Power System Engineer - Vibration & Infrared Thermography - Austin Energy

City of Austin•Austin, TX

10d•Hybrid

About The Position

Austin Energy is seeking a Power System Engineer in its Power Production Engineering Department to support the Predictive Maintenance Program for rotating equipment at the Decker and Sand Hill Energy Center power plants and chilled water facilities. The role carries out condition-based maintenance by collecting and evaluating vibration and infrared data from energized industrial rotating machinery. The goal is to identify maintenance needs early so corrective work can be scheduled cost-effectively and before equipment failures occur. The engineer uses computerized systems and portable handheld diagnostic instruments to conduct vibration monitoring and infrared thermography inspections. They analyze data, evaluate equipment health, and advise maintenance and operations personnel on vibration concerns, equipment criticality, remaining service life, and expected repairs. The position also supports power generation and chilled water facilities through engineering analysis, technical reports, project management, and hands-on assistance to maintenance teams. The position is designated as a Critical Employee role. Work may be performed at a designated work site or, when applicable, an alternate work location. Schedules may be modified, and employees may be reassigned during extraordinary situations or emergencies to support essential services. The position is based at 4815 Mueller Blvd, Austin, Texas, with a Monday–Friday, 7:00 a.m.–4:00 p.m. schedule and a 40-hour workweek; hybrid work is available. Additional hours may be required to support 24-hour utility operations, including evenings, weekends, holidays, inclement weather, and emergency closures. Travel to various work locations may be required. The minimum qualification is a bachelor's degree from an accredited college or university with major coursework in Engineering, plus five years of experience related to engineering. The position is classified FLSA Exempt and is not eligible for overtime compensation.

Requirements

Bachelor's degree from an accredited college or university with major coursework in Engineering.
Five years of experience related to engineering.
Knowledge of engineering design principles applicable to electric utility operations, including generation, transmission, distribution, and market operations.
Knowledge of advanced mathematical techniques, including trigonometry, calculus, and coordinate geometry.
Knowledge of engineering standards, codes, practices, procedures, materials, and equipment used in electric utility systems.
Knowledge of established engineering principles and methods.
Knowledge of cost estimating and preparation of engineering and feasibility reports.
Ability to perform complex engineering calculations and analyze engineering problems.
Knowledge of applicable local and state regulatory requirements, ordinances, and laws.
Oral and written technical and general communication skills, including preparation of reports.
Negotiation and conflict-resolution skills.
Knowledge of City of Austin purchasing and contract policies and procedures.
Ability to perform essential job functions with or without reasonable accommodations.

Nice To Haves

Experience working in an industrial electromechanical environment.
Experience working with rotating electromechanical industrial equipment.
Completion of a Vibration Analysis 1 course certificate, or ability to obtain it within six months.
Level 1 Infrared Thermographer Certificate, or ability to obtain it within six months.
Experience collecting and analyzing infrared thermography data on energized electrical and mechanical industrial equipment.
Experience collecting and analyzing vibration data with a portable vibration data collector.
Ability to travel to various locations for regular work assignments.

Responsibilities

Collect and evaluate vibration and infrared data from energized industrial rotating machinery.
Perform vibration monitoring and infrared thermography inspections using computerized systems and portable handheld diagnostic instruments.
Analyze inspection data, evaluate equipment health, and recommend actions concerning vibration issues, equipment criticality, remaining service life, and anticipated repairs.
Develop vibration monitoring routes for newly installed machinery at Decker, Sand Hill Energy Center, and Austin Energy chilled water plants.
Conduct dynamic balancing of rotating equipment.
Investigate equipment failures and perform root cause and failure analyses.
Evaluate asset lifecycle performance.
Provide hands-on technical support to maintenance teams during troubleshooting and outages.
Recommend solutions to reduce vibration levels to industry-accepted standards.
Prepare technical reports and findings, recommend corrective measures, and provide engineering support for power generation and chilled water facilities.
Perform project management activities as needed.
Design and assist in the design of electric utility system facilities, including generation, substations, transmission and distribution lines, network systems, protection systems, SCADA, market operation and settlement systems, and street lighting.
Prepare standards, equipment specifications, design procedures, and test procedures.
Perform power system studies, including protective relay coordination, fault studies, load flows, reliability, power quality, voltage stability, and market operations and settlement studies.
Prepare engineering designs, drawings, and documents for generation, transmission, distribution, substations, and SCADA/EMS.
Prepare circuit maps, control diagrams, charts, databases, and plans for electrical facilities.
Assist customers, developers, and City departments on technical matters related to electric utility services.
Provide technical and financial inputs for electric utility planning and budgeting.
Investigate and analyze engineering design problems, develop solutions, and prepare reports and presentations.
Prepare safety procedures for electric facilities.
Stay informed about utility-industry developments and support compliance with NERC, FERC, ERCOT, and Texas Public Utility Commission standards and requirements.
Work with field personnel to support project energization.
May provide leadership, work assignments, evaluation, training, and guidance to others.
Travel to various locations for regular work assignments as needed.