Senior or Principal Engineer - Integrated System Planning (Electric)

• Denver, Colorado, 80205, United States of America
• Denver, Colorado, 80223

Are you looking for an exciting job where you can put your skills and talents to work at a company you can feel proud to be a part of? Do you want a workplace that will challenge you and offer you opportunities to learn and grow? A position at Xcel Energy could be just what you're looking for.

The job summary below and responsibilities reflect the senior engineer level role. The successfully chosen candidate will be placed at a level that is commensurate with their skills and experience as different skills and/or experience will be required at the principal engineer level.

Position Summary

We are seeking a forward‑thinking Principal or Sr. Engineer to join our Integrated System Planning team to support many of the crosscutting long-term planning initiatives at the intersection of our gas and electric distribution systems. As an Integrated System Planning Engineer, you will help chart the path toward a modernized energy system by developing data‑driven strategies that aim to align electric and gas planning, enable clean energy adoption, and support customer choice. This is a highly cross functional role that will require the successful candidate to develop, coordinate, and drive analysis and strategy related to long-term planning in close collaboration with partners in Xcel's operations, customer, and regulatory organizations. The successful candidate will work on modeling, analysis, and strategy development supporting the Company's Colorado Distribution System Plans (DSPs) and other long-term infrastructure plans at the intersection of generation, transmission, distribution and gas LDC planning. This will include distilling policy and trends into planning inputs (e.g. scenario analysis), advancing the use of non-traditional solutions, and coordinating DSPs with other cross-commodity planning and regulatory requirements (e.g. Clean Heat Plans).

Essential Responsibilities

• Applies extensive technical expertise and has an understanding of the basic principles of other related disciplines. Fully demonstrates the unique technical skills and core competencies for this engineering level by applying technical standards, principles, theories, concepts, and techniques to lead projects of moderate to large size, scope and complexity.
• Largely self-directed work is expected to result in the development of new or improved techniques, procedures and standards. Supports the development of technical documentation (including but not limited to designs, testing, calculations, reports, standards, etc.)
• Without appreciable direction exercises considerable latitude in determining ongoing technical support for project activities within areas such as Operations, Maintenance, Testing/diagnostics and Regulatory. Provides field engineering oversight and direction for activities such as support, testing, installation, inspections, commissioning etc.
• Coordinates/leads multiple projects or portions of projects (including phases such as research, design, equipment selection, procurement, installation and commissioning). May lead more critical projects with oversight of a higher-level engineer or supervisor.
• Represents the organization as the prime technical contact in the bid/evaluation processes including preparation of bid documents, completion of technical evaluations for proposals and providing recommendations for selection. Interacts with senior external personnel on significant technical matters often requiring coordination with internal and external organizations.
• Effectively and with precision resolves difficult technical/business matters both inter-organizationally and with outside customer/vendors with all formats of communication.
• May assign tasks to and/or direct engineers, technicians, craft personnel and other support staff including coordination and review of work assignments. Provides guidance and mentoring to less experienced engineers. Responsible for continuous self-development of technical skills and competencies.
• Leads activities such as budgeting, estimating, forecasting, accounting, work order management, in support of engineering projects.

Senior Engineer Level (Salary Range: $97,000-$129,267)

Minimum Requirements

• Required bachelor's degree in engineering from ABET accredited curriculum
• 5+ years relevant engineering experience with EIT/FE (Engineer in Training/Fundamentals of Engineering) required; 7+ years relevant engineering experience without EIT/FE.
• Ability to demonstrate the unique technical skills and core competencies for this engineering level established & documented by the organization.
• Preferred PE (Professional Engineer) registration may be required depending on business need.

Principal Engineer (Salary Range: $112,000-$156,600)

Minimum Requirements

• Required bachelor's degree in engineering from ABET accredited curriculum
• 9+ years relevant engineering experience with PE (Professional Engineer) registration required; 15+ years relevant engineering experience without PE.
• Ability to demonstrate the unique technical skills and core competencies for this engineering level established & documented by the organization.

Preferred

• Previous experience working directly for an electric or combination (gas/electric) utility or in a consulting/advisory role to a utility
• Demonstrated ability to thrive in a cross-functional, highly collaborative role
• Ability to distil complex and ambiguous problems and challenges into solutions
• Familiarity/Proficiency and/or direct experience with distribution system forecasting and modeling tools (e.g. LoadSEER, CYME, etc.)
• Familiarity/Proficiency and/or direct experience conducting long-term planning and/or scenario modeling
• Experience using both structured and unstructured data and data tools (e.g. Databricks) to drive insights and recommendations

As a leading combination electricity and natural gas energy company, Xcel Energy offers a comprehensive portfolio of energy-related products and services to 3.4 million electricity and 1.9 million natural gas customers across eight Western and Midwestern states. At Xcel Energy, we strive to be the preferred and trusted provider of the energy our customers need. If you're ready to be a part of something big, we invite you to join our team.

All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to age, race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, or status as a protected veteran.

Individuals with a disability who need an accommodation to apply please contact us at recruiting@xcelenergy.com .

Non-Bargaining

The anticipated starting base pay for this position is: $97,000.00 to $156,600.00 per year

This position is eligible for the following benefits: Annual Incentive Program, Medical/Pharmacy Plan, Dental, Vision, Life Insurance, Dependent Care Reimbursement Account, Health Care Reimbursement Account, Health Savings Account (HSA) (if enrolled in eligible health plan), Limited-Purpose FSA (if enrolled in eligible health plan and HSA), Transportation Reimbursement Account, Short-term disability (STD), Long-term disability (LTD), Employee Assistance Program (EAP), Fitness Center Reimbursement (if enrolled in eligible health plan), Tuition reimbursement, Transit programs, Employee recognition program, Pension, 401(k) plan, Paid time off (PTO), Holidays, Volunteer Paid Time Off (VPTO), Parental Leave

Benefit plans are subject to change and Xcel Energy has the right to end, suspend, or amend any of its plans, at any time, in whole or in part.

In any materials you submit, you may redact or remove age-identifying information including but not limited to dates of school attendance and graduation. You will not be penalized for redacting or removing this information.

Deadline to Apply: 07/02/26

EEO is the Law | EEO is the Law Supplement | Pay Transparency Nondiscrimination | Equal Opportunity Policy (PDF) | Employee Rights (PDF)

All Xcel Energy employees and contractors share responsibility for protecting the company's information and systems by adhering to cybersecurity policies, standards, and best practices, recognizing that cybersecurity is everyone's responsibility.

ACCESSIBILITY STATEMENT

Xcel Energy endeavors to make https://www.xcelenergy.com/ accessible to any and all users. If you would like to contact us regarding the accessibility of our website or need assistance completing the application process, please contact Xcel Energy Talent Acquisition at recruiting@xcelenergy.com. This contact information is for accommodation requests only and cannot be used to inquire about the status of applications.