Engineer (Power System)

Metropolitan Water District of Southern California; Los Angeles (CA); Hybrid; USD 120,000 - 160,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Competitive compensation

Excellent medical, dental, life, and 


Vision plans

401(k) with matching

457 plan

Pension benefits under PERS

Tuition reimbursement

Training and advancement opportunities

Public transportation reimbursements

Job summary

Metropolitan Water District of Southern California is seeking an experienced Engineer (Power System) to join the Hydroelectric Maintenance and Engineering Team. You will lead power system studies, maintain models, and develop protective relay settings for MV/HV equipment up to 230 kV across water facilities.

The role includes field data collection, data validation, and coordination with operations, consultants, and vendors. Hybrid work and occasional travel are involved.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in a related field and six years of relevant experience, including arc flash and short-circuit studies.
• OR Master’s degree in a related field and four years of relevant experience, with two years at the Associate Engineer level.
• Experience modeling, collecting field data, and performing analysis related to arc flash, coordination, and short-circuit studies.

Responsibilities

• Conduct power system studies across Metropolitan’s facilities (short‑circuit, protective device coordination, arc flash, load flow, motor starting, equipment duty analyses).
• Develop and maintain power system models of record and validate data via field investigations and one‑line diagrams.
• Develop protective relay settings and arc flash analyses, including incident energy calculations and PPE requirements.
• Provide engineering support for MV/HV electrical equipment up to 230 kV (transformers, motors, generators, breakers, switchgear, cables) and evaluate diagnostic test results.
• Support reliability and safe operation by evaluating equipment performance, investigating failures and system anomalies, and giving technical recommendations to ops/maintenance.
• Lead technical reviews, develop standards/procedures, coordinate consultants/vendors, and support electrical safety/regulatory compliance.

Skills

Power system studies

Arc flash analysis

Short-circuit analysis

Protective device coordination

Power system modeling

Field data collection

Electrical safety standards

Education

Bachelor’s degree in Electrical Engineering

Master’s degree in Electrical Engineering

Tools

Power system analysis software

Job description

At the Metropolitan Water District of Southern California, we deliver reliable water to a region with 19 million people—and to accomplish this, we rely on a team of talented employees: innovators, problem-solvers, and collaborators who make it all possible.

There is currently one (1) opening for an Engineer (Power System) located at our F.E. Weymouth Water Treatment Plant in La Verne, CA.

This recruitment may result in an eligibility list*.

Metropolitan is seeking an experienced Engineer to join its Hydroelectric Maintenance and Engineering Team. This journey‑level position will provide engineering support across Metropolitan’s Water System Operations facilities, including Colorado River Aqueduct pumping plants, water treatment plants, hydroelectric plants, and associated conveyance and distribution facilities.

In the role of Engineer, you will lead critical power system studies, including short‑circuit, protective device coordination, and arc flash analyses, while maintaining power system models, developing protective device settings, and supporting electrical safety and regulatory compliance. You will also provide engineering expertise for medium‑and high‑voltage electrical equipment up to 230 kV, occasionally evaluating diagnostic test results and equipment performance to support safe and reliable operations.

This position offers a blend of technical analysis and hands‑on field engineering, with regular travel to Metropolitan facilities to verify system data, assess equipment conditions, and investigate system anomalies and equipment failures to support the safety, reliability, and performance of Metropolitan’s electrical infrastructure.

What You’ll Do

• Conduct power system studies across Metropolitan’s facilities, including short‑circuit, protective device coordination, arc flash, load flow, motor starting, and equipment duty analyses using industry‑standard power system analysis software.
• Develop and maintain power system models of record, including validating system data through field investigations and verifying one‑line diagrams, equipment information, cable and conductor data, protective device settings, and utility source information.
• Develop protective relay settings and arc flash analyses, including device coordination, incident energy calculations, PPE requirements, and equipment labeling in accordance with applicable electrical safety standards.
• Provide engineering support for medium‑and high‑voltage electrical equipment up to 230 kV, including transformers, motors, generators, circuit breakers, switchgear, and cables, and evaluate diagnostic test results to determine equipment fitness for service.
• Support the reliability and safe operation of Metropolitan’s electrical infrastructure by evaluating equipment performance and failure modes, investigating equipment failures and system anomalies, and providing technical recommendations to operations and maintenance teams.
• Provide technical leadership and field engineering support by reviewing designs and system modifications, developing technical standards and procedures, coordinating consultants and vendors, and supporting electrical safety and regulatory compliance efforts.

