LG&E and KU - Spring 2025 Electrical Engineering Co-op - Multiple Positions Available!

Why choose LG&E and KU for your co-op?

As part of our robust engineering workforce, you'll benefit from a stimulating and challenging work environment. We offer co-op opportunities in a variety of areas that require an engineering mindset, critical-analysis and creative thinking.

Our diverse workforce and strong culture of service to the communities are cornerstones of our companies. And our employees are proud of the reliable energy they provide safely to customers each day.

During your co-op, you will gain experience and exposure to practical engineering applications within the utility industry. Co-ops work alongside experienced engineers and will perform a variety of projects and assignments that have specific instructions and expected results.

The following departments have openings on their team for the Spring:

Distribution Control Center Engineering: Co-op will assist in the implementation and configuration of the new distribution management system (DMS). Co-op will work with the reliability department to map, configure, and initialize new DA devices in the DMS. Co-op will learn operational procedures for distribution outages, clearances, and switching, and utilize that knowledge in the configuration and support of the DMS.

Fleet Engineering: Co-op will learn all aspects of power plant operations through plant tours and studying generating equipment. Co-op will also learn the planning process and project management procedures. Will be responsible for visiting plants, investigating problems, and presenting solutions to engineering and plant staff. Position will involve both office and plant work.

Power Plant Operations (Cane Run, Trimble County): Will work on projects dealing with daily operation and maintenance of the power generating stations. Co-op will use analytical skills to determine root cause failures and determine corrective action. Also will use knowledge of boiler dynamics in working with other engineers on engineering design or maintenance/operations.

Project Engineering: Assist engineers on large construction/design projects. Gather data and vendor information, and track progress of projects. As term progresses, co-op may be responsible for managing small contracts and projects. Most positions are assigned to project site(s) full time.

Substation Construction and Maintenance: Co-op will learn Distribution Equipment Tracking System and conduct field/shop inspections to research and verify information. Also receive in-depth training and experience with computer-aided drafting system to make corrections and edits to switching diagrams for substations and become familiar with power transmission and distribution systems. Gain hands-on experience with substation maintenance and control and relay testing.

Transmission Reliability Performance and Standards: Co-op will assist in managing facility rating and event databases, which contain Line, Substation, Protection, Operations, and Planning data. Assignments may include data entry and analysis, outage and metrics reporting, creating software screens, and software testing. Upon completion, the co-op will obtain skills in system modeling, database configuration, and various reporting tools.

Transmission Strategy & Planning: Working with Siemens PSS/D software to run simple dynamic/stability simulations of faults. Compare results of dynamic simulations with criteria. There could be some Python code review and/or programing. Some review of model data in PSS/E cases. Potential report writing of dynamic simulation results. Some database edits of dynamic data used in stability simulations.

Transmission Substation Construction & Maintenance: Co-op will assist in managing Transmission Substation asset data by using Cascade software. Assignments may include data entry and analysis, reviewing/updating Transmission asset data in Cascade, and creating/tracking Cascade work orders. The student will be engaged analysis of Transformer and breaker failures. This may require multiple site visits and inspections. Upon completion, the co-op will obtain skills in database configuration, power engineering/design, project management and experience with various reporting tools such as power BI.

Major Accountabilities

• Identifies opportunities for improvement and/or suggests improved methods.
• Gathers, correlates, and analyzes specific data using established procedures.
• Performs detailed and/or routine engineering assignments involving established calculations, tests and analysis.
• Performs a variety of routine tasks that will improve the individual's familiarization with the engineering methods, practices, and programs of the Company.
• Supports operating and maintenance functions with engineering analysis, troubleshooting, problem identification, problem resolution activities.
• Assists Senior Engineers and/or Engineer I, II and III with large projects, as needed.
• Assists with the development of station/engineering goals, objectives, budgets, programs and procedures.
• Plans and controls all activities so as to provide an accident-free work place.
• Conducts work activities with regard to environmental rules and regulations.
• Regularly reviews assignments to assure optimum efficiency and cost effectiveness.
• Performs other duties as directed by management.

Required Education/Experience

Available full time during the Spring 2025 semester (January - May)

Pursuing a Bachelor's degree with declared major in Electrical Engineering

Minimum 2.50 GPA

Work Conditions

Office, field, or plant environment. Some positions might require ability to work in adverse climate conditions and physical nature of work may require climbing in and out of equipment and walking on grated sidewalks up to 50 feet in the air.

Physical Effort

Physical nature of work may require climbing in and out equipment and walking on grated sidewalks up to 50 feet in the air.