Pitch Aeronautics Inc. Transmission Planning Software Engineer Boise, ID · Remote · Full time

Shape how WireWeather integrates with power flow. You will sit at the intersection of transmission planning practice and software development: defining the methodologies we implement, writing the code that implements them, and engaging directly with RTO/ISO and utility planners to make sure what we ship actually fits how they do their jobs.

About Pitch Aeronautics Inc.

Pitch Aeronautics (www.pitchaero.com) is a rapidly growing startup creating game-changing solutions for the utility industry. Pitch has developed a drone to install our line sensor, bird diverters, and other equipment on power lines. Our drone-deployable line sensors wirelessly transmit environmental and line characteristics to an online secure API to help utilities push more power through existing lines, prevent wildfires, and improve grid reliability. At Pitch we’ve fostered a collaborative, fun, “get-stuff-done” working environment. We believe in moving fast and creating products and prototypes rapidly. If you’re looking for a place where you can make a difference on day one, be empowered to achieve, and love working in small teams, we want to meet you!

Description

This is a hands-on engineering role. You will own the planning side of the product, and provide expertise on what studies we can run, what assumptions are defensible, what reports we produce, and how our outputs hold up to scrutiny from a senior planner or interconnection engineer.


We expect the strongest candidates to be deep on transmission planning first and to either write code already or be eager to grow that skill alongside a strong software team. We are also interested in strong engineers from the software side with real interconnection-study exposure.


Why we need your help

Pitch Aero builds WireWeather, a Dynamic Line Rating (DLR) forecast product for the bulk electric system. We turn high-resolution weather forecasts into hourly ratings for transmission lines, and we are increasingly embedding those ratings inside the power flow workflows that planners and operators use to make decisions — interconnection studies, N-1 contingency analysis, and capacity assessments.


Our software stack today includes a Sienna power flow service, Python analysis pipelines, and a Flutter web dashboard for planners. Recent work includes a non-curtailment interconnection study on Idaho Power's Milner 138 kV POI that compared DLR, AAR, CLR, and SLR-bound capacity across thousands of hourly conditions and dozens of N-1 contingencies. We want to do a lot more of that — better, faster, and across more systems.


Responsibilities

  • Decide how line ratings are applied in DC and AC power flow studies, contingency analysis (N-1, and N-1-1 / N-2 where applicable) , PTDF/LODF sensitivity work, and generator interconnection (GI) capacity calculations.
  • Contribute Python analysis scripts and Sienna power flow service code. Build new study types, improve solver and contingency handling, and integrate our forecast data into the planning workflow.
  • Lead non-curtailment interconnection studies and similar engagements end to end: case ingestion (PSS/E .raw/.rawx, PSLF .epc), base-case validation, contingency screening, rating application, and report production.
  • Engage RTO/ISO transmission planners, utility planning engineers, and IPPs to understand what they need, what's defensible in their process, and what would actually move the needle on their interconnection queues and reliability assessments.
  • Bring your planning experience to product decisions. Guide our team with an understanding of what features matter, what reports they expect, what edge cases will break trust the first time a planner pressure-tests our output.
  • Review study results and reports from other engineers for physical plausibility, methodology soundness, and presentation quality.


Minimum Qualifications

  • 4-6 years in transmission planning at an RTO/ISO or transmission utility.
  • You can open a base case, identify problems, run a contingency screen, and explain what the result means to a non-planner. 
  • Comfort with AC and DC power flow, PTDF, LODF, and ATC concepts.
  • You have led studies (system impact, facilities, cluster, affected-system, ERIS/NRIS deliverability, or similar)  and have shipped reports that other engineers signed off on.
  • Python proficiency. 
  • Strong writing and presentation skills.


Desired Qualifications

  • Experience with any of: PSS/E, PSLF, PowerWorld, TARA, PROMOD, GridView, PowerSystems.jl / Sienna.
  • Familiarity with IEEE 738 thermal rating calculations.
  • Familiarity with FERC Order 881 / AAR adoption, or active DLR programs at a utility.
  • Experience with LGIA, cluster studies, or affected-system studies in a WECC or MISO context.
  • Julia experience or willingness to learn (our power flow service is in Julia/Sienna).
  • Exposure to Flutter, React, or other frontend frameworks — not required, but useful for shaping how planners interact with our outputs.
  • Reporting / visualization experience (Plotly, HTML reports, dashboards).
  • Familiarity with NERC TPL-001, MOD-032, FAC standards.


Benefits

  • 120 hours of Paid Time-Off
  • Health Insurance
  • Dental & Vision Insurance
  • Short Term Disability Insurance
  • Long Term Disability Insurance
  • Health Savings Account (HSA)
  • Flexible Spending Account (FSA)
  • 401k
  • Paid holidays
  • Flexible work schedule