2027 Spring Co-op Operations Planning Engineer

What Youll Do:

As our Operations Planning Engineer Co-op youll get a front-row seat to how one of the worlds largest electric grids is planned and operated.

Think of Operations Planning a little like state patrol officers monitoring a busy interstate. They watch traffic conditions identify congestion help keep things moving safely and respond when challenges arise. Our team does something similar with electricity monitoring conditions across the Bulk Electric System (BES) evaluating how power can safely move across the grid and helping to ensure electricity continues to flow reliably to the millions of people who depend on it.

Youll support the outage planning processes for a complex electric system spanning 15 states analyzing future grid conditions and helping determine safe and reliable paths for maintenance construction and other changes to the system.

Youll gain hands-on experience with:

• Power system analysis tools and industry-standard grid modeling software
• Real-world contingency analysis and system studies
• Transmission outage planning and reliability analysis
• Model validation and operational project support
• Tools and technologies used every day to support real-world grid operations

A Great Day in This Role Means:

Youll spend time running power flow studies reviewing system models and evaluating how planned transmission outages could affect the grid. Youll work alongside experienced engineers to analyze contingencies identify potential reliability concerns and determine what actions may be needed to keep electricity flowing safely and reliably.

This is a fast-paced environment where the work can have an immediate and meaningful impact. Youll see how your analysis helps MISO plan maintenance support new infrastructure projects manage changing grid conditions and prepare for challenges before they happen.

This is a unique opportunity because:

The electric grid is incredibly complex and there is a lot to learn but you wont be learning it from a textbook alone.

Youll work alongside teams across Operations Planning Real-Time Operations Day Ahead Market Operations Transmission Planning and other areas responsible for maintaining system reliability and supporting MISOs energy markets.

That cross-functional exposure will help you understand not only how the grid works but how engineering operations and markets come together to keep electricity moving across a massive interconnected system.

What Youll Be Proud to Share:

• Supported power system studies evaluating future grid conditions transmission outages and reliability risks
• Gained hands-on experience with industry-standard grid modeling and power flow analysis tools
• Learned how engineers manage congestion and changing conditions across the Bulk Electric System
• Collaborated with engineering and operations teams responsible for keeping electricity reliable across the MISO region
• Applied classroom engineering concepts to real-world challenges affecting millions of electricity consumers

As part of your capstone experience youll also present a concise summary demonstrating how your project contributes to the daily operational needs of grid management giving you an opportunity to showcase what you learned and the real-world impact of your work.

Qualifications at a Glance:

Term: January 13 April 30 2027 Full-time Paid

Location: Eagan MN Housing available for qualified students

Academic Level: Undergraduate (Juniors or Seniors)

Degree: Electrical Engineering

Required Technical Skills:

• • Completion of core Electrical Engineering coursework

Preferred Skills:

• • Coursework in Power Systems Analysis
  • Programming experience such as Python MATLAB or C
  • Hands-on projects or internships related to grid modeling or system studies

By the End of Your Co-op Youll Walk Away With:

• A foundational understanding of the Bulk Electric System and how a large-scale electric grid operates
• Hands-on experience with contingency analysis outage planning and power system modeling tools
• A better understanding of MISOs role in maintaining reliability and operating energy markets
• The ability to connect your Electrical Engineering coursework to real-world grid challenges
• Professional experience collaborating across engineering operations planning and market teams

About MISO

MISO manages the electricity superhighway in the Central U.S. Through groundbreaking research and advanced technology our highly skilled employees ensure that power flows reliably to 47 million customers. Operating the electricity grid running a robust energy market and planning for a bright future its what our immensely talented and dedicated team does every day.

Plug into your future career. Apply today and help us keep the power flowing!

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