Electrical Engineer-UG Transmission Senior-Principal

Job Posting End Date

05-31-2026

Please note the job posting will close on the day before the posting end date.

AEP is investing to support significant load growth driven by new industry, data centers, and widespread electrification, and we are seeking an underground transmission Subject Matter Expert who wants to help build what comes next. In this role, you will lead the design, engineering, installation, testing, and restoration of high voltage and extra high voltage underground cable systems spanning 34.5 kV to 765 kV, across both AC and DC applications.

The ideal candidate brings deep expertise in solid dielectric XLPE and high‑pressure fluid‑filled pipe‑type cable systems, complex jointing and termination practices, and thermal performance analysis. As a technical leader within our underground transmission engineering organization, you will guide projects from front‑end engineering design through commissioning and energization, set standards that others follow, and shape how AEP delivers safe, reliable, and resilient power for decades to come.

• Drive the engineering of complex, high‑consequence customer and competitive projects across AEP’s territories, including urban corridors, river crossings, interconnections, and station interfaces.
• Set enterprise‑wide electrical standards that raise safety and reliability performance.
• Influence the supply base and drive innovation in cables, accessories, and installation methods.
• Join a collaborative culture that values being engaged, informed, collaborative, mutual care, and solution oriented.

System design, engineering, and standards

• Develop end to end designs for underground transmission lines including duct bank configurations, conduit sizing, riser and transition structures, vault and manhole layouts, and equipment interfaces.
• Perform cable route analysis, feasibility analysis, and installation engineering.
• Produce and maintain specifications, guidelines, and standards for design, construction, and restoration practices.

Cable splicing and terminations

• Oversee selection and installation of advanced joints and terminations, including GIS terminations, outdoor terminations, and oil filled interfaces.
• Qualify splice kits and accessories and ensure workmanship practices that meet or exceed utility and manufacturer requirements.

Thermal analysis and ampacity

• Execute ampacity studies using CYMCAP or similar tools accounting for soil thermal resistivity, mutual heating, cyclic loading, and thermal backfill.
• Advise on thermal upgrades, ratings, and operating envelopes across varied installation environments.

Testing, commissioning, and diagnostics

• Define and witness factory acceptance testing for power cables and accessories, including partial discharge and type testing.
• Lead post installation testing programs including VLF and Hi‑Pot, offline partial discharge diagnostics, sheath integrity testing and cross bonding verification, and time domain reflectometry for impedance mismatches and fault location.
• Establish commissioning procedures and documentation for energization.

Restoration and reliability

• Lead emergency restoration including fault location (thumping, TDR), forensic analysis, and root cause analysis for cable and accessory failures.
• Drive corrective and preventive actions, updates to standards, and supplier performance improvements.

Standards, suppliers, and continuous improvement

• Maintain and advance underground transmission standards and material specifications; evaluate and qualify new materials and suppliers in partnership with Supply Chain.
• Lead rollouts of new standards and best practices to internal and external stakeholders and support regional teams executing the capital plan.
• Champion process improvement initiatives that improve safety, quality, and schedule predictability.

Demonstrated mastery of:

• IEEE 48 (terminations), IEEE 404 (splices), IEEE 835 (ampacity).
• IEC 60840 (30 kV to 150 kV), IEC 62067 (150 kV to 500 kV) power cable systems testing.
• AEIC CS9 for XLPE and EPR insulated cables.
• Working knowledge of the National Electrical Safety Code and relevant IEEE publications tied to…