Power System Engineer Senior (Transmission Engineering)

austintexas; United States; On-site; USD 120,000 - 160,000; Full time

Job summary

Austin Energy is seeking a Senior Power System Engineer to lead analyses and design of transmission facilities from 69kV to 345kV, including substations, overhead and underground lines, SCADA, and related systems in a congested urban environment.

The role requires a Texas PE license (or the ability to obtain within one year), seven years of engineering experience, and strong knowledge of NERC/ERCOT/TX standards. Preference for PLS-CADD experience and project leadership.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in engineering and seven years of related experience.
• Licensed Professional Engineer in Texas or ability to obtain within one year.
• Experience in electric utility transmission, substations, protection, and SCADA.

Responsibilities

• Performs complex power system analyses including protective coordination, fault studies, load flows, and reliability studies.
• Develops engineering designs, drawings, circuit maps, control diagrams, and plans for transmission and distribution facilities.
• Ensures compliance with NERC, ERCOT, TX PUC standards and regulatory requirements.
• Provides technical leadership for major projects and coordinates with field personnel.

Skills

Power system analysis

Engineering calculations

Regulatory compliance

Project leadership

Technical communication

Education

Bachelor's degree in engineering

Tools

PLS-CADD

Job description

About This Position

The transmission engineering team is responsible for providing overhead transmission line design engineering for capital projects, maintenance work, and other related projects. Other duties include reviewing proposed site development projects in the vicinity of Austin Energy's transmission line facilities to ensure compliance with AE's requirements, working with the Regulatory team to ensure all regulatory obligations are met, and many other duties related to owning, operating, and maintaining a reliable transmission system (69kV to 345kV) in a congested urban area.

Job Description:

Power System Engineer Senior

Purpose:

Plans, directs, and coordinates design of electric utility system facilities, including generation, electric substations, overhead and underground transmission and distribution lines, network systems, protection systems, supervisory control systems (SCADA), market operation and settlement systems, street lighting, and other electric system facilities.

Duties, Functions and Responsibilities:

• Essential duties and functions, pursuant to the Americans with Disabilities Act, may include the following. Other related duties may be assigned.
• Performs complex power system analyses, such as protective coordination, fault studies, load flows, service reliability, load forecasts, power quality, voltage stability, system expansion studies, and market operations.
• Prepares and reviews standards, equipment specifications, design procedures, and test procedures.
• Develops and prepares engineering designs, drawings, circuit maps, control diagrams, charts, databases, plans, and other documents for transmission and distribution systems, generation and substation facilities, market operation and settlement systems and SCADA/EMS.
• Provides technical expertise in materials, design, welding, equipment standards, relay coordination, technology or other areas related to the utility industry.
• Formulates, prepares, and implements operating and safety procedures and guidelines, and operating manuals for system facilities including substations, transmission, distribution, and generation.
• Prepares necessary reports to regulatory agencies.
• Assists in providing technical and financial inputs for projects in electric utility budget process.
• Identifies, investigates, and analyzes engineering design problems, and develops corrective actions.
• Provides technical leadership for major or complex engineering and construction projects and works closely with field personnel to support project energization.
• Assists efforts to keep up with the latest developments in the utility industry, to meet North American Electric Reliability Council (NERC), Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC), Electric Reliability Council of Texas (ERCOT) and Texas Public Utility Commission (TX PUC) standards and regulatory requirements.
• May be responsible for the full range of supervisory activities including selection, training, evaluation, counseling, and recommendation for dismissal.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities:

• Must possess required knowledge, skills, abilities, and experience and be able to explain and demonstrate, with or without reasonable accommodations, that the essential functions of the job can be performed.
• Knowledge of engineering design principles applicable to electric utility operations, such as generation, transmission, distribution and other related fields.
• Knowledge of advanced mathematical techniques such as trigonometry, calculus, and coordinate geometry.
• Knowledge of engineering standards, principles, methods, codes, practices, procedures, materials, and equipment used in the design, construction, and operation of the electric utility systems.
• Knowledge of preparation of cost estimates and engineering and feasibility reports.
• Knowledge of regulatory requirements within the local and state ordinances and laws.
• Knowledge of City of Austin purchasing and contract policies and procedures.
• Skill in oral and written technical and/or general communication including preparation of written reports.
• Skill in negotiations and handling conflict resolution.
• Ability to perform more complex engineering calculations and to analyze engineering problems.

Minimum Qualifications:

• Graduation with a bachelor's degree from an accredited college or university with major coursework in engineering, plus seven (7) years of experience related to engineering.

Licenses and Certifications Required:

• Licensed Professional Engineer (PE) in the State of Texas; or if currently licensed in another state, the ability to obtain a Texas PE license within one (1) year of employment.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Experience working for an electric utility, co-op, or municipality
• Proficient skills in using the PLS-CADD software suite
• Experience using the National Electric Safety Code, and other related industry codes and standards (ASCE-SEI, RUS, etc.)