Electric Utility Engineer

City of Santa Clara; Santa Clara (CA); On-site; Full time

Job description

The Department

Silicon Valley Power (SVP) currently provides over 40 percent of Santa Clara’s electricity from carbon‑free renewable resources. In addition to using green energy from large‑scale wind, solar, geothermal and hydroelectric projects outside of the area, SVP employs innovative ways to locally produce electricity by capturing and burning methane gas from a closed city landfill and using power from solar generating systems on city‑owned garages and vacant, unusable land. It is the mission of SVP to be a progressive, service‑oriented utility, offering reliable, competitively priced services for the benefit of Santa Clara and its customers. Being competitive in the marketplace with a continuous focus on customer service, SVP can provide economic value to the City of Santa Clara and its customers while maintaining low residential rates and offering competitive rates for all customers.

Description

Silicon Valley Power (SVP) currently provides over 40 percent of Santa Clara’s electricity from carbon‑free renewable resources. In addition to using green energy from large‑scale wind, solar, geothermal and hydroelectric projects outside of the area, SVP employs innovative ways to locally produce electricity by capturing and burning methane gas from a closed city landfill and using power from solar generating systems on city‑owned garages and vacant, unusable land. It is the mission of SVP to be a progressive, service‑oriented utility, offering reliable, competitively priced services for the benefit of Santa Clara and its customers. Being competitive in the marketplace with a continuous focus on customer service, SVP can provide economic value to the City of Santa Clara and its customers while maintaining low residential rates and offering competitive rates for all customers.

The Position

Silicon Valley Power (SVP) is seeking dynamic, engaging and qualified engineers for several vacant Electric Utility Engineer positions in various divisions.

SVP Operations Division

This position will be assigned engineering work associated with communication and electrical power engineering. This individual will assist with the programming of industrial multiplexer networks. The individual should have a strong interest in industrial high‑speed data networking.

SVP Engineering and CIP projects Division

This position will be assigned engineering work associated with electrical power engineering, substation design and Transmission and distribution systems. The individual may manage or will assist in managing Capital improvement Projects (CIP) to support growth of the electric utility. The candidates should have strong background and interest in electric systems.

System Planning and Asset Management Division

This position will be assigned to perform and maintain distribution system model, participate in integrated SVP system planning and other SVP groups to deliver distribution system results and reports, identify and implement projects that are necessary to support load growth and improve reliability of the distribution system. This position will work closely with customer/developers on their projects, will coordinate with various City departments and support SVP’s field and operation staff as necessary.

Salary

The annual salary range for this position is $185,797.44 - $236,936.04. This position may be filled at or near the minimum of the salary range.

Minimum Qualifications

Minimum Education And Experience Requirements

• Graduation from an accredited college or university with:
  • Bachelor's Degree in Electrical Engineering and two (2) years experience doing electric utility engineering work.
• Graduation from an accredited college or university with:
  • Bachelor's Degree in Engineering and three (3) years experience doing electric utility engineering work and experience using AutoCAD and Microsoft office (i.e. Microsoft Word, Excel, PowerPoint and Mathlab).

Acceptable Substitution

• A Master's Degree in Electrical Engineering from an accredited college or university may be substituted for one (1) year of experience.
• An Engineer‑in‑Training Certification with ten (10) years of experience in electric utility engineering work can be substituted for the degree in engineering and the required experience indicated above.

License/Certifications

Possession of an appropriate, valid Class C California driver's license is required at time of appointment and for the duration of employment.

Desirable Qualifications

• Registration as an Electrical, Mechanical or Civil Engineer in the State of California
• Experience using ESRI based Geographic Information System (GIS)
• Experience using system modeling and load flow software; Aspen one‑liner software, GE PSLF, and DEW ISM

Special Conditions

• May work unusual hours in emergency situations, or while acting as supervisor, or at other than the regular job site.

Other Requirements

Must be able to perform all of the essential functions of the job assignment.

Candidates must attain a passing score on each phase of the examination process to qualify for the Eligible List. A department interview may be required prior to appointment.

Federal law requires all employees to provide verification of their eligibility to work in this country. Please be informed that the City of Santa Clara will not sponsor, represent, or sign documents related to visa applications/transfers for H1B or any other type of visa which requires an employer application.

PERMANENT CITY EMPLOYEES PREFERENCE POINTS

Current permanent employee candidates who receive a passing score on the examination will have an additional five (5) points added to their final score.

The City of Santa Clara is an equal opportunity employer. Applicants for all job openings will be considered without regard to age, race, color, religion, sex, national origin, sexual orientation, disability, veteran status or any other consideration made unlawful under any federal, state or local laws. The City of Santa Clara is committed to offering reasonable accommodations to job applicants with disabilities. If you need assistance or an accommodation due to a disability, please contact us at (408) 615‑2080 or [e-mail].

City of Santa Clara Benefit Summary Overview for Bargaining Unit #4

Professional Engineers

This summary provides a brief overview of the City of Santa Clara’s benefits available to Bargaining Unit #4 employees in 2026. In the event of any conflict between the information in this summary and the applicable official plan documents, City Manager’s Directives (CMDs), Personnel and Salary Resolution, or Memorandum of Understanding (MOU), the applicable official plan documents, CMDs, Personnel and Salary Resolution, or MOU will prevail over this summary. Benefits are subject to change.

Retirement

• Membership in the California Public Employees Retirement System (CalPERS)
  • Classic Employees: 2.7% @ age 55 formula – employee pays 8.00% of gross pay, minus $61 bi‑weekly
  • New Employees: 2.0% @ age 62 formula – employee pays 7.00% of gross pay
• Medicare and Social Security (FICA)
  • Employee pays 6.20% up to $11,439 (Social Security) and 1.45% (Medicare) of gross pay

Health Insurance

• The City contributes up to 100% of the premium of the Kaiser (Region 1) plan for Employee Only and Employee + 1 Dependent plans, and up to 90% of the premium of the Kaiser (Region 1) plan of the Employee + 2 or More Dependents plan
• Employees electing health coverage with premiums above the City health contribution will pay additional premium costs from salary on a pre‑tax basis
• No cash difference is paid if an employee elects a plan cheaper than the max City contribution
• To be eligible for the City’s contribution toward health, employees must be on a paid status for at least 80 hours in the month prior to the month of coverage
• Coverage is effective as early as the first day of the month after date of hire
• Employees hired on or after 1/1/2024 who opt‑out of City‑offered health insurance and provide annual attestation and acceptable proof of alternative required coverage for themselves and their tax family, if applicable, are eligible for a cash‑in‑lieu amount of $250/month. Contact Human Resources for more details

Dental Insurance

• Choice of two Delta Dental plans; enrollment is mandatory
• City pays lowest cost employee only plan; additional cost is paid by employee
• Coverage is effective as early as the first day of the month after date of hire

Vision Insurance

• Choice of two VSP plans
• City pays lowest cost employee only plan; additional cost is paid by employee
• Coverage is effective as early as the first day of the month after date of hire

Voluntary Employee Beneficiary Association (VEBA)

• City contributes $50.00 a month toward employee’s VEBA account
• Account funds may be used to pay for qualified medical expenses after separation from the City and after age 50 (pre‑tax)

Life Insurance

• City pays for 1x annual salary up to $250