Power System Principal Engineer (Distributed Energy Resources)

City of Austin

1d•Hybrid

About The Position

At the City of Austin, we are more than just an employer—we are a vibrant community dedicated to shaping one of the nation's most dynamic and innovative cities. As we strive to fulfill our commitment as public servants, it is important that we ground our efforts in a set of guiding principles – Empathy, Ethics, Excellence, Engagement, and Equity – anchors in delivering services that significantly impact the lives of Austinites. Joining the City of Austin means embarking on a purposeful career, contributing to the community, and being part of a forward-thinking organization that values every employee. What Makes the City of Austin Special? Make a Difference: Join a team driving meaningful change in one of the fastest-growing cities in the nation. Value and Innovation : Work in an environment where employees are valued and innovation thrives. Competitive Benefits: Enjoy a comprehensive compensation package that includes generous leave, work-life balance programs, and extensive benefits. Retirement Security: Plan for the future with the City of Austin Employees' Retirement System. Sustainable Transportation Options: Commute easily with access to public transit and bike-friendly infrastructure. Focus on Wellness: Stay healthy through wellness programs, on-site fitness centers, and mental health support. Career Growth: Advance your skills and expertise with professional development and leadership opportunities. Modern Workspaces: Work in innovative and sustainable environments that foster collaboration and inspiration. By joining us, you become part of a community that values its people and is committed to making Austin the most thriving and resilient city in the country. Austin Energy’s Distributed Energy Resource (DER) Integration program is responsible for the strategic planning, integration, and implementation of emerging DER technologies across the utility’s distribution system. These technologies include solar photovoltaics, battery energy storage systems, microgrids, electric vehicles, and other grid-edge innovations critical to achieving Austin’s clean energy and resiliency goals. The Distributed Energy Resources (DER) Engineer is responsible for planning, investigating, and surveying energy sources to ensure their seamless integration into the existing distribution grid. This role involves developing comprehensive technical documentation and establishing procedures to support future integration efforts. The engineer also plays a key part in maintaining DER systems through ongoing testing and diagnostics to ensure reliability and efficiency. Strong interpersonal skills are essential, as the position requires close collaboration with internal stakeholders and external community partners. Job Description: Power System Principal Engineer Purpose: Under general direction, provides professional technical and specialized engineering expertise to assure delivery of services to customers, advancement of new technologies and processes, and/or development and maintenance of technical utility standards.

Requirements

Knowledge of engineering design principles applicable to electric utility operations such as, generation, transmission, distribution and other related fields.
Knowledge of utility standards and regulatory requirements, 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) compliance requirements.
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.
Knowledge of regulatory requirements within the Local, State and Federal ordinances and laws.
Knowledge of City of Austin purchasing and contract policies and procedures.
Skill in oral and written technical and/or general communication including preparation of written reports.
Skill in negotiations and handling conflict resolution.
Ability to perform more complex engineering calculations and to analyze engineering problems.
Graduation with a Bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university with major coursework in Engineering, or in a field related to the job, eight (8) years of experience in engineering, acquired either before and/or after licensing as a professional engineer.
Licensed Professional Engineer (PE) in the State of Texas; or if currently licensed in another state, the ability to obtain a Texas PE license within one (1) year of employment.

Nice To Haves

Experience with DER technologies, energy storage systems, and grid modernization initiatives.
Knowledge of control systems, electric utility grid operations, and experience interpreting electrical drawings, including circuit maps, one-line and three-line diagrams, and AC/DC schematics.
Experience in distribution system planning, load flow modeling, and interconnection standards and hosting capacity analysis.
Experience managing large-scale, multi-stakeholder projects, including contract management, budgeting, and cross-functional coordination with vendors and internal teams.

Responsibilities

Develops technical specifications and standards by applying knowledge of the principles and practices of engineering discipline, including the methods, materials, equipment and techniques used.
Plans, researches, designs, and implements engineering studies and projects and/or program areas by applying advance technical knowledge of engineering discipline.
Manages and negotiates contracts by reviewing monthly progress reports, verifying final quantities and costs, compiling requisite documentation, reviewing change orders, and auditing as-built records.
Acts as a liaison among consultants, contractors, subcontractors, manufacturers, fabricators or suppliers and City.
Negotiates problems of changes, errors or deficiencies and ensures compliance with project specifications and requirements.
Manages and monitors engineering projects for compliance.
Reviews, analyzes, and interprets plans, specifications, contracts and other related documents.
Develops and monitors project budgets and assists in developing, managing and submitting proposed budget forecast planning for short- and long-term city planning.
Monitor projects for regulatory compliance and maintains knowledge of 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.
May provide leadership, work assignments, evaluation, and guidance to others.