Senior Distribution System Engineer

SMUD•Rancho Cordova, CA

5d•$155,251 - $205,608•Hybrid

About The Position

SMUD is looking to fill a regular, full-time Senior Distribution System Engineer position in the Maintenance Planning & Standards team. We are seeking a highly engaged individual to join the maintenance engineering team that supports our Zero Carbon Plan. Individuals will perform engineering functions under the direction of a Supervising Principal Engineer. This position will provide real-time engineering support for the safe and reliable operation of SMUD’s power system. The ideal candidate will work in a fast-paced and dynamic environment and will be responsible for the development of maintenance plans and projects, as well as troubleshooting and testing oversight of SMUD’s substation assets, that ensure compliance with federal and state regulations. SMUD’s ideal candidate for this position is a forward-thinking leader who has an extensive background in assessing the status of SMUD’s power system and can utilize advanced tools to help resolve adverse grid conditions to ensure that the system is operating in its optimal state. The selected candidate will analyze complex technical problems and apply engineering principles to develop solutions; diagnose operational and design problems in electrical systems; interpret drawings, schematics, statistical data, and reports. Additionally, the successful candidate must be able to interpret and apply applicable federal, state, and local laws, codes, and regulations; operate modern office equipment including a computer terminal, systems, and software relevant to the job; present technical information in a clear and concise manner; communicate effectively, orally and in writing; establish and maintain effective working relationships internally/externally.

Requirements

A Bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university with major course work in Electrical Engineering or related field.
Five or more (5+) years of progressively responsible experience in the planning, design, and operation of electric utility distribution systems.
SMUD policies, procedures, applicable MOUs, and other special agreements; methods and techniques for planning, organizing, and overseeing work activities; methods and techniques for training staff; techniques and concepts related to teamwork; techniques for exercising leadership and authority; methods and techniques for report preparation and writing; techniques and practices for negotiating; principles and practices of economic analyses of projects and programs; techniques and practices for resolving complex technical issues; complex computer systems and resources; electronic records; database administration; interrelationships between SMUD’s operations and relevant external entities; principles, practices, and procedures related to power distribution systems; concepts and systems related to distribution construction, planning, operation, and maintenance including steady state and transient circuit analysis, electrical equipment design and application, grounding, protection and coordination; concepts and systems related to engineering analyses of reliability, power quality, root cause, and economic and systems data; computer-aided modeling and analysis; methods and equipment related to distribution system monitoring; theories and practices related to electric power system design; theories and practices related to electric distribution system planning; load data analysis and forecasting methodologies; policies, practices, and procedures related to distribution system maintenance; performance management techniques related to project management; principles and practices for contract management; procedures and practices for cost control and project scheduling; procedures and practices for monitoring and managing projects; governing codes, industry standards, and generally accepted utility practices utilized in distribution system design and operation; budgeting processes, techniques, and tools; computer-aided modeling and analysis; vegetation management techniques; safety policies, practices, and procedures; standard operating procedures for modern office equipment including a computer and applicable software; English grammar, punctuation, and vocabulary standards.
Identify and assess training needs for staff; interact with others to influence and motivate; interpret SMUD policies, procedures, applicable MOUs, and/or other special agreements; oversee adherence to safety policies and procedures; analyze complex issues and develop/implement resolution alternatives; analyze procedures/systems and develop/implement operational improvements; analyze situations, documents, and data for conformance to established policies and procedures; apply applicable laws, codes, and regulations; appraise situations and people accurately and adopt an effective course of action; determine the potential long-term outcomes of a change in operations; develop an estimation of how a system should work under ideal conditions; evaluate and resolve complex technical issues; interpret, analyze, and apply pertinent policies, procedures, regulations and requirements; organize highly complex and conflicting data in a readily understandable manner for various audiences; prepare a business case to weigh the relative costs and benefits of a potential action; serve as reference person for other employees; serve as an expert witness in court; monitor and manage projects; perform complex technical engineering analysis and forecasting; use complex computer-aided modeling and analysis tools; write technical documents; assist in budget preparation and administration; perform engineering economic analysis; prepare conceptual designs and costs for major complex installations and reconstruction jobs; perform complex analysis of distribution system and facilities; utilize a personal computer and/or computer terminal, systems, and software relevant to the job; communicate effectively orally and in writing internally/externally; establish and maintain effective working relationships internally/externally.

Nice To Haves

Registration as a Professional Electrical Engineer with the state of California.
Extensive experience with regulatory codes such as GO 174, PRC-005, FAC-008.
Experience with SAP, AutoCAD, PowerBase, and MS Excel.
Understand SMUD policies, procedures, applicable MOUs, and other special agreements.
Understand the interrelationships between SMUD’s operations and relevant external entities.
Experience with asset management strategy and philosophy.
Experience performing field inspections and managing projects.

Responsibilities

Ensures a safe, reliable, and economical power service to customers and to meet SMUD’s power needs; leads and performs complex distribution system planning and design including to monitor system planning and design; develops and maintains SMUD’s distribution system maintenance philosophy; develops, maintains, and revises safety practices related to planning and operations.
Ensures that SMUD’s distribution system is configured and operated to provide the maximum output and the maximum operating flexibility within contractual, emissions, and other limits; conducts analyses of system performance and projected systems demands by forecasting electrical load growth, modeling and analyzing system impacts, identifying system deficiencies, recommending cost-effective corrective actions, performing work justification studies, producing annual work plans for capital and O&M expenditures, evaluating new technologies, and reviewing safety trends to identify areas for improvement.
Ensures that projects and programs meet SMUD and other standards for cost-effectiveness, safety, and quality of power produced; provides high-level expertise and guidance by providing technical review of community projects and programs with potential SMUD-wide impact, reviewing co-generation proposals to evaluate system impacts, drafting interconnection agreements including required mitigation, evaluating the impact of distributed technologies including energy efficiency and dispersed generation, performing technical and economical analysis of distribution automation alternatives, identifying and recommending automation investments, and performing detailed analysis of power quality data and recommending and planning solutions to power quality related problems.
Ensures the safe and reliable operation of the assigned distribution system and the achievement of SMUD’s business objectives; performs and leads the performance of activities related to system protection by identifying and resolving difficult distribution system protection issues that impact distribution system performance and safety. analyzing system protection, operation, and electrical system configuration, preparing operating criteria that include system protection, reliability, safety, and economics, developing distribution system protection standards, guidelines and practices, evaluating the need for and conducting definitive distribution system protection studies, maintaining protection databases and documentation, developing and maintaining the distribution system inspection and maintenance programs, and performing root cause analysis to determine and correct the cause of system failures.
Ensures that staff are trained and capable of meeting SMUD’s performance expectations; assists in developing the required employee competencies by assessing employee skills and training needs, evaluating, selecting, and modifying training programs, developing and presenting technical training, arranging for and coordinating training conducted by others, facilitating the exchange of expertise and knowledge within the work group and with other work groups, and providing coaching and mentoring as needed.
Assists in planning, reviewing, and conducting work activities and researching required project information associated with department internal/external projects in accordance with established task objectives and schedule as outlined in the project plan/contract; supports the overall achievement and completion of department projects.
Performs related duties as required.