PUC, Engineering Specialist, Project Engineer, or Engineer (Engineering Specialist II - V, Proj[...]

Texas Department of Public Safety; Austin (TX); On-site; USD 70,000 - 90,000; Full time

Job summary

The Public Utility Commission of Texas is seeking candidates for engineering roles in its Infrastructure Division. Positions such as Engineering Specialist and Project Engineer involve evaluating technical issues in utility infrastructure and ensuring compliance with regulations. Candidates with a background in engineering and a passion for public service will find a supportive team committed to making a positive impact on Texans' lives.

Benefits

Comprehensive benefits package

Positive and family-friendly work culture

Qualifications

• Graduation from an accredited four-year college or university with a degree in engineering.
• Active Professional Engineer (PE) license in Texas may be required depending on the role.
• Minimum of two to four years of relevant experience for higher levels.

Responsibilities

• Evaluate engineering and technical issues for utility infrastructure.
• Provide recommendations regarding facility planning and operations.
• Prepare technical documentation or testimony for regulatory matters.

Skills

Analytical skills

Problem-solving

Communication

Leadership

Education

Bachelor's degree in engineering

Post-graduate degree in engineering

Job description

The Public Utility Commission of Texas: Your Gateway to a Fulfilling Career!

The Public Utility Commission regulates the state’s electric, telecommunication, and water and sewer utilities, implementing respective legislation and offering customer assistance in resolving customer complaints.

Join a Team Dedicated to Public Service
Are you passionate about making a positive impact on the lives of Texans? We are committed to building a diverse and highly skilled workforce. Our team boasts a wide range of expertise, from legal and engineering professionals to dedicated administrative staff. What unites us is our dedication to serving the public and our commitment to protecting customers, fostering competition, and promoting high quality utility infrastructure

Make a Difference with Us
We recognize the importance of motivated and knowledgeable staff to accomplish our critical mission. If you're eager to contribute to ensuring compliance within the electric, telecommunications, and water and sewer utilities, we want to hear from you! A career at the PUC will not only expand your professional horizons but also make you part of a highly motivated, technically skilled, and supportive team environment.

Competitive Benefits Package
In addition to a positive and family-friendly work culture, the PUC offers a comprehensive benefits package to its employees.
For a detailed overview, please visit https://www.puc.texas.gov/HumanResources/Home/Benefits .

Ready to Make a Difference? Apply Today!

DIVISION – INFRASTRUCTURE

The Infrastructure Division works to ensure that customers have electricity, water and sewer, and certain telecom service readily available by addressing the ability of utilities and their infrastructure to meet customers’ need for adequate and continuous service. The division has three sections: Engineering, Infrastructure Analysis, and Mapping.

The Engineering Section reviews and recommends routes for new electric transmission lines, electric utility requests to build new generating facilities, and requests for electric utility sales, transfers, and mergers. The section analyzes utilities’ cost of facilities, equipment, and supplies, the rate to allocate costs over their useful life, expenses to operate and maintain facilities, and funds set aside for emergency events. The section also addresses electric reliability and service quality issues and complaints about the cost of obtaining utility service.

The Infrastructure Analysis Section addresses the need for water and electric utility service area changes as well as water utility purchases. In addition, the section addresses distressed water utilities, including the capital costs and operations and maintenance expenses incurred by temporary managers of those utilities; electric utility fuel and purchased power costs; electric utility energy efficiency programs designed to reduce customer energy use; electric utility advanced metering systems; and telephone area codes and other numbering resource issues.

The Mapping Section uses geographic information system software to maintain boundary maps for water, sewer, and electric service areas; review water and sewer maps in applications that add or amend service area boundaries; respond to public and staff requests for electric and water data and maps; and maintain the state’s electricity supply chain map.

The division is seeking an Engineering Specialist, Project Engineer or Engineer who has a desire to work in the utility regulatory industry, with a strong initiative, and would like to expand their knowledge, skills and experience performing routine to highly advanced engineering work on a broad range of infrastructure issues. Work involves applying engineering principles to evaluate engineering and other technical issues to include identifying, analyzing, and providing recommendations or testimony regarding issues related to facility planning, construction, operations, and maintenance in the electric and water industries, as well as some telecommunications infrastructure issues.

The ideal candidate should possess the following minimum qualifications:

ENGINEERING SPECIALIST

Engineering Specialist III
Graduation from an accredited four (4) year college or university with a bachelor or post-graduate degree in engineering.

Engineering Specialist IV
Graduation from an accredited four (4) year college or university with a bachelor or post-graduate degree in engineering, and a minimum of two (2) years of full-time work experience in engineering related activities, field or system operations, or planning.

Engineering Specialist V
Graduation from an accredited four (4) year college or university with a bachelor or post-graduate degree in engineering, or related field and a minimum of four (4) years of full-time work experience in engineering related activities, field or system operations, or planning.

PROJECT MANAGER

Project Manager II
Graduation from an accredited four (4) year college or university with a bachelor or post-graduate degree in engineering and a Texas Engineer-in-Training Certification.

Project Manager III
Graduation from an accredited four (4) year college or university with a bachelor or post-graduate degree in engineering; a Texas Engineer-in-Training Certification; and a minimum of two (2) years of full-time work experience in engineering related activities, field or system operations, or planning.

