Electrical Distribution Designer, Senior

Pedernales Electric Cooperative•Kyle, TX

1d•Onsite

About The Position

This senior-level position is responsible for advanced design of residential, commercial, industrial, overhead, and underground electric distribution facilities. It also requires advanced understanding and application of engineering fundamentals, utility policies, and procedures to process requests for joint use of the Cooperative’s facilities while ensuring safety and reliability for joint-use entities. The role coordinates with members, developers, consultants, contractors, government entities, and internal departments to plan and deliver electric distribution and joint-use projects. Work may include assessing project loads, preparing designs and cost estimates, managing project materials and schedules, obtaining permits and easement information, reviewing construction documents and survey data, and supporting projects through construction and financial reconciliation. The position may provide technical direction, mentoring, training, and guidance to others. The position is based at the PEC Kyle Office in Kyle, Texas. It may involve field inspections, travel, exposure to outdoor weather and rough terrain, and work beyond 40 hours per week. Exempt employees receive a fixed bi-weekly salary covering all hours worked during each pay period. Starting base pay is listed as $40.85 minimum, with KPI bonuses; the posting notes that qualifications may warrant a higher starting base pay within the full pay range.

Requirements

Associate’s degree in a field related to electric utility distribution power design and five years of directly related experience; directly related work experience may substitute for education.
Alternatively, a high school diploma or equivalent and seven years of directly related experience.
Valid Texas Driver’s License.
Knowledge of business and management principles, including strategic planning, resource allocation, leadership techniques, and budgeting.
Knowledge of computer systems, hardware, software, data entry, and information processing.
Knowledge of customer service principles and processes.
Knowledge of the specification book, construction materials, and warehousing methods.
Knowledge of current Joint Use Agreements, rates, and language; Pole Foreman; National Electric Code; National Electric Safety Code; EPA and OSHA codes; and the Cooperative’s Specification and Safety Manuals.
Knowledge of property rights, easement acquisition, and construction practices.
Ability to use NiSC to create work orders and purchase orders and GIS mapping tools to draw and edit.
Effective verbal and written communication and listening skills.
Time-management and prioritization skills, including the ability to manage changing priorities and multitask.
Ability to anticipate, identify, analyze, and resolve conflicts and problems.
Ability to perform the listed physical functions, including standing, reaching, stooping, kneeling, and moving items weighing up to 50 pounds; travel may be required.

Responsibilities

Maintain assigned vehicles and hand tools.
Prepare cost estimates, plan material needs, and follow up on projects from inception through completion.
Communicate with contractors, engineers, developers, customers, consultants, members, and government entities.
Provide mentoring, training, guidance, and, where applicable, technical direction to others.
Use surveying instruments and equipment, including prisms, theodolites, and measuring equipment, as well as chainsaws and hand tools.
Follow and enforce company safety policies and applicable National Electric Safety Code and National Electric Code requirements.
Mediate and help resolve issues involving irate members.
Edit Global Information System records to maintain accuracy and connectivity.
Protect confidential information and stay current with technology advances.
Coordinate with stakeholders on processes and procedures for supplying electric power and telecommunications services.
Research, acquire, record, and verify easement information; prepare easements and exhibits, property descriptions, survey measurements, and related descriptive data.
Manage distribution-design solutions from concept through planning, construction, completion, and financial reconciliation.
Develop master plans for major residential and commercial projects, including developments exceeding 7,000 lots at total build-out, and plan for future system growth.
Obtain right-of-way permits from counties and state entities; assess environmental constraints and project requirements such as permits, easements, aesthetics, and fees.
Coordinate with Pole Contacts, Vegetation Management, right-of-way, construction crews, department planners, and other departments on attachments, clearing, projects, and construction.
Assess project and transformer load requirements and perform complex power-system calculations, including voltage-drop and equipment-sizing calculations.
Research material specifications and resolve basic material issues; apply knowledge of security, roadway, and other lighting design practices.
Interpret survey data, plans, deed information, engineered construction drawings, blueprints, specifications, and warning labels.
Operate computer-assisted engineering and design software and draw or edit GIS mapping.
Confer with engineers and consultants on capital improvement projects related to growth, overload, and road-widening projects.
Coordinate pre-development and pre-construction meetings and conduct construction pre- and post-inspections.
Serve as a contact between line construction crews and landowners regarding existing lines and easements, and as the primary customer contact during construction.
Generate subdivision designs and support system implementation; prepare large-scale distribution designs with minimal supervision.
Process pole attachment permits, including field verification inspections for new attachments.
Ensure telecommunications attachers comply with the National Electric Safety Code, state law, and Cooperative standards.
Coordinate and monitor joint-use projects with Cooperative departments and districts, attaching entities, and construction contractors; perform pre- and post-inspections.
Work with Engineering personnel on load calculations and provide information or drawing input to support staff preparing make-ready costs and construction jobs.
Inspect facilities for safety issues, including compliance with NESC, condition of Cooperative facilities, and contractor and telecommunication attacher work environments.
Apply knowledge of telecommunication agreements and current joint-use agreements, rates, and language.
Perform other related duties as necessary or assigned.