Senior Electrical Testing & Commissioning Engineer

Fervo Energy • Milford, UT

4d • Hybrid

About The Position

The Senior Electrical Testing & Commissioning Engineer plans, executes, and oversees electrical testing and commissioning across Fervo Energy’s geothermal power projects. The role covers the full commissioning lifecycle, from pre-commissioning inspections and factory acceptance testing through field testing, system energization, and handover to operations. Equipment includes medium- and low-voltage switchgear, power and instrument transformers, circuit breakers, protective relays, cables, MCCs, VFDs, motors, generators, and plant grounding systems.

The engineer serves as Fervo’s internal expert on electrical acceptance testing and works directly with third-party NETA-accredited testing companies to scope, schedule, witness, and review tests. The role also develops Fervo’s electrical test requirements and commissioning procedures based on NETA ATS/MTS, IEEE, NFPA 70B, and manufacturer requirements, in coordination with internal Electrical Engineers to ensure test scopes align with project protection and operating philosophies.

The position is best located in Salt Lake City, Reno, Milford, or Houston because of extensive travel during commissioning activities and the need to work alongside supporting team members. The role follows a hybrid schedule, with employees expected to work in the office three days per week. Regular site travel is expected, at an estimated 25–75% depending on site activities.

Requirements

• At least 7 years of hands-on electrical testing and commissioning experience, with a strong background in NETA acceptance testing on power generation, substation, or industrial projects.
• Direct field experience conducting ANSI/NETA ATS acceptance testing on cables, switchgear, power and instrument transformers (PTs and CTs), circuit breakers, protective relays, MCCs, VFDs, motors, and grounding systems.
• Ability to develop electrical test requirements, commissioning procedures, and acceptance criteria based on NETA ATS/MTS, IEEE, and NFPA standards.
• Proficiency reviewing and evaluating NETA test reports across equipment types, identifying anomalies, out-of-tolerance results, and deficiencies, and providing sound technical dispositions.
• Working knowledge of protection coordination and arc flash safety, and ability to read and work from protection coordination studies, relay setting sheets, single-line diagrams, cable schedules, and loop diagrams.
• Experience managing third-party NETA testing contractors, including scope development, work planning, witnessing, and test report acceptance.
• Ability to work in a field environment and travel regularly to sites during commissioning campaigns; expected travel is 25–75%, depending on site activities.
• Clear written and verbal communication skills, including the ability to document test results, deficiencies, and risk dispositions for technical and non-technical audiences.

Nice To Haves

• Bachelor’s degree in Electrical Engineering; candidates without a degree but with strong, directly relevant commissioning experience will be considered.
• Experience on utility-scale power generation projects, including geothermal, conventional thermal, wind, or solar.
• NETA Level III or Level IV Electrical Testing Technician certification (ANSI/NETA ETT).
• NETA Certified Commissioning Technician (CCT) certification.
• Familiarity with SCADA/DCS/PLC integration testing and I&C commissioning in a power plant environment.
• Certifications in condition monitoring technologies such as infrared testing or ultrasound, and experience using relevant electrical test equipment.
• Professional Engineer (PE) license in Electrical Engineering.
• Working knowledge of ANSI/NETA ATS and MTS, NFPA 70E, NFPA 70B, and IEEE C57, C37, and 80 series and other relevant standards.

Responsibilities

• Develop and implement Inspection and Test Plans for electrical systems based on design specifications, protection philosophies, and applicable NETA, IEEE, and IEC standards.
• Define pre-commissioning, commissioning, and energization sequences for safe and orderly system startup.
• Prepare commissioning procedures, test packages, method statements, and work permits for electrical testing activities.
• Manage electrical commissioning schedules and coordinate with EPC contractors, NETA testing firms, OEMs, and internal stakeholders.
• Lead pre-energization safety reviews and energization readiness walkdowns for major electrical equipment.
• Lead NETA acceptance testing, directly or through contractors, for medium- and low-voltage equipment, cables, switchgear, transformers, circuit breakers, protective relays, MCCs, VFDs, motors, and grounding systems.
• Review and formally accept NETA and other electrical test reports; identify deficiencies, out-of-tolerance values, or failed tests and drive their resolution.
• Witness relay functional testing; review protection coordination studies, relay settings, and arc flash analyses; and verify field implementation before energization.
• Perform or witness acceptance tests including cable insulation resistance, DC hipot and VLF testing; breaker contact resistance and timing; transformer turns ratio; power factor and dissipation factor; insulation power factor; and CT/PT accuracy and polarity.
• Verify control and interlocking logic, including integration testing between protection systems and SCADA/DCS/PLC platforms, with internal Electrical Engineers.
• Track test failures, non-conformances, and open punch items in a deficiency register and drive them to documented closure.
• Serve as Fervo’s primary contact for third-party NETA testing companies, managing scope, schedules, resource deployment, and report acceptance from mobilization through closeout.
• Develop and maintain internal electrical test requirements, commissioning procedures, and acceptance criteria based on NETA ATS/MTS, IEEE, NFPA 70B, and evolving project needs.
• Work with internal Electrical Engineers to align test scopes with design intent, resolve technical questions, and reflect findings in engineering records and as-built documentation.
• Participate in or lead daily commissioning coordination meetings and keep project leadership informed about status, open items, and technical risks.
• Coordinate energization sequencing and system turnover with operations and maintenance teams.
• Compile and maintain commissioning documentation, including test records, punch lists, deviation logs, as-built markups, and turnover dossiers.
• Prepare commissioning completion reports and handover packages confirming systems have been tested, accepted, and documented.
• Communicate commissioning lessons learned to engineering and project teams for future projects.

Benefits

• Medical, dental, and vision plan options.
• Employer-paid basic life insurance and short-term and long-term disability coverage.
• 401(k) plan with up to 6% match.
• Flexible paid time off and paid parental leave.
• Family-building, fertility, hormonal health, pregnancy, postpartum, and parenting support through Carrot.
• Dependent care FSA for eligible child and elder care expenses.
• Annual Lifestyle Spending Account for eligible wellness expenses, including fitness, financial planning, pet insurance, and pet care.
• Employee ownership opportunities through the Employee Stock Purchase Program, stock option grants, and bonus opportunities for eligible roles. Benefits and programs are subject to eligibility requirements and may change.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Senior
• Education Level: No Education Listed