Principal Engineer

City of Gainesville•Gainesville, FL

11d

About The Position

Gainesville Regional Utilities (GRU) is seeking a Principal Engineer with a strong Reliability Engineering focus to perform high-level, independent professional engineering work that improves asset performance, reduces risk, and increases equipment availability across generation and industrial utility operations. This role supports a wide variety of engineering initiatives and will serve as an individual contributor, project leader, and team leader driving reliability strategy from assessment through implementation and sustainment. The Principal Engineer (Reliability) leads the development and execution of reliability-centered practices, including predictive maintenance (PdM) and condition monitoring programs, root cause failure analysis (RCFA), asset criticality analysis, and reliability performance management. The incumbent establishes and tracks reliability KPIs, partners closely with maintenance and operations leaders, and collaborates with planners/schedulers to ensure PM/PdM services and inspections are performed on schedule and that resulting corrective work is prioritized and executed effectively. This position requires a strong understanding of asset hierarchy, bills of materials, and MRO spares to optimize maintenance systems and support long-term asset management. Work involves managing contractors and coordinating with journeyman craft technicians, as well as leading all phases of improvement and capital projects from design and specification development through bid review, contractor selection, construction oversight, commissioning, acceptance testing, and training facilitation. The successful candidate will bring strong organizational and communication skills, including the ability to solicit input, build alignment, and influence outcomes at all levels of the organization. Knowledge of fossil steam turbine-generators, industrial gas turbines, and reciprocating engines is highly valued. Preference will be given to candidates with reliability-related credentials such as CMRP, ASQ Certified Reliability Engineer (CRE), or Asset Management Professional Certified Reliability Leader (CRL), and demonstrated experience with vibration analysis, IR thermography, ultrasound, lube oil analysis, and motor circuit analysis. Additional preference includes PMP certification, experience with SAP Plant Maintenance (PM) and/or Infor EAM, and familiarity with ISO 55000 Asset Management standards. SUMMARY Positions allocated to this classification report to a designated supervisor and work under general supervision. Work in this class is distinguished from higher classes by its lack of managerial responsibility and from lower classes by its emphasis on the application of intensive and diversified knowledge and advanced engineering skills and coordination of engineering staff to complex and novel projects. Provides technical guidance on unusual, non-typical, complex problems and projects requiring a high degree of creativity, foresight, mature judgment in anticipating and solving unprecedented engineering problems. Note: It should be understood that the job competencies, duties, and requirements of the Engineer IV are inherently included in this position.

