Senior Associate, Technical Services (Tests and Commissioning)

Vena Group; Makati; On-site; PHP 669,600 - 892,800; Full time

Job summary

Vena Group in Makati, Philippines, seeks a Testing and Commissioning Sr. Associate to lead testing and energization for renewable energy projects. This position manages the complete lifecycle of testing, ensuring compliance with national regulations and standards.

The ideal candidate has a Bachelor's Degree in Electrical Engineering and 5-8 years of experience in high-voltage systems. Responsibilities include overseeing functional testing and regulatory documentation, as well as coordinating with EPC contractors and stakeholders.

Qualifications

• Registered Electrical Engineer required.
• 5-8 years of relevant experience in testing and commissioning.
• Proven experience managing energization and interconnection.

Responsibilities

• Develop and implement comprehensive testing and commissioning plans.
• Supervise pre-commissioning, functional testing, and energization activities.
• Manage scheduling and readiness reviews for testing milestones.

Skills

Technical expertise in electrical systems

Coordination with EPC contractors

Strong communication skills

Leadership

Knowledge of grid codes

Experience with SCADA systems

Education

Bachelor’s Degree in Electrical Engineering

Tools

Testing equipment and standards

Job description

The Testing and Commissioning Sr. Associate will lead and oversee all pre-commissioning, testing, and energization activities for the company’s renewable energy projects, ensuring full compliance with NGCP, DU/EC, and WESM technical and regulatory requirements.

The role covers the complete lifecycle of testing and commissioning—from factory acceptance testing (FAT) and site acceptance testing (SAT) through energization, performance testing, and commercial operation (COD)—for both generation facilities and interconnection assets such as substations and transmission lines.

This position requires strong technical expertise in electrical systems, grid codes, and protection and control systems, along with experience coordinating with EPC contractors, Owner’s Engineers (OE), and external stakeholders such as NGCP, DOE, ERC, and IEMOP.

Key Responsibilities:

Testing and Commissioning Management

• Develop and implement comprehensive testing and commissioning plans for substations, transmission lines, and generation facilities in coordination with EPC and OE teams.
• Supervise and coordinate pre-commissioning, functional testing, and energization activities, ensuring full compliance with NGCP/DU/EC standards and project specifications.
• Review and approve testing procedures, method statements, and commissioning reports submitted by EPC contractors.
• Manage scheduling and readiness reviews for testing milestones leading to PCATC, CTE, and FCATC.
• Oversee verification and calibration of protection relays, metering systems, and SCADA interfaces to ensure alignment with grid operator and market operator requirements.

Regulatory and Compliance Coordination

• Serve as the focal point for coordination with NGCP or DU/EC during pre-energization reviews, site inspections, and testing witness activities.
• Ensure timely submission of all technical documentation required for PCATC, CTE, and FCATC approvals.
• Coordinate with ERC, DOE, and IEMOP for compliance with testing, market registration, and commissioning requirements.
• Ensure adherence to Philippine Grid Code, Distribution Code, and WESM Rules during all testing and energization activities.

Technical Oversight and Quality Assurance

• Review and validate test results for all major electrical equipment (e.g., power transformers, circuit breakers, CTs, PTs, relays, and communication systems).
• Evaluate system performance and ensure compliance with grid parameters and contractual performance guarantees.
• Lead troubleshooting and resolution of technical issues encountered during testing and energization.
• Verify that as-built conditions and documentation are aligned with approved design and operational standards.

Coordination and Leadership

• Manage and coordinate EPC, Owner’s Engineer, and internal technical teams during the commissioning phase to ensure seamless handover to operations.
• Conduct coordination meetings with utility representatives, third-party test teams, and contractors.
• Prepare detailed testing progress reports, commissioning status updates, and energization readiness certifications for management and regulatory reporting.
• Support internal knowledge transfer by documenting lessons learned and developing commissioning templates and standard procedures for future projects.

Pre-requisites:

• Bachelor’s Degree in Electrical Engineering (Registered Electrical Engineer required).
• 5-8 years of relevant experience in testing and commissioning of high-voltage electrical systems, substations, or generation facilities.
• Proven experience managing energization and interconnection with NGCP or DU/EC.
• Strong knowledge of protection, metering, and SCADA systems, and relevant testing equipment and standards.
• Familiarity with regulatory processes for PCATC, CTE, FCATC, COE-GET, and WESM registration.
• In-depth understanding of the PGC/PDC, ERC, WESM, and DOE compliance requirements.
• Excellent coordination, leadership, and communication skills.
• Willingness to conduct site assignments during testing, commissioning, and energization phases.

Are you ready to engineer a greener future?