Powerline Field Engineer

Perpetua Resources; Idaho; On-site; USD 120,000 - 160,000; Full time

Job summary

Perpetua Resources is seeking a Transmission & Distribution Field Engineer to serve as on-site technical representative and owner's liaison for transmission, distribution, substation, and interconnection construction activities.

You will oversee EPC contractor performance, coordinate with utility providers, ensure safety and regulatory compliance, and lead field activities through energization, testing, and turnover, while maintaining rigorous quality and schedule adherence.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Electrical Engineering or related technical discipline.
• Strong reading of engineering drawings and one-line diagrams.
• Excellent field construction oversight and coordination with EPCs and utilities.

Responsibilities

• Oversee EPC contractor performance for transmission, distribution, substations and interconnection work.
• Coordinate utility outages, testing, energization, and interconnection procedures.
• Ensure construction safety, quality standards, and regulatory compliance.
• Document progress, manage interfaces between project stakeholders and suppliers.
• Lead commissioning and turnover activities through final acceptance.

Education

Bachelor's degree in Electrical Engineering

Job description

Description

The Transmission & Distribution (T&D) Field Engineer serves as Perpetua Resources' on-site technical representative and owner's liaison for transmission line, distribution system, substation, and utility interconnection construction activities. This position safeguards the company's financial, technical, operational, and strategic interests by overseeing Engineering, Procurement, and Construction (EPC) contractor performance and coordinating critical interfaces with utility providers and project stakeholders.

The Field Engineer is responsible for ensuring construction activities are executed safely, in accordance with approved engineering designs, project specifications, regulatory requirements, utility standards, environmental commitments, and project schedules. This role provides field leadership throughout construction, energization, testing, commissioning, and final turnover of electrical infrastructure assets.

Requirements

Specific Accountabilities

EPC Contractor Oversight

• Serve as the primary field representative and day-to-day point of contact for EPC contractors performing transmission, distribution, substation, and interconnection work.
• Monitor contractor adherence to project schedules, milestone commitments, staffing plans, quality standards, and contractual obligations.
• Conduct routine field observations and inspections to verify work progress, workmanship quality, productivity, and resource utilization.
• Identify performance deficiencies and provide timely recommendations for corrective action.
• Support contract administration activities by documenting contractor performance and compliance.

Utility Coordination & Interconnection Management

• Act as the primary field interface between the project team and utility representatives.
• Coordinate utility outages, switching orders, testing activities, line clearances, inspections, and energization schedules.
• Facilitate communication between utility personnel, EPC contractors, engineering teams, and project leadership.
• Ensure construction and commissioning activities comply with utility interconnection requirements and operating procedures.
• Support successful execution of final acceptance testing and grid interconnection activities.
• Construction Quality Assurance & Technical Compliance
• Review Issued for Construction (IFC) drawings, specifications, standards, and design packages.
• Verify installed materials and equipment conform to approved designs and manufacturer requirements.
• Inspect transmission line, substation, grounding, protection and control, distribution, and civil infrastructure installations.
• Monitor construction quality and ensure compliance with project quality management requirements.
• Document and track punch list items through completion.

Engineering Support & Field Problem Resolution

• Evaluate field conditions and identify potential design conflicts, constructability issues, or deviations from approved plans.
• Review Requests for Information (RFIs), field change requests, and non-conformance reports.
• Provide technical recommendations to project management regarding design modifications, field variances, and construction solutions.
• Coordinate with engineers, surveyors, environmental personnel, and contractors to resolve technical issues efficiently.

Change Management & Cost Control

• Review contractor change order requests and field-generated scope changes.
• Assess cost, schedule, and technical impacts of proposed modifications.
• Provide recommendations to project leadership to minimize unnecessary project expenditures and schedule delays.
• Assist in tracking and documenting changes affecting project budgets and forecasts.

Commissioning & Energization Support

• Participate in construction completion reviews, pre-energization inspections, and commissioning activities.
• Support functional testing of substations, protection systems, control systems, and transmission facilities.
• Coordinate turnover documentation and acceptance processes.
• Verify deficiencies are resolved before facility energization and final project acceptance.

Reporting & Documentation

• Prepare daily, weekly, and monthly construction progress reports.
• Maintain accurate records including field reports, inspection reports, photographs, meeting notes, testing results, material tracking logs, and issue registers.
• Provide regular status updates to project leadership regarding progress, risks, schedule concerns, and contractor performance.
• Support project document control and records management requirements.

Qualifications

Education

• Bachelor's degree in Electrical Engineering, Engineering Technology, Construction Management, or a related technical discipline. Equivalent combinations of education and relevant experience may be considered.

Experience

• Minimum 10 years of experience in electrical transmission, distribution, substation, or utility infrastructure construction.
• Minimum 3 years in a Field Engineer, Resident Engineer, Construction Inspector, Owner's Representative, or similar field oversight role.
• Experience overseeing EPC contractors and coordinating construction activities through project completion.
• Demonstrated experience working directly with electric utilities on outages, testing, commissioning, and interconnection activities.

Technical Knowledge

• Strong understanding of transmission line, distribution, and substation construction practices.
• Working knowledge of utility interconnection requirements, construction quality standards, and applicable electrical and safety codes.
• Ability to read and interpret engineering drawings, one-line diagrams, protection and control drawings, civil plans, specifications, and construction schedules.
• Familiarity with OSHA, NESC, and industry-standard construction and commissioning practices.

Preferred Qualifications

• Professional Engineer (PE) license or Engineer-in-Training (EIT) certification.
• Utility, mining, industrial power, or large infrastructure project experience.
• Experience supporting transmission and substation projects from construction through energization and final commissioning.