Project Manager IV
Graduation from an accredited four (4) year college or university with a bachelor or post-graduate degree in engineering, or related field; a Texas Engineer-in-Training Certification; and a minimum of four (4) years of full-time work experience in engineering related activities, field or system operations, or planning or seven (7) years of full-time work experience in engineering related activities, field or system operations, or planning.

ENGINEER

Engineer III
Graduation from an accredited four (4) year college or university with a bachelor or post-graduate degree in engineering, business with coursework in engineering, or related field and an active Professional Engineer (PE) License in Texas.

Engineer IV
Graduation from an accredited four (4) year college or university with a bachelor or post-graduate degree in engineering, business with coursework in engineering, or related field; an active Professional Engineer (PE) License in Texas; and a minimum of two (2) years of full-time work experience as a licensed PE performing engineering related activities, field or system operations, or planning.

Engineer V
Graduation from an accredited four (4) year college or university with a bachelor or post-graduate degree in engineering, business with coursework in engineering, or related field; an active Professional Engineer (PE) License in Texas; and a minimum of four (4) years of full-time work experience as a licensed PE performing engineering related activities, field or system operations, or planning.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Experience working in or with electric utilities, including involvement in transmission planning studies, load forecasting, or reliability assessments.
• Experience interpreting and applying electric utility distribution and transmission pole standards in engineering or infrastructure projects.
• Experience preparing technical documentation or testimony for regulatory proceedings, such as rate cases, infrastructure planning or policy hearings.
• Experience collaborating with stakeholders such as utilities, consultants, government agencies, or regional transmission organizations on infrastructure or regulatory matters.

WORK SCHEDULE The PUCT operates on a standard work schedule of Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Employees may request an alternative work schedule in accordance with the PUCT's Alternative Work Schedule Policy. Approval of such requests, including any form of telecommuting, is at management's discretion and based on the business needs of the agency and the requirements of the position.

VETERAN’S PREFERENCE
Veterans, Reservists, or Guardsmen with a Military Occupation Specialty (MOS) or additional duties that fall in the fields listed in the below link who meet the minimum qualifications are encouraged to apply.

The MOS codes applicable to this position can be accessed at:

Military Crosswalk for Engineer and Engineering Specialist

Military Crosswalk for Project Engineer

If you qualify for a Veteran Employment Preference, it is mandatory that you provide the required documentation with your State of Texas Application. Documentation must be provided before a Veteran Preference can be granted. Required documentation is as follows: Veteran – DD Form 214; Surviving Spouse of a Veteran who has not remarried – Marriage Certificate and DD Form 1300; Orphan of a Veteran who was killed during active duty – Birth Certificate and DD Form 1300.

A detailed job description can be viewed on our website:

https://puc.texas.gov/HumanResources/Home/Jobs

Salary commensurate with qualifications. The salary of an ERS Retiree or non-contributing member may be 6% less than the recommended salary.

NOTICE TO APPLICANTS

Applications must contain a complete job history, detailing:

• Job title
• Dates of employment
• Name of employer
  Supervisor's name and phone number

Description of duties performed, demonstrating how you meet the minimum qualifications for the position applying for

Important: Resumes do not replace this required information. Applications stating, "See attached" or "See resume" will not be accepted. The experience listed on your resume must match the details on the CAPPS State of Texas Application. Discrepancies will result in an incomplete application.

Required Documents

• Resume
• Letter of Interest
• Official or Unofficial College Transcripts

The hiring manager has requested the above document(s) be submitted with the CAPPS State of Texas Application To submit a resume, you must upload it to your application. When submitting your documents, make sure to mark them as “relevant.”

Incomplete applications will not be considered .

Applicant Release Form Website Link

WORK IN TEXAS APPLICANTS
To apply for the position, it is best to go to the CAPPS State of Texas Talent Management System to submit your application by going to https://capps.taleo.net/careersection/ex/jobsearch.ftl and select our agency, Public Utility Commission of Texas, from the "Company/Agency" list.

If applying through Work In Texas (WIT) you will also need to complete the supplemental questions and forms to be considered for this posting.An automated email from the CAPPS State of Texas Talent Management System will be sent to your email on file in WIT with additional instructions.

REMARKS

• Due to the volume applications received, only candidates selected for an interview will be contacted. Non-selection notifications will be sent interviewed candidates following the hiring decision.
• All information provided in connection with an employment application must be accurate and complete. Any misstatement, falsification, or omission of information may result in refusal to hire or, if hired, termination.
• If the position requires it, licensure as a Professional Engineer or to practice law in Texas will be verified through the Professional Board of Engineers or the State Bar of Texas for the selected candidate.
• A satisfactory driving record is necessary for driving a state or personal vehicle for agency business. Selected candidates will have their driving records evaluated according to the Commission’s Traffic Safety policy.
• For males born on or after January 1, 1960, the PUC will verify Selective Service registration through the online Selective Service System. Males born after January 1, 1960, who are not registered must provide proof of exemption from the Selective Service registration requirement.
• The PUCT participates in E-Verify and will provide the Social Security Administration (SSA) and, if necessary, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), with information from each new employee’s Form I-9 to confirm work authorization.
• The Public Utility Regulatory Act imposes certain restrictions on PUCT employees’ investments, professional activities, and relationships with public utilities, with some limited exceptions.PUCT employees are also prohibited from having a financial interest in a public utility, an affiliate of a public utility, and a person a significant portion of whose business consists of furnishing goods or services to public utilities or affiliates.
• The PUCT has a Post-Employment Restriction – details furnished upon request.
• The PUCT is an Equal Employment Opportunity Employer.