Senior Engineer - Substation Controls

Puget Sound Energy•Snoqualmie, WA

About The Position

Puget Sound Energy (PSE) is seeking a Senior Engineer - Substation Controls to join their Engineering Operations team. This role is responsible for designing control systems for substations with voltages of 12kV and above, including all wiring for switchyard equipment, control houses, and control panel devices up to protective relays. The engineer will also provide field support and develop project construction drawings, such as schematics and wiring diagrams, to integrate relays and electrical components for operating, protecting, and automating the electrical grid. Project work encompasses planned upgrades, SCADA integration, new substation designs, and emergency equipment replacements. This position works closely with other PSE engineering teams, including System Protection and Relay Engineering, and Substation Design. The role involves providing professional engineering services in planning, construction, operation, maintenance, and analysis of PSE facilities. It requires scheduling and coordinating project segments to meet cost and time objectives, reviewing designs for compliance, and applying engineering principles to complex assignments. The engineer will also support the development of PSE's engineering workforce by sharing knowledge and assist in emergency response operations. Upholding safety compliance and promoting a culture of total safety are essential. The role requires conducting business honestly, ethically, and in accordance with core values and Code of Conduct, ensuring regulatory compliance. This job is considered "safety sensitive" and is subject to pre-employment drug screening.

Requirements

Bachelor of Science degree or PE license in electrical, mechanical, civil or other appropriate engineering field. A PE license may qualify in lieu of a degree.
Substantial experience in planning, design, specification preparation, technical field work, project cost estimating and scheduling (typically achieved after eight (8) or more years practice as a degreed engineer). Years of acquired experience is provided as a guide and alone does not constitute readiness for job level as individual’s skill acquisition rates can vary significantly.
Demonstrated organization, documentation, prioritization, and project management skills.
Strong interpersonal and communication skills.

Nice To Haves

Utility experience designing protection and control systems for 12kV and above substations in main with transfer, ring and breaker-and-a-half bus configurations.
Proficiency specifying, designing and integrating controls systems for utility scale battery storage systems.
Extensive experience interfacing with SCADA and EMS systems.
Strong knowledge and experience designing substations control systems using IEC 61850.
Thorough understanding of NERC CIP standards and compliance requirements.
Advanced in CAD software.
Extensive experience training and mentoring newer protection and controls engineers.
Experience working in the utility industry.
Advanced knowledge of codes and equipment utilized in the design and operation of utility systems.
Possession of a Professional Engineering license.
Knowledge of engineering economics and utility accounting practices.
Experience working on complex engineering projects.

Responsibilities

Provides professional engineering service and support in the planning, construction, operation, maintenance, and analysis of PSE facilities and assets.
Schedules and coordinates major segments of complex projects to meet cost and time objectives.
Reviews design and documentation to ensure compliance with PSE expectations.
Interprets and applies existing guidelines and engineering principles, practices, and theories toward the completion of assignments involving a substantial degree of complexity, with many interrelated elements requiring considerations not previously encountered.
Supports the continued development of PSE’s engineering workforce by sharing knowledge with others.
Supports emergency response operations when needed.
Upholds the safety compliance standards inherent in PSE’s operating and/or field procedures related to work responsibilities.
Promotes and supports a culture of total safety.
Demonstrates commitment to conduct business honestly, ethically and consistent with our core values and Code of Conduct.
Ensures duties are performed in accordance with all regulatory compliance obligations.
Interprets and/or modifies available guidelines for application to existing problems or processes.
Prepares complex designs, standards, studies and analyses.
Provides a detailed design review of internal or external technical documents.
Prepares cost estimates and project evaluations without direct supervision.
Plans and develops project budgets with appropriate documentation.
Ensures compliance with codes, standards, and design, operation, and maintenance requirements.
Identifies potential areas of weakness with assigned work, and initiate corrective action.
Documents and shares work with others to strengthen the depth and breadth of skills within PSE’s engineering workforce.
Communicates solutions to personnel possessing a wide variety of educational and employment backgrounds, including in public forums in both verbal and written forms.
Ensures that problem solutions are tailored to PSE’s business environment.
Supports emergency response work as requested including immediate and extended restoration efforts driven by weather and other system failures.
May lead or coordinate the work of junior engineers, engineering assistants, field technicians, and others who assist on specific projects. (This includes contractor/consultants.)
Performs other duties as assigned.