Power System Engineer Sr (Substation Engineering)

Job Description:

Power System Engineer Sr (Substation Engineering)

Description

Minimum Qualifications
Education and/or Equivalent Experience:

• Graduation with a Bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university with major coursework in engineering, plus seven (7) years of experience related to engineering.

Licenses or Certifications:

Licensed Professional Engineer (PE) in the State of Texas; or if currently licensed in another state, the ability to obtain a Texas PE license within one (1) year of employment.
Notes to Applicants
This position serves as a technical subject matter expert for the Substation Engineering department. The work assigned involves applying medium to high levels of engineering knowledge and experience with electric utility substation electrical and physical design. Job responsibilities include, but are not limited to, applying technical standards, codes, principles, and concepts to perform engineering calculations and design; preparing technical documentation; specifying equipment and materials; and supporting field construction. Primary functions of this position are design, engineer, and generate substation one-line, physical layout, control house, permitting, oil containment, grounding, foundation, structure, grading, and other substation drawings, details, and construction documents for transmission and distribution substations and substation equipment.

Working with Austin Energy provides a number of health and welfare benefits such as low-cost medical, dental, vision, paid leave time, a highly competitive retirement plan, career development opportunities and more. Please click HERE for more information.

Employment Application:

• The City of Austin employment application is an official document; incomplete applications will not be considered.
• Please be sure to detail on the application all current and previous employment that you wish to be considered as part of your qualifications.
• The Employment Record should be complete with job titles, employment dates, job duties, functions, and responsibilities for each position held. Starting salary will be based on overall relevant experience from your application.
• Résumés will not be accepted and statements such as “see résumé” will not be accepted. You may use “N/A” for fields that are not applicable.
• Please note that Austin Energy may close the job posting at any time after 7 days from the date of the initial advertisement. Once the job posting has closed, applications cannot be changed.

If you are selected as a top candidate:

• Verification of your education (which may include high school graduation or GED , undergraduate and/or graduate degrees) will be required. You must provide proof of education from an accredited organization/institution.
• If you are identified as a top candidate and are in the military or a veteran, you will need to provide a copy of your DD-214 prior to confirming a start date.
• This position requires a criminal background investigation.

Essential Position:

This has been designated as an Essential Employee position. In the event of a City-designated emergency, Essential Employees provide services that impact the public health, safety, utility services, and welfare of members of the Austin community and other employees and ensure the continuity of essential operations. In such an emergency, Essential Employees may be called back in, may be required to modify their schedule, may be assigned to a City-designated work site, or may be retained on site to assist with operations and recovery.

Fair Labor Standards Act:

This position is classified FLSA Exempt. Exempt employees are salaried and are not eligible for overtime compensation.
Pay Range
$48.38 - $62.90
Hours
Monday to Friday,
8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., with a flexible telework/in-office schedule.

Overtime as business needs require.

Job Close Date 02/10/2025 Type of Posting External Department Austin Energy Regular/Temporary Regular Grant Funded or Pooled Position Not Applicable Category Professional Location 4815 Mueller Blvd., Austin, TX 78723 Preferred Qualifications
Preferred Experience:

• Extensive Knowledge of electric power system
• Experience performing substation engineering work including electrical and physical design for an electric utility
• Experience reviewing and sealing electric utility engineering work of others
• Experience with substation project estimates, bill of materials, equipment specifications and manufacture drawing approvals
• Experience with AutoCAD
• Experience conducting substation grounding studies using CDEGS
• Experience with national, state and local regulatory requirements and rules including NERC and ERCOT
• Experience providing engineering field support to electric utility technical personnel

Duties, Functions and Responsibilities
Essential duties and functions, pursuant to the Americans with Disabilities Act, may include the following. Other related duties may be assigned.



Performs complex power system analyses, such as protective coordination, fault studies, load flows, service reliability, load forecasts, power quality, voltage stability, system expansion studies, and market operations. Prepares and reviews standards, equipment specifications, design procedures, and test procedures. Develops and prepares engineering designs, drawings, circuit maps, control diagrams, charts, databases, plans, and other documents for transmission and distribution systems, generation and substation facilities, market operation and settlement systems and SCADA / EMS . Provides technical expertise in materials, design, welding, equipment standards, relay coordination, technology or other areas related to the utility industry. Formulates, prepares, and implements operating and safety procedures and guidelines, and operating manuals for system facilities including substations, transmission, distribution, and generation. Prepares necessary reports to regulatory agencies. Assists in providing technical and financial inputs for projects in electric utility budget process. Identifies, investigates, and analyzes engineering design problems, and develops corrective actions. Provides technical leadership for major or complex engineering and construction projects, and works closely with field personnel to support project energization. Assists efforts to keep up with the latest developments in the utility industry, to meet North American Electric Reliability Council ( NERC ), Federal Energy Regulatory Commission ( FERC ), Electric Reliability Council of Texas ( ERCOT ) and Texas Public Utility Commission (TX PUC ) standards and regulatory requirements.

