Power System Engineer - Vibration & Infrared Thermography - Austin Energy

City of Austin•Austin, TX

11d•$96,180 - $123,100•Hybrid

About The Position

Under minimal supervision, the Power System Engineer designs and assists with the design of electric utility system facilities. In this position, the engineer supports Austin Energy’s Predictive Maintenance Program for rotating equipment at the Decker and Sand Hill Energy Center power plants and chilled water facilities. The role executes condition-based maintenance through the collection and evaluation of vibration and infrared data from energized industrial rotating machinery, helping identify maintenance needs early so corrective work can be scheduled before failures occur. The engineer conducts vibration monitoring and infrared thermography inspections using computerized systems and portable handheld diagnostic instruments. They analyze equipment condition and provide maintenance and operations personnel with recommendations about vibration concerns, equipment criticality, remaining service life, and anticipated repairs. The role also includes developing vibration monitoring routes for newly installed machinery, dynamically balancing rotating equipment, investigating equipment failures, evaluating asset lifecycle performance, and supporting maintenance teams during troubleshooting and outages. The engineer recommends solutions to reduce vibration to industry-accepted standards, prepares technical reports and findings, recommends corrective measures, supports power generation and chilled water facilities, and performs project management activities as needed. The position is based at 4815 Mueller Blvd, Austin, Texas. The regular schedule is Monday through Friday, 7:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m., with a 40-hour work week and hybrid work available. Additional hours may be required to support 24-hour utility operations, including evenings, weekends, holidays, inclement weather, and emergency closures. This is a Critical Employee position; schedules may be modified and employees may be reassigned during extraordinary situations or emergencies to provide essential services.

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 the design, construction, and operation of electric utility systems.
Knowledge of established engineering principles and methods.
Knowledge of cost estimates and engineering and feasibility reports.
Ability to perform complex engineering calculations and analyze engineering problems.
Knowledge of applicable regulatory requirements within local and state ordinances and laws.
Oral and written technical and general communication skills, including preparation of written reports.
Negotiation and conflict-resolution skills.
Knowledge of City of Austin purchasing and contract policies and procedures.

Nice To Haves

Experience working in an industrial electromechanical environment.
Experience working with rotating electromechanical industrial equipment.
Vibration Analysis 1 course completion 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 using a portable vibration data collector.
Ability to travel to various locations for regular work assignments.

Responsibilities

Design and assist in designing electric utility system facilities, including generation, substations, transmission and distribution lines, network and protection systems, SCADA, market operations 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, market operations, and settlement studies.
Prepare engineering designs, drawings, and other documents for generation, transmission, distribution, substations, and SCADA/EMS.
Prepare circuit maps, control diagrams, charts, databases, and plans for electrical facilities.
Provide technical assistance to customers, developers, and City departments on electric utility services.
Provide technical and financial inputs for electric utility planning and budgeting.
Investigate and analyze engineering design problems, develop solutions, prepare reports, and make presentations.
Prepare safety procedures for electric facilities.
Help maintain compliance with NERC, FERC, ERCOT, and Texas Public Utility Commission standards and regulatory requirements.
Work with field personnel to support project energization.
Collect and evaluate vibration and infrared thermography data from energized industrial rotating machinery.
Analyze equipment condition and advise maintenance and operations personnel about vibration concerns, 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 and root cause investigations of equipment failures.
Evaluate asset lifecycle performance and conduct failure analyses.
Provide hands-on technical assistance during equipment troubleshooting and outage situations, and recommend ways to reduce vibration 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.
May provide leadership, work assignments, evaluation, training, and guidance to others.