Senior Commissioning Engineer

Wunderlich-Malec Services; Denver (CO); On-site; USD 115,000 - 150,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical, Dental, and Vision insurance

401(k) and Profit Sharing

100% Employee Stock Ownership Plan (ESOP)

Tuition Reimbursement

Job summary

Wunderlich-Malec Services is seeking a Senior Commissioning Engineer in Denver, CO. This role entails leading the testing and commissioning of electrical equipment for substations, ensuring installations function properly. The ideal candidate will have extensive experience in electrical systems, a bachelor’s degree in engineering, and strong team management skills.

Knowledge of various protection relays, circuit breakers, and online testing is essential.

The position offers a salary range of $115,000 to $150,000 plus benefits.

Qualifications

• Minimum of 6–15+ years of testing and commissioning experience.
• Proven ability to lead and direct testing efforts.
• Experience with electrical testing and substation commissioning.

Responsibilities

• Test and commission Transmission and Distribution substations.
• Review specifications and engineering drawings.
• Directly witness critical tests prior to energization.

Skills

Team collaboration

Project management

Problem-solving

Communication

Time management

Education

Bachelor’s degree in engineering (electrical, mechanical, or engineering technology)

Tools

Relay test sets

SCADA

RTU systems

Job description

Wunderlich-Malec Services (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
• A Top 5 Systems Integrator Giant
• An ENR Top 500 Firm

We have a Senior Commissioning Engineer position available in Denver, CO. The Senior Commissioning/Testing Engineer will be responsible for testing and commissioning Transmission and Distribution substations, ensuring that additions or modifications are installed, function, and energized correctly. This position leads the testing and commissioning of electrical equipment within an electrical substation or generator plant, performing and directing all aspects of electrical testing—including protection relays, circuit breakers, transformers, and other substation equipment. The Senior Engineer also trains new engineers/technicians in relay testing, equipment testing, and substation commissioning.

Responsibilities

• Review specifications and engineering drawings to understand the purpose and functionality of a substation.
• 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 (final commissioning and through startup).
• Perform all electrical testing including but not limited to P&C control equipment.
• Demonstrate ability to service newly designed and experimental equipment, instilling confidence in the customer.
• Assist field crews and dispatch in developing switching to properly sequence equipment, ensuring proper hold points for testing are incorporated.
• Monitor construction and address technical questions as they arise during construction, installation, and testing.
• Manage resources and services required to install electrical equipment.
• Demonstrate safety consciousness in equipment handling and electrical procedures at diverse work sites.
• Maintain all service equipment—including test equipment and tools—to meet specifications and maintain sufficient inventory.
• Develop and maintain strong working relationships with customers, demonstrating awareness of their needs and constraints.
• Provide customer service, sales support, and handle difficult customers to achieve satisfaction.
• Assist in developing estimates for client proposals.
• Work extended hours/days at a job site near project completion when equipment is ready for control scheme testing and energization.
• Know programming and testing protection relays from GE, SEL, ALSTOM, SCHNEIDER, SIEMENS, and ABB; develop programming macros for automated relay testing.
• Understand AC and DC elementary diagrams, wiring diagrams, and one-line drawings for testing requirements.
• Develop standard testing documentation, training procedures, and maintain project documentation, including certifications and calibration records.
• Obtain NICET certification or equivalent.

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 written and oral communication and interpersonal skills.
• Proven problem-solving and decision-making ability.
• Strong organizational, multi-tasking, and time-management skills.
• Strong budget-management skills.
• Diverse skill set with the ability to work independently; guides less-experienced engineers/technicians; may 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 Minimum of 6–15+ years of testing and commissioning experience, including:

• 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 vendors such as SEL, GE, Beckwith, ABB, Basler, and others.
• In-depth experience testing equipment such as circuit breakers, transformers, circuit switchers, MOABS, CTs, PTs, batteries, chargers, transfer switches, line tuners, wave traps, carrier relays, etc.
• 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.
• Experience with rotating machinery, including generators and excitation systems.
• Experience testing remotely programmed RTUs locally and remotely to system operators.
• Experience with SCADA, RTU, and DFR systems.

Travel Ability to travel a minimum of 50% of the time.

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, mounting/dismounting equipment, pushing and pulling, exposure to temperature conditions, sun, moisture, potential hazardous materials, and electrical voltages.

Working Conditions Standard office work, work-from-home, and in-field leadership. On-site environments may involve varied temperature conditions, moisture, uneven or slippery surfaces, confined spaces, and heights; frequent standing, driving a 4-wheel drive vehicle, bending, squatting, climbing, twisting, balancing, and reaching; noise, vibrations, chemicals; irregular or extended hours; on-call and travel for project completion.

Benefits

• Medical, Dental, and Vision insurance.
• Basic and Supplemental Life and AD&D insurance.
• Long-Term Disability and Voluntary Short-Term Disability.
• Health Care & Dependent Care Flexible Spending Accounts.
• Health Savings Account.
• Paid Time Off (PTO) and Paid Holidays.
• Tuition Reimbursement.
• Referral Bonus Program.
• 401(k) and Profit Sharing.
• 100% Employee Stock Ownership Plan (ESOP).
• Employee Assistance Program.
• Will Preparation Resources.
• Worldwide Travel Assistance.

Compensation

Salary Range: $115,000 to $150,000 based on experience and qualifications, plus a discretionary bonus and employee stock program.

Equal Opportunity Statement

Wunderlich-Malec is an Equal Opportunity Employer/Protected Veterans/Individuals with Disabilities. This employer is required to notify all applicants of their rights pursuant to federal employment laws. For further information, please review the Know Your Rights notice from the Department of Labor.