Energy/Utilities Engineer 3

State of Washington•Thurston County – Lacey, WA

4d•Hybrid

About The Position

The Washington Utilities and Transportation Commission (UTC) is seeking to fill the role of an Energy/Utilities Engineer 3 position within the Energy Transformation Section of the Regulatory Services Division. This advanced position contributes to the commission’s statewide public safety engineering programs in telecommunication matters that involve services, resource acquisitions, along with planning and deployment to ensure compliance with applicable laws and rules. The Energy Transformation Section provides regulatory oversight of seven (7) electric and natural gas utilities serving approximately 3 million customers in Washington State with annual revenues exceeding $4.5 billion. Although this is a hybrid opportunity, the successful incumbent must reside within Washington state and must be available to report to the Lacey, Washington headquarters building when needed. Moderate travel during and outside normal work hours throughout the state or country may be required.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree with major study in engineering or related field from an accredited institution whose accreditation is recognized by the US Department of Education or the Council for Higher Education Accreditation (CHEA) or foreign equivalent.
Two (2) years of progressively responsible engineering experience in telecommunications, utilities, energy, or regulatory oversight.
At least one (1) year of experience must include the design, construction, or maintenance of radio or wire communications systems.
Advanced knowledge of engineering and technical developments in the telecommunications industry, such as packet-switched telephony, Signaling System Seven (SS7), telephone switch operations, telephone number portability and outside plants.
Advanced knowledge of major national or international design standards in telecommunications, such as BellCore, COCAG; SmartGrid Security and Privacy, Electric Power Research Institute, NESC, Internet Engineering Task Force.
Advanced knowledge of major national or international telecommunications transport standards such as Integrated Services Digital Network, Asynchronous Transfer Mode, Multiprotocol Label Switching, Ethernet, Synchronous Optical Network.
Advanced knowledge of all facets of the telecommunications industry and the business interests of both regulated and non-regulated providers.
Customer Focus – Responsive to both internal and external customers. Works with customers to identify needs; assumes responsibility for own role in meeting those needs. Ensures commitments to customers are met. Receptive to customer feedback.
Results Focus – Accepts personal accountability for individual results or share of team results. Manages workload and interpersonal relationships to achieve results: prioritizes tasks appropriately, overcomes obstacles, works with others as necessary, and meets deadlines and quality standards.
Communication Skills - Demonstrates communication skills (reading comprehension, writing, listening, speaking) appropriate to the position. Shows respect and courtesy in interpersonal communications.
Adaptability/Flexibility - Open to new ideas. Responds constructively to change and stressful situations. In consultation with supervisor, adjusts plans to meet changing needs.
Self-Development – Demonstrates proactive learning. Keeps knowledge and skills up to date. Solicits and accepts constructive feedback. Seeking developmental assignments to improve skills. Turns challenges into learning opportunities.
The ability to take action to learn and grow.
The ability to take action to meet the needs of others.
Accountability
DEI Knowledge, Understanding, & Commitment
Self-Awareness and Commitment to Growth
Cultivating Mutually Beneficial and Trusting Strategic Partnerships
Inclusive Excellence & Allyship
Measuring Success and Improvement
Continuous Process Improvement

Nice To Haves

An advanced degree in electrical engineering, civil, computer, network, telecommunications, mechanical, chemical, or industrial engineering.
Three (3) or more years’ experience in a team or project management capacity.
Knowledge of principles, practices, methods, terminology, and emerging trends in wireline communications systems engineering, as well as mobile and microwave radio communications engineering, including radio frequency allocation, electromagnetic wave propagation, radio field strength measurement, and applicable performance standards and tolerances.
Knowledge of theory and operation of telephone, data telegraph and teletype systems.
Knowledge of NESC and other engineering standards.
Knowledge of engineering economics.
Knowledge of FCC rules and regulations.
Knowledge of traffic handling procedures.
Knowledge of procedures used in regulatory hearings and effective organizational methods.
Experience developing short- and long-range plans; collecting, analyzing, and interpreting complex data.
Experience participating in quasi-judicial, evidentiary, and quasi-legislative proceedings, particularly as practiced at UTC.
Experience collaborating with government agencies, elected officials, commission staff, Commissioners, attorneys, industry representatives and the public.
Experience applying regulatory theory and practice within current and emerging regulatory environment, including knowledge of statutes, decisions, and innovative regulatory approaches in other jurisdictions.
Experience negotiating mutually beneficial outcomes or policy goals in contested or controversial situations; understanding and communicating the interests of consumers and providers; building internal and external support for telecommunications recommendations to the Commissioners.
Experience leading and implementing innovations and changes necessary to continuously improve agency processes.
Experience working in and/or leading teams of professionals in multiple disciplines; mentoring, coaching, encouraging and providing constructive feedback to junior staff.
Demonstrating knowledge of major policy, technical and operation issues in telecommunications.

Responsibilities

Investigates, evaluates, and analyzes potentially interrelated engineering, legal, policy, and technical aspects of tariff revisions, industry and company processes, commission policies, and/or other filings made by telecommunications companies.
Serves as the agency’s principal technical expert and staff resource on telecommunications engineering including emerging technologies and compliance with rules and regulations, programs, laws, regulatory principles, tariffs and other requirements of the commission.
Monitors quality of service outage reports submitted by telecommunication companies to verify that they meet UTC service standards and investigates service quality problems as required by statute and provides technical assistance to companies to ensure they understand those service quality standards.
Provides technology analysis direction, assistance, and coordination at the state and federal level on engineering and/or policy issues relating to the public switched telephone network and newer packet-switched IP-based technology.
Understands cybersecurity best practices for the telecommunication industry.
Assists Commissioners, policy staff and other UTC departments with the technical aspects of New Generation services in responding to state and federal issues such as Federal Communications Commission (FCC), Radio Frequency Interference, National Electrical Safety Code and standards, etc.
Develops and presents staff recommendations to the commission related to new or emerging technologies in the field of telecommunications.
Proposes or assists other staff (policy, assistant attorney generals, consumer protection) in proposing industry best practices and policy statements.
Provides written and oral testimony in formal hearings before the UTC and serves as an engineering consultant for the Commissioners (policy support) and to support staff’s legal position by clarifying pertinent technical issues.
Prepares and presents presentations to the commission regarding staff recommendations for commission action primarily related to new or emerging technologies in the field of telecommunications to provide technical support for the Commissioners as well as management, and other staff (Regulatory Services, policy, Consumer Affairs, ALJs, and AGs) within the commission.
Reviews telecommunication pole attachments to ensure compliance with the state’s regulations and in accordance with industry standard code and safety rules.
Negotiates, discusses and recommends solutions and/or terms regarding complex complaints, company programs and service quality, contested issues, and other concerns with regulated companies; customers and/or consumers, and other parties or stakeholders.
Provides external representation on industry task forces or panels relating to telecommunication issues, maintains technical proficiency and communicates commission positions to outside groups.