NERC Certified System Operator

BHE Montana is a subsidiary of Berkshire Hathaway Energy dedicated to producing and delivering reliable and affordable energy to our customers through a growing portfolio of diverse energy assets. In addition to our development and operational activities, BHE Montana is certified by the North American Electric Reliability Corporation to operate as a Balancing Authority. This allows us to provide customers with comprehensive energy services, including: control, distribution, management, real-time monitoring and scheduling of energy resources across North America.

The System Operator is responsible for the safe, reliable, and efficient real-time operation of BHE Montana’s balancing authorities and generation assets. Working from the Network Operations Center (NOC), this role monitors system conditions, coordinates generation and interchange schedules, responds to system events, and ensures compliance with applicable reliability standards—while continuously optimizing operational performance and supporting grid reliability.

This position plays a critical role during both normal and emergency operating conditions and is entrusted with the authority to take timely real-time operational actions to protect the bulk electric system, support system restoration, and prevent potential reliability violations. The System Operator works closely with internal teams and external partners to maintain system integrity and operational excellence.

• Operate and monitor balancing authority and generation assets in real time to ensure safe, reliable, and economic performance
• Manage hourly resource optimization, generation dispatch, and interchange scheduling
• Respond to system disturbances, outages, and emergency conditions in coordination with transmission operators, reliability coordinators, and internal stakeholders
• Ensure continuous compliance with NERC, WECC, FERC, and applicable regional reliability standards (including AESO/Alberta requirements, as applicable)
• Coordinate with internal operations, environmental, and asset management teams, as well as external trading and reliability partners
• Review and approve switching activities and coordinate planned and unplanned outages to support system reliability
• Prepare and provide operational reports, system updates, and event communications to leadership
• Support the training, development, and mentoring of Associate System Operators

• Bachelor’s degree in a technical field or equivalent combination of education and experience. (Typically, 6 years of related, progressive work experience would be needed for candidates applying for this position who do not possess a bachelor’s degree.)
• 1–5 years of experience in electric operations or a related function
• Possession and maintenance of a valid NERC certification at the Reliability Coordinator or Balancing Interchange level is required. Candidates must successfully pass the NERC examination before being authorized to operate the bulk electric system in North America.
• Strong understanding of bulk electric system operations, generation dispatch, and balancing authority principles
• Preferred experience with Energy Management Systems (EMS), SCADA, and operational data and monitoring tools
• Ability to analyze complex system conditions, make sound decisions under pressure, and manage multiple priorities in a real-time environment
• Experience with renewable generation, power markets (WECC, EIM, AESO, MISO, ERCOT, PJM), or wind forecasting preferred
• This position is primarily based at the company office located in Great Falls, MT, with occasional travel required to generation facilities in Ethridge, MT.
• 24/7 operations environment with rotating 12.5‑hour shifts
• Schedule includes nights, weekends, holidays, and on‑call responsibilities
• CIP‑compliant operations center with required security protocols

• Ability to work for extended periods at a computer in a control room environment
• Ability to monitor systems and communicate effectively with internal and external operational partners via phone, electronic, and written communication
• Ability to occasionally lift up to 25 pounds