What are the responsibilities and job description for the Principal Engineer - GIS position at New York State Electric & Gas?
Job Title: Principal Engineer - GIS
Location: Rochester, NY (3CC) or Binghamton, NY (KGO)
Reports to (Title): Senior Manager – Engineering Services
The base salary range for this position is dependent upon experience and location, ranging from: $128,500- $160,400
What We Offer
Competitive benefits and growth opportunities
Generous performance‑based bonuses
12% 401(k) match
Comprehensive health, dental, and vision insurance
Tuition reimbursement
Professional development and clear career advancement pathways
For more information please visit: Benefits - Avangrid
Job Summary
The Principal Engineer – GIS serves as the senior technical authority for all geospatial engineering, mapping standards, and spatial data governance supporting NYSEG and RG&E electric transmission and substation systems. This role provides strategic leadership across the full lifecycle of GIS data creation, validation, modeling, analytics, integration, visualization, and enterprise deployment enabling capital planning, system reliability, real estate, routing, environmental compliance, asset management, digital design workflows, and regulatory reporting.
Recognized as the organization’s subject matter expert (SME) in geospatial engineering and digital mapping technologies, the Principal Engineer establishes technical criteria, directs enterprise GIS architecture, and drives system improvements with broad operational and
regulatory impact. The role leads high complexity spatial studies including transmission routing, environmental constraints analysis, encroachment identification, digital twin development, LiDAR modeling, and integration of GIS with engineering systems such as PLS CADD, SAP, ADMS/OMS, and asset analytics platforms.
This position reports directly to the Senior Manager of Engineering Services, working with minimal oversight while supporting project managers, construction managers, system planners, real estate, environmental permitting teams, and executive leadership. The role
ensures that all GIS based engineering deliverables meet Avangrid standards and support the Powering New York (PNY) portfolio, aligned with New York State’s Climate Leadership and Community Protection Act (CLCPA).
Key Responsibilities
Technical Leadership & Standards
Other duties as assigned.
Company
NY STATE ELECTRIC & GAS CORP
Mobility Information
Please note that any applicant who is not a citizen of the country of the vacancy will be subject to compliance with the applicable immigration requirements to legally work in that country.
At Avangrid we provide fair and equal employment and advancement opportunities for all employees and candidates regardless of race, color, religion, national origin, gender, sexual orientation, age, marital status, disability, protected veteran status or any other status protected by federal, state, or local law.
If you are an individual with a disability or a disabled veteran who is unable to use our online tool to search for or to apply for jobs, you may request a reasonable accommodation by contacting our People and Organization department at careers@avangrid.com.
Avangrid employees may be assigned a system emergency role and in the event of a system emergency, may be required to work outside of their regular schedule/job duties. This is applicable to employees that will work in Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, and New York within Avangrid Network and Corporate functions. This does not include those that will work for Avangrid Power.
Avangrid employees may also be assigned a NERC Reliability Standards compliance role supporting Critical Infrastructure Protection (CIP) and/or Operations and Planning (O&P) responsibilities. This is applicable to employees that will work in electric transmission, operations, and cyber security business areas in Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, and New York within Avangrid Network and Corporate business areas. NERC Reliability Standards compliance roles and responsibilities may include additional access protections, training, audit engagement, and required evidence retention, and will be communicated by the employee’s management.
Job Posting End Date
July-31-2026
Location: Rochester, NY (3CC) or Binghamton, NY (KGO)
Reports to (Title): Senior Manager – Engineering Services
The base salary range for this position is dependent upon experience and location, ranging from: $128,500- $160,400
What We Offer
Competitive benefits and growth opportunities
Generous performance‑based bonuses
12% 401(k) match
Comprehensive health, dental, and vision insurance
Tuition reimbursement
Professional development and clear career advancement pathways
For more information please visit: Benefits - Avangrid
Job Summary
The Principal Engineer – GIS serves as the senior technical authority for all geospatial engineering, mapping standards, and spatial data governance supporting NYSEG and RG&E electric transmission and substation systems. This role provides strategic leadership across the full lifecycle of GIS data creation, validation, modeling, analytics, integration, visualization, and enterprise deployment enabling capital planning, system reliability, real estate, routing, environmental compliance, asset management, digital design workflows, and regulatory reporting.
Recognized as the organization’s subject matter expert (SME) in geospatial engineering and digital mapping technologies, the Principal Engineer establishes technical criteria, directs enterprise GIS architecture, and drives system improvements with broad operational and
regulatory impact. The role leads high complexity spatial studies including transmission routing, environmental constraints analysis, encroachment identification, digital twin development, LiDAR modeling, and integration of GIS with engineering systems such as PLS CADD, SAP, ADMS/OMS, and asset analytics platforms.
