Power System Engineer

City of Austin•Austin, TX

1d•Hybrid

About The Position

The transmission engineering team is responsible for providing overhead transmission line design engineering for capital projects, maintenance work, and other related projects. Other duties include reviewing proposed site development projects in the vicinity of AE's transmission line facilities to ensure compliance with AE's requirements, working with the Regulatory team to ensure all regulatory obligations are met, and many other duties related to owning, operating, and maintaining a reliable transmission system (69kV to 345kV) in a congested urban area. Job Description: Power System Engineer Purpose: Under minimal supervision designs and assists in the design of electric utility system facilities, including generation, electric substations, overhead and underground transmission and distribution lines, network systems, protection systems, supervisory control systems (SCADA), market operation and settlement systems, street lighting, and other electric system facilities. This position exists only in the Power Production and Electrical Services Delivery department of Austin Energy. Duties, Functions and Responsibilities: Essential duties and functions, pursuant to the Americans with Disabilities Act, may include the following. Other related duties may be assigned. Prepares standards, equipment specifications, design procedures, test procedures Performs power system studies such as protective relay coordination, fault studies, load flows, service reliability, power quality, voltage stability, power system market operations and settlement studies, etc.; Prepares engineering design and develops drawings and other documents for generation, transmission, distribution, substations and SCADA/EMS. Prepares circuit maps, control diagrams, charts, data bases, and plans for different electrical facilities. Provide assistance to all classes of customers, developers, and to other City Departments on technical matters relevant to electric utility services Provide technical and financial inputs for projects in electric utility planning and budget process Investigate and analyze engineering design problems; develop appropriate solutions; draft reports and make presentations Prepares safety procedures for electric facilities Assist in efforts to keep up with the latest developments in the utility industry, to meet North American Electric Reliability Council (NERC), Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC), Electric Reliability Council of Texas (ERCOT) and Texas Public Utility Commission (TX PUC) standards and regulatory requirements. Work closely with field personnel to support project energization. Responsibilities - Supervisor and/or Leadership Exercised: May provide leadership, work assignments, evaluation, training, and guidance to others.

Requirements

Knowledge of engineering design principles applicable to electric utility operations such as, generation, transmission, distribution, market operations and other related fields.
Knowledge of advanced mathematical techniques such as trigonometry, calculus, and coordinate geometry.
Knowledge of engineering standards, codes, practices, procedures, materials, and equipment used in the design, construction, and operation of the electric utility systems.
Knowledge of established engineering principles and methods.
Knowledge of preparation of cost estimates and engineering and feasibility reports.
Ability to perform more complex engineering calculations and to analyze engineering problems.
Knowledge of regulatory requirements within the local and state ordinances and laws.
Skill in oral and written technical and/or general communication including preparation of written reports.
Skill in negotiations and handling conflict resolution.
Knowledge of City of Austin purchasing and contract policies and procedures.
Graduation with a Bachelor's degree from an accredited college or university with major coursework in Engineering, plus five (5) years of experience related to engineering.

Nice To Haves

Overhead transmission line design technical skills
Experience working for an electric utility, co-op, or municipality
Skills in using the PLS-CADD software suite
Experience using the National Electric Safety Code, and other related industry codes and standards (ASCE-SEI, RUS, etc.)
Structural & Geotechnical engineering experience
Electrical engineering experience, as it relates to high voltage transmission line design
Skills in using AutoCAD
Skills in using LPile, MFAD, or other foundation design and analysis software
Experience using GIS systems
Experience in routing in congested urban areas
Experience working for Austin Energy and/or the City of Austin
Ability to travel to multiple work locations as part of regular job duties

Responsibilities

Prepares standards, equipment specifications, design procedures, test procedures
Performs power system studies such as protective relay coordination, fault studies, load flows, service reliability, power quality, voltage stability, power system market operations and settlement studies, etc.
Prepares engineering design and develops drawings and other documents for generation, transmission, distribution, substations and SCADA/EMS.
Prepares circuit maps, control diagrams, charts, data bases, and plans for different electrical facilities.
Provide assistance to all classes of customers, developers, and to other City Departments on technical matters relevant to electric utility services
Provide technical and financial inputs for projects in electric utility planning and budget process
Investigate and analyze engineering design problems; develop appropriate solutions; draft reports and make presentations
Prepares safety procedures for electric facilities
Assist in efforts to keep up with the latest developments in the utility industry, to meet North American Electric Reliability Council (NERC), Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC), Electric Reliability Council of Texas (ERCOT) and Texas Public Utility Commission (TX PUC) standards and regulatory requirements.
Work closely with field personnel to support project energization.
May provide leadership, work assignments, evaluation, training, and guidance to others.