System Engineering Manager

Tennessee Valley Public Power Association, Inc.; Johnson City (TN); On-site; USD 120,000 - 180,000; Full time

Job summary

BrightRidge in Johnson City, TN seeks a System Engineering Manager to provide leadership and technical oversight for the System Engineering Department, ensuring safe, reliable operation of the electric transmission and distribution system.

This role manages engineering staff, oversees planning and analysis, supports capital improvements, and develops standards and processes to meet organizational, regulatory, and customer needs.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in an Engineering discipline.
• Ten (10) years of progressively responsible experience in utility engineering.
• Experience with C&I customers, SCADA systems, protective relays, system analysis, and capital planning.

Responsibilities

• Lead system planning, modeling, and engineering studies, including load flow, reliability, fault current, protection coordination, and power quality analysis.
• Manage relay protection and control programming, settings development, testing strategies, and standardization efforts.
• Oversee relay protection, control systems, SCADA integration, and system modeling accuracy to support safe and reliable electric system operations.
• Manage capital improvement planning, project prioritization, cost estimating, asset management programs, and long term infrastructure strategies.

Skills

Leadership

Communication

Mentoring

Strategic planning

Schematic reading

Budgeting

On-call

Customer focus

Education

Bachelor's degree in Engineering

Bachelor's degree in Electrical Engineering

Tools

SCADA systems

Protective relays

Job description

Job Summary

The System Engineering Manager provides leadership and technical oversight for BrightRidge’s System Engineering Department, ensuring the safe, reliable, and efficient operation of the electric transmission and distribution system. This position manages engineering staff, oversees system planning and analysis, supports capital improvement initiatives, and develops technical standards and processes to meet organizational, regulatory, and customer needs.

Job Description

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS

• Support the Chief Engineering and Systems Design Officer in establishing departmental goals, priorities, budgets, and long term strategic initiatives.
• Lead, develop, and evaluate System Design Engineers and the Environmental Specialist, providing technical guidance, mentoring, and workload coordination.
• Direct system planning, modeling, and engineering studies, including load flow, reliability, fault current, protection coordination, and power quality analysis.
• Manage relay protection and control programming, settings development, testing strategies, and standardization efforts.
• Oversee relay protection, control systems, SCADA integration, and system modeling accuracy to support safe and reliable electric system operations.
• Manage capital improvement planning, project prioritization, cost estimating, asset management programs, and long term infrastructure strategies.
• Guide distribution automation, grid modernization, and system reliability initiatives to improve operational efficiency, resilience, and service quality.
• Evaluate commercial and industrial customer requests, including load additions, system impact analysis, and service recommendations.
• Ensure compliance with applicable safety regulations, environmental requirements, industry standards, and internal policies, including oversight of SPCC programs and environmental compliance.
• Lead power quality investigations and corrective recommendations, leveraging data analytics, monitoring equipment, and engineering best practices.
• Prepare technical studies, reports, switching orders, operational recommendations, and cost benefit analysis to support informed business and engineering decisions.
• Promote continuous improvement, innovation, teamwork, and professional development within the department.
• Maintain reliable, predictable, and regular attendance.

Additional Responsibilities

• Participate in the development and continuous improvement of engineering standards, policies, and procedures.
• Support emergency response activities, storm restoration efforts, and after-hours system events as needed.
• Interpret and apply local, State, Federal and District and department policies, procedures, rules and regulations.
• Contribute to budgeting, forecasting, and reporting for capital and operational budgets.
• Evaluate new technologies, tools, and processes that support reliability and efficiency.
• Represent the Engineering Department in internal committees, cross-functional initiatives, and external regulatory or industry engagements.
• Perform role as on-call supervisor as scheduled on a rotating basis; available for call-in whenever needed.
• Must maintain a valid driver’s license from the state of residence.
• Assist after hours during emergency situations.
• Maintain assigned vehicle.
• Perform other related duties as assigned.

Knowledge, Skills, And Abilities

• Assist in the development and continuous improvement of engineering standards, policies, procedures, and best practices.
• Support departmental budgeting, forecasting, reporting, and strategic planning activities.
• Evaluate emerging technologies, tools, and processes to improve system reliability, efficiency, and performance.
• Serve as on-call supervisor on a rotating basis and respond to after-hours emergencies, storm restoration efforts, and system events as needed.
• Must be able to read, interpret, and convey details of schematic diagrams.
• Understanding of environmental regulations related to substations, transformers, oil containment, and SPCC requirements.
• Excellent oral and written communication, customer facing, people management skills.
• Demonstrate behavior consistent with BrightRidge’s culture in the spirit and core values of technical competency, respect and dignity, accountability, integrity, trustworthiness, and servant leadership to empower or otherwise enable others to optimally perform their job responsibilities.
• Promote ethics and behaviors consistent with BrightRidge's culture, Board policies, and business practices. Understand and fulfill the role and responsibility for all compliance.
• Maintain a valid driver’s license and assigned company vehicle.
• Perform other duties as assigned.

Physical Requirements

The position requires constant vision and sitting. Frequent handling, talking, hearing, depth perception, and arm/hand machine control operation is required. Approximately 25% of this position’s time is spent outside working with System Design Engineers, Environment Specialist/Transmission Line Inspector, Substation employees, and Construction crews to achieve goals of the department in serving customers. Employee may be required to ambulate on uneven terrain.

Working Conditions

Generally, work is performed in an indoor temperature-controlled office environment with appropriate lighting.

Minimum Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in an Engineering discipline.
• Ten (10) years of progressively responsible experience in utility engineering.
• Experience with C&I customers, SCADA systems, protective relays, system analysis, and capital planning.

Preferred Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Electrical Engineering.
• Experience leading engineering teams and capital projects.
• Demonstrated success in mentoring and developing engineers.
• Experience managing employee performance, workload prioritization, and professional development.