Dir Engineering

Consumers Energy•Jackson, MI

2d•Hybrid

About The Position

The Director of System Protection is responsible for electrical protective relaying schemes across the Consumers Energy electric system, including generation, High Voltage Distribution (HVD), Low Voltage Distribution (LVD), fault analysis, HVD communications infrastructure, and SCADA configuration. The role also covers distributed energy resource (DER) interconnection protection. Generation protection includes protection devices at generating stations, including the main generator, main step-up transformer, and associated station power systems. HVD protection covers the CE-owned 138kV and 46kV systems, while LVD protection covers the CE distribution system below 25kV. The Director leads specialized engineering teams that provide protection and SCADA support to electric projects, monitor protection-system performance, analyze faults, troubleshoot issues, and support timely customer outage restoration. The role oversees NERC compliance for applicable PRC standards, relay and communications replacement budgets, and routine HVD relay maintenance. It also represents Consumers Energy's system protection interests with customers, contractors, regulators, and other stakeholders. This is a hybrid position with required onsite work Monday, Tuesday, and Thursday at the Parnall Office in Jackson, Michigan. Other service centers supporting Electric Distribution may be considered. The selected candidate must be within commuting distance or willing to relocate; a relocation package is available for those who qualify. The role is expected to be in Jackson approximately two days per week on average for HVD and Reliability Rally Room reporting and normal team meetings. The position is not eligible for current or future immigration sponsorship, including H-1B or TN, and does not support CPT, OPT, or STEM OPT.

Requirements

Bachelor's degree in Engineering from an ABET-accredited program and at least 10 years of project management experience in a regulatory environment; alternatively, a bachelor's degree in Engineering from a non-ABET-accredited program, a Professional Engineering license, and at least 10 years of project management experience in a regulatory environment.
Detailed knowledge and familiarity with electric utility protection systems and operations.
Ability to read, understand, and navigate engineering drawings, including one-line diagrams and detailed AC and DC schematic control diagrams.
Ability to provide technical direction on major electric-system components, including symmetrical components, electrical short-circuit modeling, and protective relay performance and characteristics.
Excellent problem-solving, analytical, and decision-making skills.
Outstanding verbal and written communication skills.
Ability to manage one's own time and the time of others.
Ability to plan, implement, and evaluate programs and effectively manage projects.
Strong understanding of quality assurance processes and best practices.
Working knowledge of agile development methodology.
Expertise working with multiple engineering disciplines.
Ability to use and promote new technology and innovation, specialized computer software, macros, and program development to manage protection-system databases and documentation.

Responsibilities

Establish and monitor systems and procedures for measuring progress and solving problems.
Coordinate preparation of reports required by senior leadership or regulatory agencies.
Develop budgets, schedules, and performance standards for engineering programs.
Evaluate and select vendors for engineering supplies and equipment, and negotiate research contracts and agreements with outside contractors.
Review project proposals and plans to determine schedules, funding limits, procedures, staffing, and resource allocation.
Oversee engineering projects from conception through completion, ensuring adherence to budget, schedule, and quality standards.
Direct department project activities to support progress on schedule and within budget.
Outline work plans and assign duties, responsibilities, and authority to project personnel.
Investigate complaints about engineering products or services and take corrective action.
Monitor project progress and make adjustments to ensure timely completion.
Direct a specialized team providing protection and SCADA engineering support to electrical projects, including relay recommendations and relay settings.
Support the operation and performance of HVD, LVD, and generation protection systems through fault analysis, problem solving, and statistical analysis.
Oversee the group's NERC compliance for applicable PRC (Protection and Control) standards.
Schedule and manage the obsolete relay replacement capital budget and communications and RTU replacements.
Manage the O&M budget for routine HVD relay maintenance, demand failures, and project relay-setting changes.
Coordinate team responses to emergent outages, system reconfigurations, and fault analysis to support prompt customer outage restoration, including monitoring System Control pages.
Represent Consumers Energy system protection interests in meetings with customers, METC/ITC, contractors, EFL, MPSC, NERC, and upper management.
Guide evaluation of new technology and protective scheme and SCADA applications, develop specifications, and functionally design protection scheme standards.
Perform other duties as assigned or necessary.