Electrical Engineer- Reserve Bank Operations & Payment Systems

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Minimum Education

Bachelor's degree or equivalent experience

Minimum Experience

6

Summary

Architect/Engineers work under regular guidance, provide technical advice in the planning, design, and construction of Federal Reserve Bank facilities, and may also serve as advisors to senior Building Planning staff on facility matters. Incumbents have specific professional expertise and experience in architectural design of major buildings or in one or more of the major building design engineering disciplines (e.g., mechanical, electrical, structural, etc.). Incumbents participate in thorough, multi-disciplinary reviews of Reserve Bank facilities by helping to perform analyses of facility projects and develop recommended actions based on findings. Incumbents may also assist senior Building Planning staff in developing facility-related standards and procedures, drafting memoranda and reports, and providing inputs into capital budget preparations.

Duties And Responsibilities

Architect/Engineers perform the following responsibilities with regular guidance:

• Provide subject matter expertise and support senior Building Planning staff on Board and Reserve Banks facilities programming, planning, design, and construction matters for projects that include new buildings, building renovations and additions, and other specialized programs. Assist senior Building Planning staff with the review of Reserve Bank facilities in assigned Districts and provide guidance on overall facility matters, traveling throughout the U.S. to visit facilities, consultants, and contractors as required. Bank review responsibility may include, but is not limited to, the following duties:
• Support senior Building Planning staff with efforts to plan, coordinate, and supervise all activities related to assigned bank review Districts, which may include helping to consult with staff within the Building Planning section and across the System to gather and incorporate input from all relevant facilities-related disciplines. Assist with the preparation of detailed questionnaires for and consultation with Reserve Bank staff to gather relevant documentation, data, and input to ensure a thorough understanding of facilities-related projects and initiatives. May liaise with Reserve Bank staff to coordinate scheduling of activities, to include onsite inspections of review areas.
• Assist senior Building Planning staff with efforts to review, evaluate, and provide assistance to the Reserve Banks, their consultants, and the Board with regard to: project planning, scheduling, organization, and management; facility programming; facilities strategic planning and design; staffing composition and structure; space inventories and projections; budget estimation and cost control; design fees and services; contract documents; construction bids; change orders; construction practices and management; and interpretation and application of the Federal Reserve System Facility and Security Guidelines.
• Provide input into architectural or engineering design reviews for projects submitted by Reserve Bank Districts, Reserve Bank staff, and consultants. Assist senior Building Planning staff with the analysis of designs, drawings, specifications, calculations, and cost estimates for all assigned Reserve Bank facility projects. Assist with cost-benefit analyses and review cash flow studies of alternative architectural and engineering methods to ensure resulting guidance and/or recommendations are cost effective and in the financial interest of the Board. Maintain up-to-date knowledge of new techniques, trends, and best practices in architectural or engineering design and incorporate into guidance and recommendations as appropriate.
• Assist senior Building Planning staff with the development of comprehensive reports detailing findings and recommendations from bank review process and collaborate with Reserve Bank staff to review outcomes and incorporate recommendations into facilities-related decisions.
• Assist senior Building Planning staff with the development of standards and procedures (e.g., Federal Reserve System Facility and Security Guidelines) related to the planning, design, and construction of Reserve Bank facilities, liaising with relevant stakeholders within the Division and across the System as needed to ensure a multi-disciplinary approach.
• Leverage subject matter expertise to provide information, analysis, and technical advice to a variety of audiences, which may include senior Building Planning staff and/or Division leadership, regarding Reserve Bank projects via various delivery mechanisms (memoranda, reports, briefings, etc.). Assist senior Building Planning staff with the development of responses to facilities-related inquiries from the Board, the Reserve Banks, Congress, other government agencies, and the public.
• Assist senior Building Planning staff with the review of Section and Reserve Banks’ capital budget preparation and objectives to ensure facilities and related systems are financially sound. Perform additional duties as assigned.
  
  

Position Requirements

The Architect/Engineer position requires a bachelor’s degree in electrical engineering and a minimum of 6 years of relevant experience in engineering building design with an architectural, consulting engineering, or A&E firm; or a Master’s degree and a minimum of 5 years of relevant experience. A minimum of 4 years of this experience must include responsibility for design, project, and administrative management.