Responsibilities - Supervisor and/or Leadership Exercised:
May be responsible for the full range of supervisory activities including selection, training, evaluation, counseling, and recommendation for dismissal.
Knowledge, Skills and Abilities
Must possess required knowledge, skills, abilities, and experience and be able to explain and demonstrate, with or without reasonable accommodations, that the essential functions of the job can be performed.

• Knowledge of engineering design principles applicable to electric utility operations, such as generation, transmission, distribution and other related fields.
• Knowledge of advanced mathematical techniques such as trigonometry, calculus, and coordinate geometry.
• Knowledge of engineering standards, principles, methods, codes, practices, procedures, materials, and equipment used in the design, construction, and operation of the electric utility systems.
• Knowledge of preparation of cost estimates and engineering and feasibility reports.
• Knowledge of regulatory requirements within the local and state ordinances and laws.
• Knowledge of City of Austin purchasing and contract policies and procedures.
• Skill in oral and written technical and/or general communication including preparation of written reports.
• Skill in negotiations and handling conflict resolution.
• Ability to perform more complex engineering calculations and to analyze engineering problems.

Criminal Background Investigation This position has been approved for a Criminal Background Investigation. EEO/ADA
City of Austin is committed to compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act. If you require reasonable accommodation during the application process or have a question regarding an essential job function, please call (512) 974-3210 or Texas Relay by dialing 7-1-1.

The City of Austin will not discriminate against any applicant or employee based on race, creed, color, national origin, sex, gender identity, age, religion, veteran status, disability, or sexual orientation. In addition, the City will not discriminate in employment decisions on the basis of an individual’s AIDS , AIDS Related Complex, or HIV status; nor will the City discriminate against individuals who are perceived to be at risk of HIV infection, or who associate with individuals who are believed to be at risk

Supplemental Questions

Required fields are indicated with an asterisk (*).
* This position requires graduation with a Bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university with major coursework in engineering, plus seven (7) years of experience related to engineering. Do you meet this requirement?

• Yes
• No

* The Power System Engineer Senior requires a State of Texas Professional Engineer License or, if currently licensed in another state, the ability to obtain a Texas PE license within one (1) year of employment. Please check one of the following:

• I currently hold a State of Texas Professional Engineer License.
• I currently hold another state’s professional engineer license and have the ability to obtain licensing within one year of start date.
• I have passed the FE and in process to obtain licensing within one year of start date.
• None of the above

* This position requires a criminal background investigation (CBI). By selecting the following, you are acknowledging that you understand if you are selected as a top candidate for this position, you will need a successful CBI to be hired.

• I acknowledge and understand this position requires a Criminal Background Investigation.

* This position is classified as an "essential" position. The candidate must be able to work during emergencies or bad weather if they are scheduled to work and, in some cases, when they are not scheduled. Shifts may change according to departmental needs. Are you able to meet these schedule requirements?

• Yes
• No

* Describe your knowledge of electric power systems.
(Open Ended Question)
* Describe your experience performing substation electrical design work, including the total number of years.
(Open Ended Question)
* Describe your experience performing substation physical design work, including the total number of years.
(Open Ended Question)
* Describe your experience reviewing and sealing electric utility engineering work of others.
(Open Ended Question)
* Describe your experience with substation project estimates, bill of materials, equipment specifications and manufacture drawing approvals.
(Open Ended Question)
* How many years of AutoCAD experience do you have?

• Less than 1 year
• 1 - 3 years
• 3 - 5 years
• More than 5 years

* Describe your experience conducting substation grounding studies using CDEGS.
(Open Ended Question)
* Describe your experience with national, state and local regulatory requirements and rules including NERC and ERCOT. Include your years of experience and reference where in your application you gained this experience.
(Open Ended Question)
* Describe your experience providing engineering field support to electric utility technical personnel.
(Open Ended Question)


Optional & Required Documents

Required Documents Optional Documents