Requirements

Bachelor of Science in Engineering degree from an Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology (ABET) accredited educational institution.
Typically, eight (8) years or more of experience in the area of assigned engineering responsibility. Appropriate co-op time and/or an advanced degree in engineering, business or other relevant courses of study may be recognized for up to one (1) year of experience.
Valid State of Florida Professional Engineer license may be required. Meet the Florida Board of Professional Engineers (FBPE) requirements as defined in Chapter 471 of the Florida Statute and obtain and maintain “Professional Engineer” Licensing.
Valid Florida Driver’s License required.
Demonstrate proficiency with Microsoft Office Suite or equivalent and possess a proficient knowledge of software utilized in the engineering discipline as required by the individual department. Proficiency in specialized software may be required.
Make decisions and recommendations that are recognized as authoritative and have an important impact on engineering and other activities. Receive supervision and guidance that relate largely to overall objectives, critical issues, new concepts, and policy matters. Devise new approaches to problems encountered. Exercise sufficient professional experience and subject matter expertise to assure competence in the specific engineering discipline. Assume full technical responsibility for interpreting, organizing, executing, and coordinating assignments. Plan and develop engineering projects concerned with unique or controversial problems, which have an important effect on major programs. Ability to apply complex and most current industry engineering theories, practices, and techniques to atypical challenges encountered in the organization.
Work as an individual contributor, carry out complex or novel assignments requiring the development of new or improved techniques and procedures or carry out projects that involve a number of engineering disciplines. Work typically results in the development of new or refined equipment, materials, processes, products, and/or scientific methods. Develops and evaluates plans and criteria for a variety of projects and activities to be carried out by others. Serves as the technical specialist for the organization in the application of advanced theories, concepts, principles, and processes for an assigned area of responsibility (i.e., subject matter, function, type of facility or equipment, or product). Keep abreast of new scientific methods and developments affecting the organization for the purpose of recommending changes in emphasis of programs or new programs warranted by such developments. Ability to exercise judgment, decisiveness, and creativity to a variety of measurable and subjective criteria.
Exercise the judgment, sensitivity, decisiveness, and creativity required in situations involving the evaluation of information against sensory, judgmental and/or subjective criteria, as opposed to criteria that are clearly measurable or verifiable. Assume responsibility for his/her own work including output, quality, and timeliness. Tasks assigned are of the highest level of complexity. Ability to resolve a variety of complex problems such as conflicting design requirements, unsuitability of standard materials, and coordination of personnel.
Perform in a high-level individual contributor position that may provide limited supervision or coordination of work among one or more engineer I, II, III or IVs, engineering technicians, consultants and other support personnel who assist in specific assignments. Ability to guide and coach engineers / utility designers and other engineering personnel.
Initiates and maintains extensive contacts with Key engineers and officials of other organizations, requiring skill in persuasion and negotiation of critical issues, including the initiation and maintenance of extensive contacts with these parties. The incumbent typically is able to unilaterally address customer requirements. Ability to work effectively with elected officials, charter officers, department heads, and representatives of other agencies, other city employees, and the general public.
Demonstrate effective written and verbal communication skills including persuasion, consensus building and negotiation of critical issues. Keep abreast of latest engineering advancements in respective disciplines; distribute new information throughout organization to both lower and upper-level personnel. Maintain professional certification. Remain current with technical/regulatory developments. Possibly explain work processes and train others, such as new employees. The individual contributor may serve as a resource or guide by advising others on how to use processes within a system or as a member of a collaborative problem-solving team.
Apply knowledge of engineering economic analysis to projects or systems. Compare alternatives using appropriate economic analysis. Review and approve the economic analysis and engineering recommendations prepared by others. Interprets results to support policy, ratemaking or budgeting. Determine appropriate data required as well as analyze and present complex data. Direct the data gathering tasks of Engineer I, II, III and IV. Ability to perform involved mathematical and engineering computations.

Nice To Haves

Knowledge of fossil steam turbine-generators, industrial gas turbines, and reciprocating engines is highly valued.
Preference will be given to candidates with reliability-related credentials such as CMRP, ASQ Certified Reliability Engineer (CRE), or Asset Management Professional Certified Reliability Leader (CRL), and demonstrated experience with vibration analysis, IR thermography, ultrasound, lube oil analysis, and motor circuit analysis.
Additional preference includes PMP certification, experience with SAP Plant Maintenance (PM) and/or Infor EAM, and familiarity with ISO 55000 Asset Management standards.

Responsibilities

Coordinates the preparation, review, and approval of engineering analyses, specifications, and reports for complex projects.
Plans, organizes, and supervises the work of engineer(s) and/or engineering technician(s) and/or consultants.
Evaluates progress and performance of the staff and results obtained and recommends major changes to achieve overall objectives. May involve performance management responsibilities.
Initiates and maintains extensive contacts with key engineers and officials of other organizations, requiring skill in persuasion and negotiation of critical issues. Requires guidance by management in addressing customer requirements. The individual contributor may serve as a resource or guide by advising others on how to use processes within a system or as a member of a collaborative problem-solving team.
Represents the organization in conferences to resolve important questions and to plan and coordinate work.
Develops and modifies engineering theories, precepts, practices, and procedures. Makes recommendations for change prompted by new technological developments. Formulates operating policies.
Develops and evaluates plans and criteria for a variety of projects and activities to be carried out by others.
Serves as the technical expert for the organization in the application of advanced theories, concepts, principles, and processes. Devises and develops new approaches to problems encountered. Provides guidance, assistance, and interpretation to others. Guidance relating largely to overall objectives, critical issues, new concepts, and policy matters.
Designs and evaluates engineering projects and activities with internal departments, outside consultants, and contractors on complex projects. Interprets, organizes, executes, and coordinates assignments. Initiates and maintains extensive contacts with key engineers and officials in other organizations requiring skills in persuasion and negotiation.
Writes effective letters and complex reports. Develops and makes technical presentations.
Develops, implements, and maintains an annual work plan and annual budget.
Attends work on a continuous and regular basis.
May coordinate major areas of engineering activities.
May act in absence of supervisor.
May be responsible for enforcing the drug policy, based on physical location and organizational structure.
May be required to supervise employees for purposes of the Drug Free Workplace Program, depending on job assignment and work location.
Will be required to respond under emergency conditions.
Performs other related duties as assigned.