• Must possess and maintain an active professional engineer license (by exam) in the United States.
• Must have specialized engineering design experience on large, complicated building projects for commercial and/or government clients, with an emphasis on secure and high-tech projects.
• Must have strong knowledge of project management principles and approaches, with a particular emphasis on new building construction or renovation. Must have strong professional services business knowledge, which may include an understanding of various components of the professional services process (e.g., A&E fees, contracts, proposal preparation, bid evaluation, cost estimating and analysis, facilities testing and programming, etc.).
• Must have strong knowledge of core competency areas that include risk management, knowledge of relevant policy, and knowledge of relevant laws and regulations. Specifically, should have strong knowledge of the policies, procedures, and standards followed by federal agencies in building programs and the ability to obtain specific knowledge of Reserve Bank operations and facilities requirements.
• Should have a general understanding of the sensitive policy issues and the legal, economic, political, security, and confidentiality considerations associated with Federal Reserve building projects.
• Must have strong relationship-building skills, including the ability to collaborate and serve as a technical diplomat in interactions with Reserve Bank colleagues and all others within and outside the Board.
• Must have strong written and oral communication skills, including the ability to write properly and effectively to clearly convey highly technical concepts to a variety of audiences.
• Must be a critical thinker with a strong ability to analyze complex and varied information, paying close attention to detail.
• Must possess the ability to multi-task effectively in order to appropriately prioritize time sensitive and complex workload. Must be highly dependable, self-motivated, and capable of exercising sound and independent judgment, discretion, diplomacy, and tact.
  
  

Additional Factors For The Electrical Engineer Position Include

• Must be proficient with comprehensive power systems analysis and using commercially available power systems analysis software such as SKM or ETAP. Must be able to read and interpret a power study report that includes short circuit, protection coordination, and arc flash analysis.
• Must have experience and understanding of various building electrical system testing, operation and maintenance activities.
• Must keep up with and adapt to changes and advancements in electrical engineering, technology, sustainability, physical security, real estate and portfolio management, and electrical systems.
• Must participate in developing new policies, procedures for Cyber Security and special conditions such as the COVID-19 environment.
• Must have a deep understanding of NFPA 70 (NEC), NFPA 70B (maintenance), NFPA 70E (electrical safety / arc flash), NFPA 101 (life safety), and NFPA 110 (generators).
• In addition to NFPA, familiarity with relevant ANSI/IEEE, UL, and NEMA is helpful. These standards are used for power distribution equipment. Must have specialized design experience and general operations experience across multiple disciplines, on large, complicated building projects for commercial and government clients.
• Projects preferably would include banks, data centers, communications facilities, operations centers, large commercial, governmental, and institutional buildings, and oversight of a portfolio of multiple buildings.
• Must have a general understanding of the sensitive policy issues and the legal, economic, political, security, and confidentiality considerations associated with Federal Reserve building projects.
• Experience managing electrical systems in a portfolio of buildings is desirable, along with a portfolio-wide point of view.
• Experience regarding the oversight of facilities from a real estate management and operations point of view is desirable.
• Excellent human interaction, oral and written communication skills, and situational awareness.
• Real estate asset management and capital investment (financial) awareness.
• Risk management in the built environment.
• Remarks: The position is specifically for a licensed electrical engineer that meets the position requirements included above related to the electrical engineering field. Experience with concepts and implementation of Facility Master Planning, real estate and portfolio management, LEED accreditation, mechanical engineering concepts, and a multi-disciplined professional background is highly desirable. Candidate is expected to lead and/or participate in the review of Reserve Bank facilities management operations and projects as part of the division’s oversight responsibilities. A basic knowledge of Computer-Aided Design (AutoCAD/Revit/BlueBeam), Microsoft Office Suite and SKM or ETAP software is required. At the interview phase a writing sample will be requested. Frequent travel within the United States is required. This position requires an in-office presence in Washington, DC.
  
  

Job Type

Regular

Job Exempt

Yes

Relocation Provided:

Yes

Compensation Grade(s)

FR PAY GRADE 26 - FR PAY GRADE 27

Pay

$128,600-$190, 900

Rehabilitation Act

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