Lead Operations Engineer

Lead Operations Engineer - Permanent Full Time - Perth CBD

Lead the future of energy in WA.

Join Western Power as a Lead Operations Engineer and become a key player in shaping the safe, reliable, and sustainable operation of the Southwest Interconnected System (SWIS)

This is your chance to work at the heart of WA's energy transformation, applying your deep technical knowledge to deliver secure, efficient, and cost-effective solutions that keep the lights on today and enable tomorrow's clean energy future.

Your Role in Action

• Apply specialist engineering expertise to assess and manage outage requests, prepare operational impact and risk assessment reports, and lead communications with AEMO to ensure safe and secure operation of the Southwest Interconnected System (SWIS) in accordance with Western Power policies and procedures.
• Provide expert advice to internal stakeholders on network access, outage planning and coordination, power system studies, fault investigations, and broader network operations.
• Lead engagement with external stakeholders, including AEMO and private customers, to facilitate safe and secure outage approvals and system operations.
• Develop and manage contingency plans for network operations, exploring alternative work methodologies to reduce exposure to security and regulatory risks.
• Investigate safety, security, and reliability issues in collaboration with stakeholders, and promote awareness of system security concerns across relevant teams.
• Lead engineering projects requiring the development and operationalisation of new or improved products, processes, techniques, or assets.
• Coordinate the planning, organisation, and execution of engineering projects within defined objectives, timelines, and resource constraints.
• Conduct complex network incident investigations and reporting, including performance assessments against Western Power and regulatory benchmarks.
• Champion continuous improvement by updating SOPs, processes, and training materials, while mentoring and developing team capability.
• Support multiple work streams within Network Operations and step into leadership roles as required.

What Makes You a Great Fit

• Degree in Engineering
• Broad and extensive knowledge and expertise in electrical or power engineering environment with significant exposure to utility-scale transmission and/or distribution systems.
• Demonstrated competence in electricity network planning, operations, and design across complex infrastructure environments.
• Proven ability to analyse transmission and distribution system security issues and provide actionable recommendations to mitigate risks.
• Strong technical knowledge in electrical engineering practices, including construction, maintenance, commissioning, protection systems, SCADA, and communications across both transmission and distribution networks.
• Effective technical leadership skills with the ability to oversee, coach, train, and manage internal teams as well as external contractors and consultants.
• Excellent interpersonal, customer engagement, and stakeholder management skills.
• Well-developed written and verbal communication abilities, with the capacity to convey complex technical concepts clearly and effectively.
• High proficiency in relevant computer systems and tools, including document management platforms, Microsoft Office suite, and engineering analysis software for steady-state and dynamic load flow and fault level studies.

By joining Western Power, you will contribute to powering a cleaner energy future. We are dedicated to fostering career development and promoting a healthy work-life balance, empowering you to drive innovation as we develop a network that will serve the Western Australian community for generations. You will also benefit from a range of perks and opportunities, including:

• Over 50% of our employment opportunities are driven by career progression.
• Flexible work arrangements to support part time work, working hours and working from home arrangements.
• The opportunity to purchase up to four weeks of additional leave per year.
• Access to salary packaging, social club activities, and discounted health insurance and gym membership.
• An award-winning employee recognition and benefits programme.
• An innovative team culture that's enabling the transition to renewable energy and decarbonisation.
• In addition to standard leave, enjoy three wellness leave days each year.
• Access to end-of-trip facilities at our Perth office and South Metro Depot, perfect for cyclists.
• On-site café available for convenient meals and refreshments throughout the day.
• 22 weeks paid parental leave and 5 days of First Nations cultural leave to support family and cultural connections.

Applications close on 16 December

We value diversity and inclusivity, encouraging applications from all backgrounds, including women, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people, and LGBTQIA+ communities. As a WORK180-endorsed employer for women, we are proud of our commitment to inclusion. You can learn more about this through our Reconciliation Action Plan and Disability Access and Inclusion Plan.

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