Electrical Design Plant Engineer - Power Generation

Portland General Electric; Portland (OR); On-site; USD 84,000 - 110,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Performance-based incentive bonus

Professional development support

Employee well-being rewards

Job summary

Portland General Electric is looking for an Electrical Design Plant Engineer in Portland, Oregon. This role focuses on the design and integration of electrical systems across various renewable energy projects, including hydro, wind, and solar.

The ideal candidate will bring strong problem-solving abilities, knowledge of electrical system design, and experience with regulatory compliance.

You will play a vital part in delivering reliable and sustainable energy solutions while enhancing system performance.

Qualifications

• Requires a bachelor's degree in engineering from an ABET-accredited program.
• P2 role needs 2+ years of experience; P3 role needs 5+ years or a PE license.
• Fundamentals of Engineering (FE) exam preferred for P2; Professional Engineering (PE) license preferred for P3.

Responsibilities

• Design and integrate electrical systems for renewable energy projects.
• Ensure compliance with industry standards and improve system operations.
• Lead projects addressing technical challenges with innovative solutions.

Skills

Problem Solving

Electrical System Design

Regulatory Compliance

Project Coordination

Innovation

Education

Bachelor's degree in engineering

Tools

NERC/WECC Standards

NEC

IEEE Standards

Job description

At PGE, our work involves dreaming about, planning for, and realizing a smarter, cleaner, more enduring Oregon neighborhood. Its core to our DNA and we haven't stopped since we started in 1888. We energize lives, strengthen communities and drive advancements in energy that promote social, economic and environmental progress. We're always on the lookout for people passionate about leading and being a part of teams that are advancing innovative clean energy solutions that are also affordable and accessible to all.

Job Overview

Join us in supporting the transformation of renewable energy at scale. As an Electrical Design Plant Engineer on our Power Supply Engineering Services team, you will play a key role in the design and integration of electrical systems across hydro, wind, solar, and energy storage projects that support Oregon's clean energy transition.

In this role, you will contribute to projects that directly impact how we deliver reliable and sustainable energy. You'll apply your technical expertise to solve complex engineering challenges, support system improvements, and ensure our generation assets operate safely, efficiently, and in compliance with industry standards.

Your Role - P2

• Design & Project Contribution: Support the development, procurement, and integration of electrical systems for renewable and generation assets, ensuring designs meet safety, reliability, and operational requirements.
• Problem Solving & Innovation: Apply engineering knowledge to address technical challenges and contribute to practical, forward‑thinking solutions that improve system performance.
• Reliability & Compliance: Support system performance by applying engineering principles to ensure compliance with applicable standards (e.g., NERC/WECC, NEC, NESC, IEEE, etc.) and contribute to continuous improvement of plant operations.

Your Role - P3

• Strategic Design Leadership: Lead the development, procurement, and integration of sophisticated electrical systems for renewable assets. Your work ensures the safety, reliability, and long‑term viability of utility‑scale power infrastructure.
• Innovation & Influence: Tackle emerging technical challenges in renewable energy by designing creative, forward‑thinking solutions. Your insights will guide not only project outcomes but also future design standards and practices.
• Reliability & Risk Management: Apply deep technical expertise to assess system risk, ensure regulatory compliance (e.g., NERC/WECC, OSHA, NFPA, NESC, etc.), and drive continuous improvement in how our facilities perform under real‑world demands.

Plans and implements the design, procurement, installation and/or maintenance of electrical systems and apparatus, such as electric motors, equipment controls, lighting, wiring, and power systems/devices, and cable/raceway systems for PGE's new and existing generation fleet.

Plant Design Engineers provide design improvements and engineering solutions to electrical problems at thermal, hydro, and renewable plants. Maintains and improves the operation, reliability, safety and regulatory compliance of the company's generating resources.

Key Responsibilities

Responsibilities - Electrical Design Plant Engineer (Grade 6 / P2)

Engineering Standards: All Engineering
Maintains currency in state‑of‑the‑art engineering practices and independently applies professional knowledge of engineering processes and standards to assignments/projects.

Engineering Standards: Plant Design Subfunction
Applies professional knowledge of NERC/WECC Reliability Standards and NERC Critical Infrastructure Protection and professional knowledge of NEC and NESC to plant design and construction and applies engineering theories and concepts in enhancing knowledge of power generation facilities; enhances familiarity with and ability to find specific IEEE standards.

Engineering Production: All Engineering
Prepares a variety of moderately complex engineering deliverables; leads smaller production teams. Develops engineering solutions that meet technical requirements, all applicable codes and regulatory requirements and follow sound engineering practice.

Engineering Production: Plant Design Subfunction
Develops engineering solutions that meet technical requirements, all applicable codes and regulatory requirements and follow sound engineering practice; completes a range of electrical designs and studies.

Project Coordination: All Engineering
Assigns tasks and coordinates with other internal/external team members on assigned projects; shares information and provides professional guidance in executing project tasks.

Project Coordination: Plant Design Subfunction
Provides complex design, construction, operation, maintenance or testing elements in support of engineering and construction needs of hydro, wind and thermal plants; contributes to capital budget and job estimates.

Knowledge Sharing: All Engineering
Shares current knowledge of latest technology and processes; may assist with mentoring, recognition and any corrective actions required.

Responsibilities - Senior Electrical Design Plant Engineer (Grade 7 / P3)

Engineering Standards: All Engineering
Maintains currency in state‑of‑the‑art engineering practices and provides guidance and direction on engineering processes and standards to colleagues when requested.

