Job Type
Full-time
Description
Fervo is working to build the most cost-effective, repeatable geothermal power plants in the world. Joining Fervo's PowerBlock engineering team means solving frontier technical problems with immediate real-world impact, accelerating the clean energy transition and reinventing the way infrastructure is built. We are seeking engineers who are excited by Fervo's mission, the opportunity to drive meaningful and impactful innovation, and the prospect of maintaining extreme ownership over the safety, reliability, and performance of our electrical systems, knowing that each decision they make impacts the speed and scale of Fervo's mission.
As a Senior Electrical Power Engineer, you will be a technical authority on electrical system studies supporting Fervo's geothermal power plant development and associated transmission interconnections. You will perform and lead a wide range of power system analyses - from grid interconnection studies through to plant-level studies supporting capital, maintenance, and reliability projects - using industry-standard tools including PSCAD, PSLF, and ETAP. You will mentor junior engineers and contribute beyond core system studies to procedure and standards development, design tasks, and other cross-functional engineering work as Fervo scales its fleet. This role will report to the Power Engineering Manager.
Requirements
Responsibilities Electrical System Studies
- Perform transient overvoltage (TOV) studies using PSCAD to evaluate switching transients, lightning, and equipment overvoltage risks for geothermal generation facilities and interconnection projects.
- Conduct dynamic stability studies in PSLF or PSSE and ETAP, including generator modeling, voltage/frequency response analysis, and compliance with interconnection stability requirements.
- Execute power flow studies in PSLF or PSSE and ETAP to assess steady-state operating conditions, equipment loading, and voltage profiles across Fervo plant and transmission configurations.
- Perform short circuit analysis in ETAP to size equipment, verify protective device ratings, and support NEC/NESC and applicable code compliance.
- Develop protection system studies and relay coordination in ETAP, including time-overcurrent, differential, and distance protection schemes for generation, transmission, and distribution systems.
- Conduct arc flash incident energy analysis in ETAP in accordance with IEEE 1584; prepare arc flash hazard labels and arc flash mitigation recommendations to support site safety programs.
Grid Interconnection
- Lead and support interconnection study processes with regional transmission organizations (RTOs), independent system operators (ISOs), and transmission owners, including scoping meetings, study review, and dispute resolution.
- Prepare and review power flow and stability models for submission to transmission providers; coordinate generator model validation per NERC MOD standards.
- Evaluate interconnection study results and translate technical findings into actionable design and equipment requirements for project teams.
- Track applicable interconnection standards and tariff requirements (FERC, NERC, regional) and ensure study methodologies remain compliant.
Plant-Level Studies
- Perform plant electrical system studies to support capital project development, including new well pads, power delivery infrastructure, and substation upgrades.
- Provide engineering analysis to support maintenance and reliability programs, including equipment ratings validation, protection updates, and operational improvement studies.
- Develop and maintain accurate ETAP and PSLF/PSCAD plant models, ensuring models reflect as-built conditions and are updated as modifications are made.
- Produce clear, well-documented study reports with assumptions, results, and recommendations suitable for internal use and external regulatory submittal.
Team Development and Culture
- Mentor junior and mid-level engineers in power system study methodology, software tools, and engineering best practices, fostering technical growth and confidence.
- Instill a culture of extreme ownership - where engineers take accountability for safety, constructability, and cost implications of their analyses, not just technical outputs.
- Provide technical review of team members' study reports and design deliverables, ensuring quality and consistency across projects.
- Collaborate across disciplines - process, mechanical, civil, drilling, and reservoir - and with external consultants and utility partners.
Standards, Design, and Other Duties
- Contribute to development and maintenance of Fervo electrical engineering standards, specifications, and procedures to support repeatable, scalable plant deployment.
- Support design tasks related to electrical equipment selection, one-line diagram development, and protection system design as project needs require.
- Assist with procurement efforts by providing technical evaluation of equipment submittals, vendor proposals, and relay/protection settings.
- Perform other engineering duties as assigned, with willingness to contribute to Fervo's broader mission beyond the core power systems studies scope.
Qualifications Required
- M.S. in Electrical Engineering or related discipline.
- 8+ years of experience in power systems engineering, with demonstrated expertise in electrical system studies for generation, transmission, or large industrial facilities.
- Hands-on proficiency in PSCAD for electromagnetic transient (EMT) and transient overvoltage studies.
- Hands-on proficiency in PSLF and/or ETAP for dynamic stability and power flow analysis.
- Proficiency in ETAP for short circuit analysis, protection coordination, and arc flash incident energy studies in accordance with IEEE 1584.
- Experience with grid interconnection studies and familiarity with FERC, NERC, and regional RTO/ISO interconnection requirements and study processes.
- Ability to produce professional-quality study reports and clearly communicate complex technical findings to both technical and non-technical audiences.
- Strong interpersonal and collaboration skills; demonstrated experience mentoring engineers.
Preferred
- Professional Engineer (PE) license or active pursuit thereof.
- Experience with geothermal, renewable, or other utility-scale generation interconnection.
- Familiarity with NERC reliability standards (MOD, PRC, FAC series) and compliance processes.
- Experience developing or reviewing relay protection settings and protection philosophies.
- Background in electrical standards and procedure development for operations or maintenance programs.
- Knowledge of NEC, NESC, and IEEE standards applicable to power generation facilities.
- Proficiency in PSSE for dynamic stability and power flow analysis
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