Principal Engineer - System Protection and Control

JOB SUMMARY: The Principal Engineer serves as a key technical contributor and advisor who consults with all business units on engineering and other technical activities. The position serves as a technical consultant who utilizes advanced expertise to assess and recommend best practices, process improvements, cost savings, and workplace safety improvements. The Principal Engineer has disciplined specific expertise and industry experience necessary to evaluate project plans, anticipate potential problems, and provide solutions for the most complex projects. This position guides and mentors less experienced staff and serves as an advisor to company leadership. Typical services provided will be short-circuit and coordination studies, protective relay settings, protection and control system design including one-line diagrams/ac & dc schematics/panel layouts/wiring diagrams, power system modeling on modeling platforms such as ASPEN OneLiner and power system disturbance analysis; all generation/transmission/distribution/industrial facilities.

Essential Duties, Functions, And Responsiblities

• Provide expert advice and counsel by utilizing extensive and diversified knowledge of engineering design, principles, practices, and project management.
• Suggest and implement innovative and cost-effective solutions to resolve complex, unique, hazardous, or critical problems.
• Provide technical input and review of internal regulatory compliance documentation.
• Serve as project manager or the technical lead for complex and highly technical projects.
• Provide opinions on issues related to corporate strategy and individual business unit initiatives.
• Act as a technical expert, provide written testimony, and serve as a key witness in court of law hearings, state agency proceedings, and legislative sessions.
• Provide technical commentary and input on pending legislation affecting company operations.
• Develop, foster, and maintain working relationships with manufacturers, vendors, utilities, and consulting firms.
• Mentor project team members and junior staff.
• Attend trade shows, conferences, workshops, seminars, user group meetings, and other educational opportunities on a routine basis.
• Recommend and cost justify engineering projects to improve company and customer operational efficiencies, mitigate reoccurring failures, improve system restoration time, increase equipment longevity, and reduce cost.
• Perform accurate, complete evaluations of engineering alternatives and the identification of the optimal solution for the electric power system.
• Perform root-cause analysis and recommend approaches to mitigate future failures or improve processes.
• Provide direction and technical assistance with digital computer programs and perform analysis as needed including power quality, fault, and system coordination studies, loss evaluations, relay software, relay event analysis, protection asset databases, and arc flash.
• Develop and direct detailed drawings for relaying single lines, secondary protective relay schemes and schematics, low voltage equipment power, and control system connections for generation, transmission, and distribution protection.
• Establish, maintain, and improve relationships with internal and external customers, including monitoring the relationships and initiating actions to improve relationships as needed.
• Collaborate with local, state, and federal government agencies for permits and authorization.
• Performs all work in a safe and timely manner.
  
  

Based on the essential duties listed above, this position is considered safety-sensitive and therefore all work must be performed following quality standards and established safety procedures.

Education & Related Experience

• Bachelor's degree in engineering from an ABET accredited school is required.
• A registered professional engineering license is required.
• A minimum of twelve (12) years of progressively responsible engineering work experience is required.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Outlook and other common business applications is required.
• Proven leadership experience is required.
• A valid driver's license and a good driving record are required.
• A specific engineering discipline may be preferred.
  
  

Knowledge, Skills, And Abilities

• Knowledge of engineering, operations, strategy, project management, and budgeting processes and procedures.
• Thorough understanding of business acumen, company financial structure, and business plans.
• Thorough understanding of commercial and contractual aspects of company business.
• Understanding of negotiation and conflict resolution processes.
• A logical thinker who can understand instructions on specific objectives, complex features, and possible solutions and formulate high-quality engineering workmanship.
• Excellent written and oral communication skills, including, but not limited to communicating technical information to a wide range of audiences and produce reports, emails, and presentations.
• Excellent interpersonal skills and the ability to collaborate with internal and external company contacts.
• Analytical skills, including interpretive and complex problem-solving and decision-making skills pertaining to electric power systems, engineering, economics, and/or financial analysis.
• Exceptional project management and organizational skills with the ability to manage multiple projects.
• Ability to lead and provide work direction to others.
• Proven ability to creatively apply technical skills to projects and activities.
• Ability to plan, schedule, conduct, and coordinate assigned work activities.
• An individual capable of working in both a team environment and independently with minimal oversight.
  
  

Supervisory Responsibilities And Interactions With Others

The Principal Engineer will be responsible for supervising personnel and contractors. The position will also interact with coworkers, management, customers, vendors, service providers, and internal/external stakeholders daily.

KEY COMPETENCIES

• Technical/Professional Knowledge and Skills
• Work Standards
• Continuous Learning
• Building Strategic Working Relationships
• Decision Making
• Innovation
• Communication
  
  

WORKING CONDITIONS

This is primarily a remote work position with occasional travel, overnight included, to customer locations. Customer sites are typically indoor and outdoor construction environments. The indoor work environment is usually well-lit, environmentally controlled environment with a moderate level of noise. The outdoor environment may require the employee to be exposed to temperatures above 100 degrees Fahrenheit and below 32 degrees Fahrenheit. This position may also be exposed to danger, vibrations, rough/uneven terrain, dirt/shavings, fumes, grease/oil, excessive noise, electricity, flying objects, fire/steam/hot surfaces, and moving equipment. This position regularly lifts up to twenty (20) pounds; and occasionally lifts up to fifty (50) pounds. This position is full-time and work hours, including evening, weekend, and overnight work may vary depending on the operational activities and required duties of the role.