Lead Commissioning Engineer

Wunderlich-Malec Engineering, Inc.

Denver (CO)

On-site

USD 140,000 - 185,000

Full time

14 days+

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Benefits offered by this job

Medical

Dental

Vision

Life Insurance

HSA

PTO

Tuition Reimbursement

401(k)

Job summary

Wunderlich‑Malec Engineering, Inc. seeks a Lead Commissioning Engineer for Denver, CO. The role focuses on leading commissioning activities for substations, coordinating with crews, and ensuring safe, compliant testing and energization.

Extensive field leadership and strong customer liaison skills are essential. The position requires deep power systems knowledge, experience with protection and control schemes, and the ability to manage complex testing with multiple vendors.

Qualifications

In-depth understanding of three‑phase power systems.
In-depth understanding of protection and control schemes.
Experience with relay test sets from multiple vendors.
Experience testing equipment such as breakers, transformers, and line equipment.
Experience leading crews for testing and commissioning.
Knowledge of SCADA/RTU/DFR systems.

Responsibilities

Review specs and drawings to understand substation functions and resolve design errors.
Schedule and manage installation and commissioning with subcontractors and customers.
Provide safety analyses and isolation procedures for equipment.
Develop and sign off detailed test procedures and results.
Direct crews during commissioning and energization.
Support multiple projects and advise on test results and technical needs.

Skills

Project management

Leadership

Communication

Problem solving

Negotiation

Time management

Team mentoring

Customer service

Sales ability

Technical lead

Education

Bachelor's degree in engineering

Tools

Relay test sets

SCADA

Job description

Wunderlich-Malec Engineering (WM) is a 100% employee‑owned ESOP and one of the largest and most well‑established engineering companies in the United States. When you join WM you become part of a company that is:

100% employee‑owned with 40+ years of industry history
ENR (Engineering News Record) Top 500 firm
Rated as a top System Integrator Giant

We have a Lead Commissioning Engineer opportunity available in Denver, CO.

Major Responsibilities

Review specifications and engineering drawings to understand the purpose and functionality of substation. Identify and resolve design errors.
Manage and schedule the installation and commissioning with subcontractors, personnel and customer in accordance with project requirements.
Provide safety analysis and proper equipment isolation procedures.
Provide a day‑to‑day outage plan for customers.
Develop detailed test procedures and sign‑off sheets for each piece of equipment.
Monitor construction and be available to address technical questions as they arise during construction, installation and testing.
Demonstrate ability to service newly designed and experimental equipment, instilling confidence in the customer.
Assist field crews and dispatch in developing switching sequences, ensuring proper hold points for testing are incorporated.
Directly witness or perform critical tests such as DC Functional Trip Testing prior to energization and in‑service.
Direct crews as necessary during critical work junctures, typically during final commission, just prior to and through initial energization.
Acknowledge substation modification is complete and functional and formally hand it over to Dispatch for operation within design limits.
Support multiple concurrent capital projects, rotating among jobs, reviewing test results, monitoring work, and assessing technical support needs.
Work extended hours or days in a row at a specific job site near project completion as equipment is ready for functional testing and energization.
Develop and maintain strong relationships with customers, demonstrating awareness of their needs and constraints.
Show proven customer service, sales ability, and capacity to handle difficult customers to meet satisfaction.
Support estimate development for client proposals and business development.
Understand AC and DC elementary diagrams, wiring diagrams, and one‑line drawings for system operation and testing requirements.
Develop standard testing documentation, training procedures, and maintain all project documentation—including certifications and calibration records; NICET certification or equivalent is preferred.
Possess knowledge of programming and testing protection relays from GE, SEL, ALSTOM, SCHNEIDER, SIEMENS, and ABB, and develop programming macros for automated relay testing.

Ideal Candidate Qualifications

Proven ability to motivate, mentor, and optimize in a collaborative, team‑oriented environment.
Goal‑oriented and focused.
Strong drive, energy, enthusiasm, and proactive style.
Experience managing technical projects of various sizes.
Excellent communication (written and oral) and interpersonal skills.
Excellent negotiation, influence, mediation, and conflict‑management skills.
Proven ability with problem solving and decision making.
Strong organizational, multi‑tasking, and time‑management skills.
Strong budget‑management skills.
Diverse skill set with the ability to work independently, acting as technical lead on projects and guiding less experienced engineers/technicians. May also act as Commissioning Engineer on projects.

Job Requirements

Education

A Bachelor’s degree in engineering (electrical, mechanical or engineering technology) from an accredited institution is preferred.

Experience

In‑depth understanding of three‑phase power systems.
In‑depth understanding of protection and control schemes and implementation.
In‑depth experience utilizing relay test sets with various vendors, including SEL, GE, Beckwith, ABB, Basler, and other electromechanical relays.
In‑depth understanding of equipment testing—circuit breakers, transformers, circuit switchers, MOABS, CTs, PTs, batteries & chargers, transfer switches, line tuners, wave traps, carrier relays, etc.
In‑depth experience executing in‑service power measurements (load checks).
Experience leading crews to test and commission new and modified substations, including equipment isolation/restoration and complex circuit cutovers with inadvertent operation mitigation.
Experience with rotating machinery, including generators and excitation systems.
Experience testing previously programmed RTUs locally and remotely for system operators.
Experience with SCADA, RTU, and DFR systems.

Travel

Ability to travel a minimum of 50%.

Driver’s License

Must possess and maintain a valid and unrestricted driver’s license.

Physical Demands of Position

Seeing, color perception, hearing, listening, clear speech, dexterity in hands, driving, lifting, climbing, ability to mount and dismount equipment, pushing, pulling, exposure to varying temperatures, sun, moisture, potential hazardous materials and electrical voltages.

Working Conditions

Standard office work, work‑from‑home, and on‑site field leadership. On‑site environments may require work in various temperature conditions; in and/or around moisture; on slippery and/or uneven surfaces; in confined spaces; and at heights. Frequent standing, driving a 4‑wheel drive vehicle, occasional bending, squatting, climbing, twisting, balancing, and reaching; exposure to noise, vibrations and chemicals. May require irregular or extended hours, on‑call duties, and travel for project completion.

Job Descriptions are not exhaustive lists of all skills, responsibilities, or efforts associated with a job. They reflect principal job elements essential for performing the job and evaluating performance.

Benefits

Wunderlich‑Malec is proud to offer a comprehensive employee‑owner benefit package. Full‑time employees may be eligible for the following benefits: