Protection & Control Field Service Engineer & Technician

Southern Company•Athens, GA

2d•Onsite

About The Position

This posting is for Protection & Control Field Services Engineer and Technician positions in the Athens Protection & Control Field Services organization, based in Transmission Maintenance Centers. The positions are non-exempt within the Protection & Control Field Services Engineer/Technician family; pay and level depend on the selected candidate’s qualifications, education, and experience. The successful candidates will be responsible for Protection & Control Field Services activities in their respective areas. Safety and quality are paramount. Candidates are expected to learn and apply switching procedures and safety measures, and to plan and complete projects safely, efficiently, on schedule, and without service interruptions. This field position involves operating manual switches and working in a substation environment. Candidates participate in a callout rotation and may need to respond to outages or abnormal conditions outside their normal schedule. Overnight travel is sometimes required.

Requirements

One of the following education or experience paths: a four-year bachelor’s degree in engineering; a four-year BS degree in engineering technology; a Professional Engineering License; a two-year technical degree in electrical maintenance; or equivalent applicable experience, such as substation electrician, technician, wireman, or electrician experience.
P&C Field Services experience.
Electric power utility transmission construction, maintenance, or operations experience.
Related substation experience, such as P&C applications, design, construction, major equipment, or project management.
Knowledge of three-phase power systems, AC/DC protection and control schemes, and fault analysis.
Familiarity with test equipment such as voltmeters, ammeters, ohmmeters, communications instruments, and computerized relay test sets.
Ability to solve problems and make decisions while managing projects with multiple priorities.
Ability to communicate across multiple work groups, including customers, covered employees, and leadership.
Familiarity with computer programs including Microsoft Office products such as Word, Teams, Excel, and PowerPoint.
Valid driver’s license.
Participation in callout rotation and availability to respond to outages or other abnormal conditions outside the normal work schedule.
Ability to travel overnight sometimes.
Must meet the fitness-for-duty requirements of relevant pre-employment screening for this safety-sensitive position.
Physical ability to operate manual switches and work in a substation environment.
Must live near, or be willing to relocate within a reasonable distance of, the office location.
Must pass the standard Southern Company background check, drug screen, and NERC background check.
Self-motivation to produce results without direct supervision.
Customer focus and a questioning attitude.
Active learning and willingness to expand knowledge of GPC and Southern Company maintenance practices, guidelines, and procedures for substation and line major equipment and relays.

Responsibilities

Commission, test, maintain, and troubleshoot protective relaying, controls, and communications equipment associated with substations and transmission power lines.
Complete assigned construction projects and substation routines without service interruptions, managing clearances to meet quality, schedule, and budget targets.
Coordinate substation outages and commissioning activities with internal and external stakeholders, and handle trouble calls as needed.
Develop and use safe, efficient work practices; follow formal written requirements; and conduct job briefings to identify and mitigate safety and operational risks.
Develop and share technical expertise in three-phase power, relaying, SCADA, and substation testing techniques through daily work with other engineers.
Isolate hazards and damaged equipment during emergencies to restore service as quickly as possible.
Incorporate Human Performance tools into daily work practices.
Learn and apply switching procedures and safety measures.
Plan and complete projects safely, efficiently, on schedule, and without service interruptions.