The California Independent System Operator (ISO) manages the flow of electricity across the high-voltage, long-distance power lines that make up 80 percent of California's power grid. We safeguard the economy and well-being of 30 million Californians by "keeping the lights on" 24/7.

As the impartial grid operator, the California ISO opens access to the wholesale power market that is designed to diversify resources and lower prices. It also grants equal access to 25,865 circuit-miles of power lines and reduces barriers to diverse resources competing to bring power to customers.

The California ISO's function is often compared to that of air traffic controllers. It would be grossly unfair for air traffic controllers to represent one airline and profit from allowing that company's planes to go through before others. In the same way, the California ISO operates independently—managing the electron traffic on a power grid we do not own—making sure electricity is safely delivered to utilities and consumers on time and reliably.

Under the general direction of the manager, responsible for power system forecast development for California ISO and EIM system loads, renewable resource forecasting, distributed resources, and ancillary services. Develops programs to track, evaluate, and register new variable energy resources ensuring the onboarding process for new variable energy resources is robust and efficient.  Provides subject matter expertise and guidance in the enhancement and support of all required data and neural network modeling to continuously improve forecasting at the ISO.  Analyzes Numerical Weather Prediction Models and translates forecasted information to daily ISO/EIM needs for renewable and load forecasting. Acts as project lead to coordinate the design, analysis, and testing of forecast accuracy.

What's In it for You

Our purpose is to lead the way to tomorrow's energy network. Make a difference and impact millions of people who depend on electricity in their everyday lives.

• You get to work on interesting and challenging assignments that will help grow your skill set.
• You will work in an extremely collaborative environment inside our LEED certified Folsom, California campus.
• You will be challenged, be a part of a winning team, and your contributions will be rewarded and recognized.

What You Will Be Doing:

• Manages load, weather, and renewable resource data sources. 
• Organizes and provides timely maintenance of databases housing historic real-time, hourly, and daily loads, weather, renewable resources, renewable generator outages, economic, demographic, and other pertinent data. 
• Creates, maintains, and analyzes databases as required for effective optimization of renewable and load forecasting. 
• Evaluates potential inefficiencies in current procedures and recommends improvements.
• Develops hypotheses to improve forecasting accuracy for load and renewables. In conjunction with peers, researches, develops, and creates plans to implement new forecasting tools and interfaces using computer programming. 
• Uses software to retrain the neural network model and/or other modeling methods to prove or disprove forecast hypotheses and analyzes the results.
• Gathers and interprets various meteorological data to formulate short and medium-range forecasts critical to the Bulk Electric System for the ISO and EIM entities. Validates and improves the accuracy of daily load (including weather inputs affecting load), wind, and solar forecasts. 
• Provides meteorological insight and forecasting support to Operations and other internal groups as necessary. Identifies and alerts Operations division to meteorological events capable of jeopardizing system reliability.
• Provides technical leadership on all aspects of onboarding and validating variable energy resources to ensure timely, accurate and consistent detailed short-term wind and solar forecasts are used in the real-time and day-ahead markets
• Develops and retrains a neural network model for 5-minute, 15-minute, hourly, and day-ahead load forecasts using specialized software.
• Improves methods and procedures for collecting and processing demand, energy, weather, and economic data by analyzing historical and forecasted electric demand, generation, and energy trends and related data. 
• Demonstrates a thorough knowledge of policy issues and related matters. Anticipates, identifies and resolves implementation problems and potential problems within assigned areas. May propose solutions to issues and problems outside of assigned areas of responsibility.
• Acts as a project lead to coordinate the design, definition, testing, documentation, implementation and support of forecast applications. 
• Coordinates project efforts of ISO business units, vendors, market participants, and others as appropriate.

Level of Education and Discipline

• A Bachelor’s degree (BA, BS) or equivalent education, training or experience in Statistics, Math, Computer Science, Economics, Engineering or closely related field.
• An advanced degree (MS or PhD) is preferred.

Amount of Experience

• Equivalent years of education and training, plus five (5) years or more of related experience.

Type of Experience

• Experience in neural networks, optimization techniques, and/or load forecast (electric industry experience with utilities or ISO preferred).
• Experience using neural network, analytical, and/or optimization techniques from one of the following disciplines: statistics, probabilities, economics, or decision analysis.
• Experience with data querying, maintenance, and use of databases (MS-Access, MS-Excel, etc.) required.
• Experience with statistics, economic and demographic impacts on loads, energy management, and generator operation/characteristics desired.
• Knowledge of Balancing Authority operational requirements (i.e., operating reserve requirements) strongly desired
• Knowledge of EMS and SCADA data acquisition functions and PI Historian archiving processes strongly desired
• Experience with software or hardware systems a plus.  

One or a combination of the following is required: 

• power systems
• EMS
• real-time systems
• market operation
• web services
• Oracle
• SQL

Additional skills and abilities

• Ability to think strategically and devise solutions to problems in keeping with multiple considerations.
• Ability to effectively communicate complex materials and concepts.
• Strong computer skills in Microsoft Office Suite, programming within R language, along with and data retrieval and manipulation in multiple database formats.
• Strong background and application of mathematics, statistics, and probabilities, with the ability to factor in human behaviors into forecasts. 
• Must be able to work effectively in a team environment as facilitator and team member.
• Excellent analytical, verbal and written communication and documentation skills required, with a demonstrated attention to detail
• Ability to use deductive reasoning and analytical thinking with sound judgement and decision-making skills
• Excellent interpersonal and conflict resolution skills are also essential
• Must be self-starting and willing and able to work independently in a dynamic corporate organization under pressure of tight deadlines and aggressive expectations
• Self-motivated, problem solving skills and the ability to influence others without direct authority

**We will also consider applicants for an Power Systems Forecaster Specialist position. This position requires a Bachelor's degree or equivalent education, training or experience in Engineering with emphasis in Statistics, Math, Computer Science, Economics, Engineering or related field and two (2) or more years of experience. Master’s degree preferred.**