The Systems Operations Engineer supports real time and near real time reliability of the Bulk Electric System. This position performs daily, weekly, and seasonal operating studies and reliability assessments to ensure secure system operations and compliance with applicable NERC Reliability Standards and Operating and Interconnection Agreements. This role provides operational engineering support to the Energy Control Center and interfaces regularly with both internal and external engineering and reliability stakeholders to maintain reliable and compliant system performance.
Key Responsibilities
• Perform next day and short-term operational studies, including power flow, contingency analysis, voltage and transient stability, transfer capability assessments, and Real Time Contingency Analysis (RTCA), to ensure the system operates within established System Operating Limits (SOL) and Interconnection Reliability Operating Limits (IROL).
• Conduct pre and post operating assessments to evaluate system performance, validate contingency results, and identify emerging reliability risks that could impact SOL or IROL compliance.
• Ensure compliance with applicable NERC Reliability Standards, including TOP, IRO, FAC, TPL, PRC, and MOD, with particular focus on maintaining and documenting methodologies supporting SOL and IROL determinations.
• Support and maintain the Energy Management System (EMS), including State Estimator and contingency analysis applications, by ensuring accurate transmission network modeling, system topology, telemetry validation, and equipment ratings.
• Develop real time operational solutions to mitigate RTCA identified violations, including transmission reconfiguration, generation redispatch, and implementation of operating procedures to address thermal, voltage, or stability constraints.
• Provide technical guidance to Energy Control Center operators during normal and emergency conditions, including support for IROL exceedances, emergency mitigation plans, and system restoration activities.
• Provide engineering support for CAISO market interface and outage coordination processes, ensuring proposed outages and dispatch conditions do not result in SOL or IROL violations.
• Coordinate model development, validation, and data exchange with CAISO and WECC, maintaining accurate power flow and dynamic models that support EMS, State Estimator, and RTCA applications.
• Collaborate with internal teams and external stakeholders, including generation owners, neighboring balancing authorities, and load serving entities, to resolve operating issues and maintain reliable and secure system operations.
• Mentor junior engineers and promote technical development in EMS applications, RTCA processes, and SOL and IROL methodologies.
Work Location: Onsite in Phoenix, AZ.
Minimum Qualifications
• Bachelor of Science in Electrical Engineering from an accredited institution
• Minimum six years of experience in power system operations engineering, transmission planning, or reliability coordination within the Western Interconnection
• Proficiency with power system analysis tools such as PSS E, PSLF, TARA, PowerWorld, or equivalent
• Proficiency with short circuit analysis tools such as APA or Aspen Oneliner
• Working knowledge of NERC Reliability Standards and WECC regional criteria
• Experience supporting real time operations within an Energy Control Center environment
Preferred Qualifications
• Strong knowledge of power system engineering principles and their application in system analysis and operations
• Demonstrated ability to analyze technical issues, evaluate alternatives, and develop well supported engineering recommendations
• Effective written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to clearly present technical findings to diverse stakeholders
• Professional Engineer license preferred
• In depth knowledge of WECC Bulk Electric System characteristics and CAISO operating procedures, including direct experience supporting outage coordination and market interface processes
• Experience with Energy Management System applications, including State Estimator and network modeling tools
At Leidos, we pride ourselves on being a trusted and technology-focused solutions provider. Our Power Delivery Services Team is the go-to for utilities and mobile operators who need reliable power and telecommunication expertise.
We've worked with over 50 investor-owned utilities, over 160 municipals/cooperatives, and we're continuing to expand our reach. Plus, we've got an amazing group of industry-leading construction partners who help us deliver meaningful Energy Delivery Solutions. Our recognition as an industry leader has been confirmed time and time again. Engineering News-Record (ENR) has ranked Leidos among the Top 10 T&D Firms and Top 10 Power Firms.
PowerDelivery
PDSPLANNING
If you're looking for comfort, keep scrolling. At Leidos, we outthink, outbuild, and outpace the status quo — because the mission demands it. We're not hiring followers. We're recruiting the ones who disrupt, provoke, and refuse to fail. Step 10 is ancient history. We're already at step 30 — and moving faster than anyone else dares.
March 13, 2026
For U.S. Positions: While subject to change based on business needs, Leidos reasonably anticipates that this job requisition will remain open for at least 3 days with an anticipated close date of no earlier than 3 days after the original posting date as listed above.
Pay Range $87,100.00 - $157,450.00
The Leidos pay range for this job level is a general guideline only and not a guarantee of compensation or salary. Additional factors considered in extending an offer include (but are not limited to) responsibilities of the job, education, experience, knowledge, skills, and abilities, as well as internal equity, alignment with market data, applicable bargaining agreement (if any), or other law.
Leidos is a Fortune 500® innovation company rapidly addressing the world’s most vexing challenges in national security and health. The company's global workforce of 48,000 collaborates to create smarter technology solutions for customers in heavily regulated industries. Headquartered in Reston, Virginia, Leidos reported annual revenues of approximately $15.4 billion for the fiscal year ended December 29, 2023.
Leidos was cited for the meaningful work employees perform that is challenging, impactful, and aligned with our customers’ missions as reasons professionals want to work and stay at our company. Leidos has also been named to lists including Forbes’ Best Employers for Diversity, Forbes’ America’s Best Employers for Women, Military Times Best for Vets Employers, and Ethisphere Institute’s World's Most Ethical Companies®.
Employees enjoy career enrichment opportunities available through mobility and development and experience rewarding relationships with supportive supervisors and talented colleagues and customers. Employees appreciate our flexible work environment, allowing for and encouraging a true work-life balance. Our professionals are also excited about our Employee Resource Groups, like the Collaborative Outreach with Remote and Embedded Employees (CORE), which strives to create an environment where every employee, regardless of location, feels fully engaged as a valued employee of Leidos.
Your most important work is ahead, visit careers.leidos.com for our latest opportunities.
