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Associate System Operator Internship - Summer 2027
Wabash Valley Power Alliance · Engineering & Operations
- Hours
- Intern
- Where
- Indianapolis, IN
- Posted
- Sep 16
Objective:
Join WVPA as an Intern Associate System Operator and gain hands-on experience in our Operations Center. You’ll learn how System Operators communicate with utilities and members, ensure safe and reliable energy delivery, and use advanced monitoring and control systems.
What you'd do
- Learn NERC and PJM certification requirements for transmission operations.
- Support communications with Investor-Owned Utilities (IOUs), member cooperatives, and WVPA staff for planned and unplanned outages.
- Monitor transmission and distribution systems using Energy Management Systems (EMS) and Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition systems (SCADA).
- Assist with outage coordination, equipment monitoring, and service restoration.
- Shadow field technicians and system administrators on SCADA/EMS operations and equipment calibration.
- Observe protection relay system operations and troubleshoot mis-operations.
- Participate in operational planning for mobile substations and storm response.
- Support other Operations Center activities and special projects as assigned.What You’ll Gain
- Real-world exposure to a 24/7/365 Operations Center environment.
- Understanding of electric power system reliability standards and regulatory compliance.
What they want
- Currently pursuing a bachelor’s degree in engineering or bachelor’s or associate’s degree in engineering technology at an ABET accredited program. Electrical Engineering or Electrical Engineering Technology preferred.
- Interest in transmission/substation operations and energy systems.
- Flexibility to participate in occasional 12-hour shifts, including evenings and weekends.
- Occasional travel to member sites, substations, and IOUs.
About Wabash Valley Power Alliance · Engineering & Operations
Headquartered in Indianapolis, Indiana, Wabash Valley Power is a not-for-profit electric cooperative and wholesale provider of reliable, affordable electricity to our 21 electric distribution member cooperatives. These cooperatives in turn serve more than 280,000 homes, businesses, and farms in Indiana and Illinois. As a not-for-profit co-op, we do things a bit differently—and that’s the point. Because we aren’t influenced by shareholders, we make our decisions with our members in mind.