsolicited agency resumes.
The Alberta Electric System Operator, and its members, officers, employees and agents (collectively, the "AESO") is committed to protecting personal information provided to it. When you submit your personal information to the AESO for the purpose of pursuing employment with the AESO, the collection, use and disclosure of personal information is in accordance with the provisions of the Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act (FOIP Act) of Alberta.
As noted, the AESO is mandated to maintain the safe and reliable operations of the provincial power grid. As part of meeting its obligations, the AESO may require the successful candidate to undergo a criminal background check for the position. This collection of personal information for the purposes of a check will be conducted in accordance with Section 33 of the FOIP Act.
About Alberta Electric System Operator
The Alberta Electric System Operator (AESO) manages and operates the provincial power grid.
We're a not-for-profit organization serving in the public interest. We work with industry partners and the government to make sure reliable power is there when you need it. Whatever changes happen in the world, Albertans can rely on us to manage the electricity markets and meet your energy needs. From integrating renewable energy into your life to developing the grid, the future for electricity in Alberta looks bright.
What do we do Manage and plan the power grid 24 hours a day When you need power, you expect it. We work with industry partners to keep electricity flowing throughout the province. Our system controllers balance supply and demand 24/7, making sure four million Albertans have power when they need it.
Manage and operate the energy markets In Alberta, companies own generation, transmission and distribution facilities. We dispatch the power sold by generators, using the lowest-priced electricity first and then the next lowest until the need for power has been satisfied. We also enforce transmission tariffs and regulations, keeping the market fair and open for everyone.
Plan the future of the system and its infrastructure As Alberta grows, so does its need for electricity. We plan ahead and expand the grid, ensuring the right transmission lines are built as efficiently as possible. As the province moves away from coal-fired power plants, we're enabling investment in renewable energy. In everything we do, our eye is always on the future.