Why You Should Join the E3 Team
When you join the E3 team, you will be working on some of the most important energy issues with some of the top minds in the industry. We help shape energy and climate policy, play vital roles in regulatory proceedings, advise executives, and inform investment and planning selections. At E3, you will be challenged and inspired.
Who We Are
Founded in 1989, Energy + Environmental Economics (E3) is a growing energy consulting firm that helps utilities, regulators, policy makers, developers, and investors make the most educated strategic decisions possible as they implement new public policies, deploy and develop new technologies, and address customers’ shifting expectations. We have offices in San Francisco, New York City, Boston, Denver, and Calgary.
Because E3 works with customers from all sectors of the electricity industry, we provide a 360-degree knowledge of markets, planning, policy, regulation, and environmental factors. Just as important, we are driven to deliver clear, unbiased evaluations that help customers make informed decisions.
E3 works on high-profile, high-impact projects in jurisdictions that spearhead the implementation of clean energy policy. In California, Hawaii, and New York, we are advising state agencies and regulators about how to implement clean energy policies with an emphasis on customer incentives and markets. We are also increasingly working in regions all across North America, with utilities, regulators, developers and investors from Florida to Alberta and many places in between.
The Role
E3 is seeking a Consultant for our Distribution Technology and Planning team to work on technical and strategic engagements that help electric utilities and regulators transition to a more flexible, decarbonized, and distributed grid. This role includes client engagement, regulatory support, and technical contributions - ideal for a utility consultant with experience in grid modernization, distribution system planning, and Distributed Energy Resource (DER) integration.
You will help develop and grow E3’s work in distribution planning, grid modernization strategy, systems and technology road mapping and specification for distribution planning and operational technology, and DER program evaluation while helping clients navigate the technical, operational, and regulatory challenges of electrification, DER, and system planning reform. Your background should include delivery of advisory services at the intersection of policy, planning, engineering, and operations.
This role also includes direct support for utility distribution planning teams, where you will help refine analytical frameworks, implement advanced modeling tools, and align planning practices with emerging regulatory expectations.
You will also support strategic work with utilities to prioritize distribution capital investments across competing objectives including reliability, resiliency, affordability and enabling electrification and DER adoption. You will develop and apply rigorous, transparent modeling and investment prioritization frameworks that help utilities direct capital to investments delivering the greatest system and customer value, while clearly articulating tradeoffs among cost, performance, and risk. This analytical rigor is central to building stakeholder confidence and securing regulatory approval for timely investments in utility distribution systems.
General
- Hours: Full Time
- Type: Exempt
- Travel: 10-20%
- Office Location: E3 Office (San Francisco, Boston, New York, Denver, Calgary, Chicago)
Responsibilities
- Analytics & Modeling
- Conduct analytics and develop reports for consulting engagements focused on distribution systems planning, grid modernization, DER integration, and integrated grid strategy for utilities, regulators, and public agencies
- Conduct distribution planning analyses including steady-state, dynamic, and quasi-static time-series simulations for planning, reliability and hosting capacity assessments
- Contribute to the development of grid modernization roadmaps, use cases, and systems architecture while accounting for cybersecurity considerations
- Develop models, simulations, and forecasts exploring electrification impact, NWAs including distributed generation, energy storage, flexible load and flexible interconnection potential, and distribution automation for system and substation-level planning
- Develop interconnection studies and strategies that accommodate DERs beyond hosting capacity through coordination with storage and NWAs with dispatchable flexibility
- Conduct power systems modeling efforts using tools such as CYME, Synergi, ASPEN, PowerFlow and LoadSEER and scripting with tools such as Python
- Provide input to evolve tools and improve analytical capabilities and efficiency
- Client Engagement
- Serve as a trusted advisor to utility clients on distribution planning, grid modernization, DER integration, electrification, non-wired alternatives (NWAs), flexible interconnection and resilience planning
- Partner with utility planning, operations, and customer program teams to improve internal workflows, adopt advanced modeling tools, and align distribution planning with operational practices and regulatory expectations
- Build and maintain strong, long-term relationships with utilities, commissions, and energy agencies
- Business Development & Practice Growth
- Contribute to proposal development
- Identify project opportunities related to distribution planning, grid modernization and DER integration
- Identify emerging opportunities in areas such as electrification, distributed operations, climate resilience and advanced distribution analytics
- Contribute to E3’s thought leadership through white papers, presentations, and conference participation
- Collaborate across E3’s practice areas to deliver integrated solutions
- Team Contributions
- Contribute to the delivery of complex technical and strategic projects, ensuring high quality, technical rigor, and alignment with client needs
- Develop and refine major deliverables to ensure actionable outcomes across technical, regulatory, and business dimensions
- Manage your time and effort to align with budgets, schedules and client expectations
- Cross train with peers to develop technical, business, and soft skills while expanding knowledge of the electric power industry.
Requirements
- 2-5+ years of experience in utility consulting, distribution planning or grid modernization
- Working knowledge of utility planning practices, distribution modeling, and DER applications
- Proven ability to engage with clients and articulate complex technical analysis in a business context
- Exceptional written and verbal communication skills, including report writing and public speaking
Things that Set You Apart
- Master’s degree in Engineering, Business, or related field
- Experience with California regulatory processes
- Technical leadership in developing: Flexible load roadmaps and end-use disaggregation, DERMS business integration frameworks and cost benefit analysis, flexible interconnection protocols where DERs exceed hosting capacity and/or grid modernization filings and DSIPs
- Familiarity with non-wires alternatives, demand response strategy and climate resilience planning
- Understanding of relevant industry standards and national grid modernization initiatives
- Demonstrate strong intuition for modeling dynamics (e.g., value stacking)
- Anticipate client questions or challenges that may arise from analytical results
- PMP certification or experience managing large, interdisciplinary consulting teams
E3’s Commitment to You
E3 provides abundant opportunities for professional growth and invests significantly in employee development. Right from the start, our team works hard to provide you with a customized multi-week onboarding experience where you will meet with colleagues, partners, and your own mentor. Every September, all new hires attend E3’s proprietary internally developed 22-course training program which broadens your foundational industry specific knowledge as well as develops those skills essential to being a great consultant. E3 also provides every employee with an annual professional development stipend, opportunities to attend conferences, and personalized career development at every stage of your employment. In addition, E3 offers employees a broad, best-in-class range of benefits and supportive perks to support you both personally and professionally. Some benefits include:
- Base and bonus commensurate with experience and performance
- Wellness stipend
- Flexible Paid Time Off plus standard company holidays
- Fitness and wellness corporate discounts
- Professional Development annual stipend
Hiring Process and Timeline
Finding new team members that are a good fit is important to us, so we spend significant time in our recruiting process evaluating candidates. Qualified candidates can expect a phone interview, to engage in a technical exercise and associated interview, and a final set of interviews. Our process takes around 6-8 weeks to complete. E3 is seeking to hire consultants throughout the year and are prepared to make offers to candidates months in advance of their start date.
EEO Non-Discrimination and ADA Reasonable Accommodation Statement
Applicants are considered for all positions without regard to race, color, creed, religion, age, national origin, alienage or citizenship status, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity, marital or partnership status, disability, military status, veteran status, pregnancy or predisposing genetic characteristics. Willdan does not discriminate on the basis of physical or mental disability where the essential functions of the job can be reasonably accommodated. Determinations on requests for reasonable accommodation will be made on a case-by-case basis. If you need reasonable accommodation for any part of the application and hiring process, please notify us.
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