This job announcement has been designed to indicate the general nature and level of work being performed by employees in this classification.

Schedule: 4/10, Mon‑Thurs, 6:00 am to 4:30 pm.

Hybrid: Metropolitan’s current practice in this position is a hybrid work schedule. This typically includes two days a week in person and the other days remote. This is subject to change dependent on organizational needs. In addition, a telework policy is scheduled for negotiations and once completed and implemented, will provide final direction on the hybrid schedule.

EMPLOYMENT STANDARDS

Minimum Qualifications

Education and Experience: Bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university in a related field and six years of relevant experience, of which two years must have been at the Associate Engineer level;

OR Master’s degree from an accredited college or university in a related field and four years of relevant experience, of which two years must have been at the Associate Engineer level.

Relevant Experience is defined as: experience modeling, collecting field data, performing analysis and calculations as related to arc flash, coordination, and short circuit studies. Understanding of National Electrical Code, NFPA 70E, and relevant industry standards relating to the safety, operation, and maintenance of medium and high voltage electrical infrastructure.

Certifications, Licenses, And Registration Requirements

License(s):

• Valid California Class C Driver’s License or equivalent (required at time of application) that allows you to drive during your employment.
• License in good standing as a California Professional Engineer (required at time of application).

Benefits

• Competitive compensation
• Excellent medical, dental, life, vision plans.
• Deferred compensation in the form of a 401(k) plan (with matching contribution) and a 457 plan.
• Retirement benefits under the California Public Employees' Retirement System
• Tuition reimbursement
• Training and advancement opportunities
• Excellent working environment
• Public transportation reimbursements

About Mwd

The Metropolitan Water District of Southern California is a state‑established cooperative that, along with its 26 cities and retail suppliers, provides water for 19 million people in six counties. The district imports water from the Colorado River and Northern California to supplement local supplies, and helps its members to develop increased water conservation, recycling, storage and other resource‑management programs.

Metropolitan is an Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO) employer. The Metropolitan Water District of Southern California is committed to fostering an inclusive and respectful workplace for all employees.

Qualified individuals with disabilities who need a reasonable accommodation during the application or selection process, please reach out to the Human Resources Office at [phone] or email [e-mail].

In accordance with applicable laws, we provide religious accommodations for sincerely held religious beliefs, practices, and observances that conflict with work requirements. If you require a religious accommodation during the application, interview, or employment process, please reach out to the EEO Office at [phone] or [e-mail]. Requests are evaluated on a case‑by‑case basis.

Application Filing Period: Closes at 11:59 pm PT on the date stated in the job announcement. However, it may close prior to the filing end date if sufficient applications have been received. If sufficient applications have not been received, then the filing period end date may be extended.

Eligibility List*: An eligibility list is a list of qualified candidates created when a job posting states that one will be established.

Candidates who meet the minimum qualifications listed in the original posting and successfully pass all stages of the recruitment process—but are not selected for the initial vacancy—may be placed on this list for future openings. The list may be used to invite candidates to participate in a selection interview for a future vacancy in the same classification / title (if there is one). The duration of the list depends on the applicable bargaining unit.

Qualifying Experience: Your resume must at a minimum include the month and year you began and ended employment, name of the organization, your title, and a brief description of your experience. If your employment was part‑time, make sure you identify it on your resume next to the month/year.

Sponsorship: Applicants for employment with The Metropolitan Water District of Southern California must have work authorization that does not now or in the future require sponsorship of a visa for employment authorization in the United States (i.e., H1-B or other employment‑based immigration case).