Senior Electrical Engineer - Automation

Omaha Public Power District; Elkhorn Precinct (NE); On-site; USD 99,000 - 121,000; Full time

Job summary

Omaha Public Power District seeks a Senior Automation Engineer to lead automation, SCADA, and protection engineering initiatives across the district. You will oversee major project components, review and seal designs, and guide long-term automation strategies while ensuring NERC compliance.

This role emphasizes technical leadership, risk mitigation, and mentoring senior staff. A PE license or Nebraska registration within 6 months is expected, with a PE in Electrical Engineering strongly

Qualifications

• Registration as a Professional Engineer in Nebraska or ability to obtain Nebraska registration within 6 months through reciprocity and relevant experience.
• Bachelor's degree in Electrical Engineering.
• Professional Engineer (PE) license or ability to obtain.

Responsibilities

• Provide technical leadership for automation, SCADA, integration, and protection engineering activities districtwide.
• Oversee major engineering project components, ensuring alignment with scope, schedule, and strategic objectives.
• Review and seal technical engineering designs and documentation.
• Support long-term automation and control strategy development while ensuring NERC Compliance.
• Anticipate technical risks and implement proactive mitigation strategies.
• Deliver training, coaching, and mentorship to engineering staff to advance organizational capability.

Skills

SCADA

3-phase power

Protection engineering

Technical leadership

Mentoring staff

Education

Bachelor's degree in Electrical Engineering

Professional Engineer (PE) license

Job description

What This Role Delivers

Senior Automation Engineers at OPPD serve as expert technical leaders responsible for guiding automation and control engineering strategy across substation, transmission, and distribution systems. This role delivers high-impact engineering solutions, oversees complex workstreams, and enhances OPPD's long-term technical capability. Senior engineers provide professional engineering review and sealing authority, champion risk-mitigation strategies, and mentor engineering staff. Deep expertise in 3¿phase power systems, SCADA technologies, and advanced automation methodologies is essential.

What This Role Will Lead & Own

• Provide technical leadership for automation, SCADA, integration, and protection engineering activities districtwide.
• Oversee major engineering project components, ensuring alignment with scope, schedule, and strategic objectives.
• Review and seal technical engineering designs and documentation.
• Support long-term automation and control strategy development while ensuring NERC Compliance.
• Anticipate technical risks and implement proactive mitigation strategies.
• Deliver training, coaching, and mentorship to engineering staff to advance organizational capability.

What You Will Bring

• Demonstrated ability to successfully complete essential duties with or without reasonable accommodation.
• Registration as a Professional Engineer in the State of Nebraska or ability to obtain Nebraska registration within 6 months through reciprocity and relevant experience.

What Will Help You Stand Out

• Bachelor's degree in Electrical Engineering
• 8+ years of relevant engineering experience
• Professional Engineer (PE) license or ability to obtain
• Expert knowledge of 3-phase power systems and electrical schematics
• Extensive experience with SCADA, automation, and communication protocols
• Demonstrated ability to lead technical strategy and major engineering workstreams
• Experience shaping organizational engineering standards or strategy
• Prior responsibility for sealing engineering work
• Advanced expertise in automation, integration, and control system design

Work Location

• Office: Work will be performed in a modern office environment amid normal conditions of dust, odors, fumes, and noises.
• Field: Work will be performed outside in a wide variety of weather conditions (snow, rain, heat, cold, wind, etc.), terrain, and other natural environmental hazards as well as pollen and other airborne allergens.
• Travel: Must be able to travel throughout the service territory and report to various locations in a timely manner as needed.

Work Environment

• Work will be performed in high traffic environments.
• Will work around energized high voltage electrical equipment.
• Will work in construction areas that present many physical hazards.
• Will work at heights.

Strength Factor

Exerting 20 to 50 pounds of force occasionally, and/or 10 to 25 pounds of force frequently, and/or greater than negligible up to 10 pounds of force constantly to move objects. Physical Demand requirements are in excess of those for Light Work.

Salary/Wage Info

• Grade: S6
• Minimum: $109,942
• Midpoint: $137,428

Our Culture & Mission

At Omaha Public Power District, everything starts with people - our teams, our communities, and the customer owners who count on us. As the 12th largest public power utility in the U.S., we serve more than 900,000 people across 13 counties, and we take that responsibility seriously.

We lead with integrity, support one another, and do what's right, because how we serve matters just as much as what we deliver. Our goal is simple: provide affordable, reliable, and environmentally responsible energy today and for generations to come.

We create power with purpose. Your work here has real impact; on families, on the environment, and on the future of energy. And we believe great ideas can come from anywhere.

If you want to be part of a team that takes care of the community and the people who serve it, you're in the right place. We back up our mission by taking care of our employees, too; which is why our benefits are among the most comprehensive and competitive in the region.

EOE: Protected Veterans/Disability

If you would like to request an accommodation in order to apply for a position with OPPD, please email OPPD Talent Acquisition at [e-mail].