Engineering Standards: Plant Design Subfunction
Supports Compliance with extended professional knowledge of NERC/WECC Reliability Standards and NERC Critical Infrastructure Protection; applies working knowledge of NEC and NESC for plant design, construction and support; applies working knowledge of power generation facilities for design and support; applies IEEE standards for specification development, plant design and support; provides technical guidance on plant designs, construction and support to other engineers and plant staffs.

Engineering Production: All Engineering
Prepares a variety of complex engineering deliverables for larger or multiple projects; coordinates multiple‑discipline activity. Develops and provides quality assurance reviews of engineering solutions that meet technical requirements, all applicable codes and regulatory requirements and follow sound engineering practice.

Engineering Production: Plant Design Subfunction
Analyzes and completes complex electrical designs and studies, providing data and recommendations on technical matters to management; manages complex electrical projects.

Project Coordination: All Engineering
Actively coordinates with other internal/external team members on moderately complex projects, including representing the team to interdepartmental and external (regulatory) stakeholders.

Project Coordination: Plant Design Subfunction
Plans, develops and coordinates projects with complex design, construction, operation, maintenance or testing elements in support of engineering and construction needs of hydro, wind and thermal plants; provides accurate capital budget and job estimates.

Knowledge Sharing: All Engineering
Serves as a technical specialist and provides consultation/guidance to project teams in a practice area; actively fosters knowledge management and provides mentoring; implements resource‑management strategy.

Education / Experience / Certifications

Education
Requires a bachelor's degree in engineering. ABET‑accredited engineering program or program accredited by an equivalent agency preferred.

• P2: Typically two or more years in related field
• P3: Typically five or more years in related field or four or more years with PE license

Certifications, Licenses and Training

• P2: Fundamentals of Engineering (FE) exam strongly preferred
• P3: Professional Engineering (PE) license strongly preferred

Minimum Competencies

Functional Competencies

Proficiency by level:

• P2: Intermediate
• P3: Advanced intermediate knowledge of engineering and economic principles and concepts.
• Intermediate knowledge of other engineering disciplines and intermediate ability to interpret engineering deliverable content as assigned.
• Intermediate knowledge and application of engineering processes and procedures.
• Intermediate industry knowledge and technology trends.
• Intermediate knowledge of company QA/QC process and procedures.
• Working knowledge of construction feasibility.
• Working knowledge of procurement and contract administration.
• Intermediate knowledge of process and procedures for project controls and estimates.
• Intermediate knowledge of initiating electrical improvements and corrective actions for power plants, dams and related facilities.
• Intermediate knowledge in the thermal, wind and/or hydro generation areas; knowledge of substations preferred.

General Competencies

• Intermediate accuracy skills.
• Working knowledge of the utility industry.
• Intermediate organization and prioritization skills.
• Intermediate decision‑making skills.
• Intermediate written and oral communication skills.
• Intermediate individual and group presentation skills.

Physical and Cognitive Demands

• Intermediate: Consistent use of relevant principles to solve practical problems and to deal with a variety of concrete variables in situations where only limited standardization exists.
• Ability to adhere to set response times, deadlines and time‑sensitive tasks
• Ability to follow accuracy standards
• Ability to follow through on decision‑making tasks
• Ability to interact effectively and collaboratively within a team environment
• Ability to communicate and problem solve when under stress
• Ability to respond and adapt to frequent change
• Ability to accept and demonstrate self‑awareness when provided constructive feedback
• Ability to discern feedback and acknowledge ownership of areas of improvement
• Ability to avoid future mistakes by applying reasonable skills to new but similar work situations or tasks
• Ability to successfully collaborate with peers, managers and others within the organization
• Demonstrates sound memory
• Ability to process new information to be applied consistently to work tasks

Schedule/Attendance

• Ability to adhere to pre‑established schedule, including start/stop time and break/lunch schedule
• Ability to work long hours
• Ability to work a variable schedule
• Ability to report to work and perform work during periods of severe inclement weather
• Ability to consistently meet attendance standards for regular, reliable, predictable, full‑time attendance
• Ability to work shift schedule
• Ability to work on‑call schedule
• Physical Capabilities
  • Does the job require a valid driver's license? Yes
  • Driving/travel/commute: Daily within service territory; Occasionally (one to two times a month or less); Overnight inside/outside the service territory; Occasionally (one to two times a month or less)
  • Computer use (use computer regularly for entire work shift)
  • Lifting/pushing/pulling (up to 10lb)
  • Carrying (up to 10lb)
  • Unstable surfaces requiring balance (walking distances and surfaces long distances and over rough, uneven or rocky surfaces)

Environment

Office environment
Plant environment
Field environment

Benefits

Actual total compensation, including a performance based incentive bonus, is commensurate with experience, skills, qualifications, education, training, and internal equity.

PGE believes in rewarding dedicated performance. We provide a total rewards package that is designed to reward your contributions to the company, and, at the same time, support your well‑being and professional development, both now and into the future. To find out more, click here.

EEO Statement

PGE is an equal opportunity employer and is committed to fostering a workplace where employees feel connected, valued, and empowered to thrive. PGE will not discriminate against any employee or applicant for employment based on race, color, national origin, gender, gender identity, sexual orientation, age, religion, disability, protected veteran status, or other characteristics protected by law.

PGE does not discriminate on the basis of disability. We recognize individuals have a variety of abilities to offer and we believe there is much to value and celebrate by incorporating different abilities into the work we do. One very important way we live this out is in our application and interview process. We work hard to support individuals who may need an accommodation to fully participate in these processes. If you feel you may need an accommodation, or would like to request one, please notify the Recruiter associated with the job posting. You may also make this request by contacting [e-mail] or by calling 503-464-7250. The Recruiter will provide information and next steps for the accommodation process.