Electrical Engineer-UG Transmission Senior-Principal

Job Posting End Date: 07-25-2026

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 34.5kV to 765kV, 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 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.
• System design, engineering, and standards – develop end‑to‑end designs for underground transmission lines, duct bank configurations, conduit sizing, riser and transition structures, vault and manhole layouts, and equipment interfaces; 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, 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, account for soil thermal resistivity, mutual heating, cyclic loading, and thermal backfill, and advise on thermal upgrades, ratings, and operating envelopes across varied installation environments.
• Testing, commissioning, and diagnostics – define and witness factory acceptance testing (partial discharge and type testing), lead post‑installation testing programs (VLF, Hi‑Pot, offline partial discharge diagnostics, sheath integrity testing, cross‑bonding verification, and time‑domain reflectometry), and 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; lead rollouts of new standards and best practices; champion process improvement initiatives that improve safety, quality, and schedule predictability.

• Engineer SG7 – Bachelor’s degree in electrical engineering from an ABET‑accredited program (or comparable combination of degree and experience); 2+ years of related engineering experience.
• Engineer Senior SG8 – Four or more years of related engineering experience with a bachelor’s degree from an ABET‑accredited program (or 2+ years of experience with a master’s or PhD from an ABET‑accredited program).
• Engineer Principal SG9 – Eight or more years of related engineering experience with a bachelor’s degree from an ABET‑accredited program (or six years of experience with a master’s or PhD from an ABET‑accredited program).
• Engineer Staff SG10 – Ten or more years of related engineering experience with a bachelor’s degree from an ABET‑accredited program (or eight years of experience with a master’s or PhD from an ABET‑accredited program).
• Professional Engineer license in any U.S.…