Power System Engineer

Salary Step 1: $111,072 to Step 10: $158,704.

About the Role The IESO is committed to ensuring Ontario’s electricity system meets the province’s needs today and into the future. This unionized position falls within the Markets and Reliability Business Unit and is integral to managing the provincial power grid in real‑time, overseeing the electricity market, engaging with government and Indigenous communities, and planning for Ontario’s future electricity needs.

Responsibilities In this role, you’ll make a meaningful impact by contributing to the IESO team and supporting the electricity needs of the province through the following activities:

Lead the development of base cases including PSCAD base cases to support Ontario and regional reliability studies by the IESO, participants and other external organizations.

Develop and maintain suitable models, including Electromagnetic Transient (EMT) models, to support the IESO’s Energy Management and Market Systems for real‑time and day‑ahead operations. Provide leadership on technical approaches to this development and support capacity.

Establish recommended approaches for efficient and innovative means to maintain and support the IESO’s contingency analysis software used by off‑shift and on‑shift staff.

Specify and review the results of tests to confirm that facilities, including Inverter Based Resources (IBR), connected to the IESO‑controlled grid satisfy the IESO’s performance requirements. Based on the results of performance tests, recommend transmission and generation models, including EMT models suitable for planning and operating studies.

Support IESO security, adequacy and operability obligations found in the Market Rules and in applicable NERC and NPCC reliability standards.

Lead and prepare key reliability compliance evidence, including work procedures, RSAWs, market manuals, training material and participation in reliability audits. Act as a subject‑matter expert in compliance activities; such as on‑site audits and spot checks.

Participate in task forces, as well as internal/external committees on matters related to the secure and economic operation of the IESO‑controlled grid. Represent the IESO on interconnection committees and participate as assigned, as a representative of the IESO before regulatory agencies, etc.

Supply a consultative service to other departments and/or business units on matters related to adequacy, security, operability.

Provide guidance and mentorship to other members of the group, including problem resolution, training, and quality checks.

Sign or sign and seal documents as a P Eng., thus taking professional responsibility for one’s own work.

Sign or sign and seal documents as a P Eng. for peer review, or to assume professional engineering responsibility for engineering work performed by unlicensed staff.

Mentor and assist training of new and/or junior staff.

Exercise limited or periodic supervision over assigned staff on special projects.

Perform other duties as required.

A typical day involves leading the development and maintenance of detailed power system base cases and EMT models, such as PSCAD cases, to support reliability studies for Ontario’s power system. The role also includes specifying, reviewing, and interpreting facility performance tests—particularly for inverter‑based resources—to ensure compliance with IESO requirements and recommending appropriate planning and operating models. It involves providing technical leadership on contingency analysis tools, supporting security and adequacy obligations under Market Rules and NERC/NPCC standards, and preparing or reviewing key reliability compliance evidence. Throughout the day, the position collaborates with internal teams, external participants, and industry committees, offers consultative advice on operability and reliability matters, and represents the IESO in technical and regulatory forums as needed. Ongoing mentorship, peer review, and professional engineering accountability—through signing and sealing work—round out the daily responsibilities.

Role Requirements

Advanced engineering knowledge of electrical theory, power system analysis and control, associated mathematics and computer science to undertake complex engineering, economic or analytical studies related to the management and control of the bulk power system.

Knowledge of technical writing to prepare effective reports.

Completion of an engineering/applied sciences degree from an accredited university or equivalent education. A related post‑graduate degree is preferred but not required.

Strong understanding of IBR theory, operation, limitations and performance, particularly their impact on power system stability during system disturbances.

Proficiency in EMT analysis using the PSCAD software package.

Experience in conducting EMT studies for IBR integration, evaluating potential adverse interactions between IBRs and existing synchronous generators, and assessing IBR‑to‑IBR control interactions in high‑penetration power electronic‑controlled device areas.

License to practice professional engineering in Ontario and competence in the field of electrical engineering.

Significant exposure to overall power system operation through progressive training as an engineer in this technical field, including specific experience as applicable to the particular specialty of the group. Experience will include completion of practical on‑the‑job training and work related to: utilization of generation resources; secure operation of bulk electricity system; reliability.

Background experience: electrical engineering design concepts for power system components; analytical studies and computer techniques for solving power system problems; familiarity with power system operation, practices, and policies; familiarity with electric energy and transmission rights market operations, practices, policies, and Market Rules; competitive market operations; provincial operating and system requirements; and technical features of equipment/facilities, high‑tension transmission, system interconnection, and methods of attaining efficiency in power production and interchange.

Approximately 8–10 years of relevant experience is considered necessary to gain this experience.

This is a promotion‑in‑place position; candidates with lesser qualifications will be considered as a Power System Engineering Analyst.

EEO and Diversity Statement The IESO believes in opportunities for everyone. We attract, develop, and retain people from a wide variety of backgrounds. Our recruitment and advancement policies are fair and equitable, and we create an accessible and inclusive environment that values every team member’s unique skills and experiences. If you require accommodation during the recruitment process, please let us know. We’re proud to say we’ve been recognized as a supportive, inclusive employer.

Application Process and Deadline Deadline: May 1, 2026. Only candidates selected for an interview will be contacted. The successful candidate must be legally eligible to work in Canada and will be subject to applicable background checks. IESO will not conduct interviews or offer positions via online, text, chat or social media platforms. Applying online for this position is not possible. Selected candidates will work with our Talent Acquisition team to ensure their application is processed.

Workplace Information The IESO currently has a 3‑day in‑office work week for applicable roles. Over the course of 2026, IESO will advance plans to acquire additional office space to accommodate more in‑office time. While the timeline for moving to a full 5‑day in‑office model has not yet been established, we are committed to keeping employees and candidates informed as plans progress.

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