Senior Engineering Officer - Contestable Connections Planning

We currently have an exciting opportunity for a Senior Engineering Officer – Contestable Connections Planning to join our team. This is a fast-paced, technically challenging and influential role at the heart of Essential Energy’s customer connections group where you help shape safe, reliable and sustainable outcomes for our network and the communities we serve. This role can be located anywhere within our operational footprint.

The Senior Engineering Officer – Contestable Connections Planning provides high‑level technical advice, system analysis, and engineering support relating to customer‑initiated network connections. This role plays a crucial part in ensuring safe, reliable, and cost‑effective network outcomes by undertaking detailed load‑flow modelling, evaluating customer connection impacts, supporting network augmentation planning, and contributing to technical standards and process improvements.

Working closely with internal stakeholders, technical specialists and external partners, the Senior Engineering Officer delivers expert analysis, prepares connection recommendations, completes engineering assessments, and supports strategic planning activities that ensure Essential Energy’s network meets customer, regulatory and future energy requirements.

This role requires strong analytical capability, advanced engineering modelling skills, knowledge of network planning principles, and the ability to collaborate effectively across teams. A solid understanding of electricity distribution / subtransmission systems, regulatory frameworks, and safe system design is essential.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead the planning and development of proposed new or augmented customer connections, including assessment of quality‑of‑supply issues.
• Undertake system load‑flow analysis, protection assessments and network modelling to identify constraints, risks and impacts of connected customers.
• Conduct analysis and prepare detailed technical recommendations for customer and generator connection enquiries.
• Provide clear, consistent and high‑quality technical advice to internal and external stakeholders.
• Assess customer‑funded and Essential Energy‑funded works to ensure compliance with AER Capital Contribution Guidelines, easement requirements and internal standards.
• Drive continuous improvement by updating documentation, streamlining processes and supporting implementation of revised work practices.
• Support knowledge sharing, mentoring and capability development of less experienced team members.
• Build effective working relationships across Essential Energy to support timely progression and resolution of customer connection projects.
• Demonstrate behaviours aligned with Essential Energy’s Code of Conduct and Leadership Values, promoting safety, collaboration, innovation and commercial responsibility.

About You

Required Qualifications

Desirable :

Why Essential Energy

Essential Energy provides employees with access to a range of benefits through partnerships with leading organisations such as Qantas, Optus, NIB and Mildura Health Fund. Employees also enjoy a variety of Health and Wellbeing programs, including Fitness Passport. Visit our employee benefits page for more information.

We are proud to be recognised as a WORK180 Endorsed Employer for All Women .

For further information, please contact Mark Grainger on 02 6643 7745.

Applications close on Monday 2 March at 11 : 55pm AEST.

Passionate people. Global thinking. Regional heart.

Building a better energy future.

Essential Energy is committed to building a culturally diverse and inclusive workplace and strongly encourages applicants to apply regardless of gender, age, ethnicity, sexual orientation, or disability.

As an organisation, our aim is to champion inclusivity in the workplace and celebrate the difference in all our employees.

At Essential Energy, we are committed to supporting adjustments throughout the recruitment and selection process, as well as during employment. To discuss adjustment requirements, please contact careers@essentialenergy.com.au or call us on 1800 255 777.