This position reports directly to the Senior Manager of Engineering Services, working with minimal oversight while supporting project managers, construction managers, system planners, real estate, environmental permitting teams, and executive leadership. The role
ensures that all GIS based engineering deliverables meet Avangrid standards and support the Powering New York (PNY) portfolio, aligned with New York State’s Climate Leadership and Community Protection Act (CLCPA).
Key Responsibilities
Technical Leadership & Standards
- Serve as the enterprise technical authority for GIS engineering, developing and enforcing spatial data standards, metadata rules, accuracy thresholds, QA/QC protocols, and system governance across NYSEG and RG&E.
- Lead enterprise GIS architecture and technology strategy, guiding future state capabilities such as LiDAR integration, digital substations, 3D modeling, and grid modernization data platforms.
- Define engineering criteria for GIS data quality, ensuring accuracy sufficient for routing, permitting, transmission design, substation planning, property acquisitions, regulatory filings, and system operations needs.
- Conduct and approve complex geospatial analyses including:
- Transmission line routing and alternative routing studies
- Environmental and permitting constraints modeling
- Right of way encroachment identification
- Substation siting studies
- Reliability and risk mapping
- Proximity and hazard zone modeling (flooding, wildfire, wind, etc.)
- Develop digital models integrating GIS, LiDAR, survey, CAD, and PLS CADD to support engineering and construction decision making.
- Lead integration of GIS with SAP, ADMS/OMS, outage management tools, SCADA mapping, and transmission engineering platforms.
- Oversee data synchronization between GIS, engineering design tools, real estate systems, environmental databases, and regulatory reporting systems.
- Provide senior level GIS leadership for transmission and substation projects, including drawing development, alignment selection, permitting packages, and as built updates.
- Support real estate, permitting, and environmental teams with GIS deliverables for state and federal filings, including PSC Article VII, SEQRA, USACE, USFWS, FEMA, SHPO, and local agencies.
- Mentor GIS engineers, analysts, and technologists, building organizational capability and ensuring consistent application of best practices.
- Represent Avangrid in technical committees, industry groups, regulatory audits, and data governance working groups.
- Interface with regulators, municipalities, contractors, survey firms, and other utilities on spatial data issues and engineering studies.
Other duties as assigned.
- Bachelor’s degree in GIS, Geomatics, Engineering, or a related technical discipline is required with 10 years of progressive GIS engineering experience in the electric utility or transmission infrastructure sector.
- Demonstrated expertise with ESRI ArcGIS Pro, ArcGIS Enterprise, ArcGIS Online, geodatabases, LiDAR processing, spatial analytics, and GPS survey integration.
- Deep understanding of utility transmission and substation asset environments, ROW management, permitting processes, and environmental/regulatory workflows.
- Experience integrating GIS with engineering tools (PLS CADD, AutoCAD, MicroStation), enterprise systems (SAP), or operational systems (OMS/ADMS).
- Expert level technical understanding of geospatial modeling, coordinate systems, survey control, remote sensing, and utility mapping standards.
- Ability to design, troubleshoot, and optimize enterprise GIS architectures.
- Strong analytical, communication, and leadership skills with the ability to influence decisions across departments and leadership levels.
- Proven ability to manage complex data systems, mitigate data quality risk, and provide authoritative technical direction.
- Experience working with environmental, real estate, permitting, and engineering stakeholders on multi-disciplinary capital projects.
- Master’s degree strongly preferred
- Professional certifications such as GISP preferred.
Company
NY STATE ELECTRIC & GAS CORP
Mobility Information
Please note that any applicant who is not a citizen of the country of the vacancy will be subject to compliance with the applicable immigration requirements to legally work in that country.
At Avangrid we provide fair and equal employment and advancement opportunities for all employees and candidates regardless of race, color, religion, national origin, gender, sexual orientation, age, marital status, disability, protected veteran status or any other status protected by federal, state, or local law.
If you are an individual with a disability or a disabled veteran who is unable to use our online tool to search for or to apply for jobs, you may request a reasonable accommodation by contacting our People and Organization department at careers@avangrid.com.
Avangrid employees may be assigned a system emergency role and in the event of a system emergency, may be required to work outside of their regular schedule/job duties. This is applicable to employees that will work in Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, and New York within Avangrid Network and Corporate functions. This does not include those that will work for Avangrid Power.
Avangrid employees may also be assigned a NERC Reliability Standards compliance role supporting Critical Infrastructure Protection (CIP) and/or Operations and Planning (O&P) responsibilities. This is applicable to employees that will work in electric transmission, operations, and cyber security business areas in Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, and New York within Avangrid Network and Corporate business areas. NERC Reliability Standards compliance roles and responsibilities may include additional access protections, training, audit engagement, and required evidence retention, and will be communicated by the employee’s management.
Job Posting End Date
July-31-2026
Salary : $128,500 - $160,400