Operations/Reliability Engineer - OEU

This is engineering work primarily responsible for electric system reliability and the highest-level transmission and distribution operational designs. Some duties are recurring with various frequency, and other duties are project-based depending on the needs of the utility and customers at any given time. The successful candidate may supervise a staff of junior electrical engineers and/or electrical engineering technicians and will report to the Electric Engineering Manager.

ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

1. Design electric system distribution relaying, overcurrent & fault protection, and protective device coordination. Design and maintain the transmission & distribution system load and fault engineering analysis model. Investigate and apply new technology that will improve system reliability and reduce restoration time through distribution switching and protective device automation and communication.

2. Design electric utility circuit extensions and modifications including detailed electrical and structural load calculations.

3. Model, analyze, and design corrective actions for system voltage regulation and power factor correction.

4. Design, document, train, and update electric system construction standards and engineering design practices.

5. Research, analyze, and report online outage conditions and participate in the design of mitigating actions, maintenance requirements, voltage drop and sectionalizing studies. Monitor and improve electric system reliability indices (SAIDI, CAIDI, SAIFI, MAIFI, CAIFI).

6. Research and evaluate electric utility infrastructure materials, investigate and analyze existing material issues, research annual usage data, and revise stocking and ordering metrics. Design and update engineering specifications and related documents to ensure correct design criteria and standards are met. Train electric engineering and field

personnel on new materials, procedures, and application requirements. Provide subject matter expertise to assist procurement with resolving manufacturing issues.

7. Conduct detailed engineering analysis on system performance and reliability strategy and provide formal recommendations for immediate improvement and capital improvement projects.

8. Continuously analyze utility system performance, including coordinating with system operators, investigating system failures, designing corrective actions, and providing training when necessary. Provide subject matter expertise to field engineers, technicians, and construction crews. This includes possible after-hours support for emergency situations.

9. Analyze engineering power quality technical data for the electric utility. Investigate customer-specific power-related concerns. Create a detailed site investigation report, analysis, and countermeasures for complex electrical power problems.

10. Analyze, review, and approve circuit switching orders for system protection and crew safety.

Perform any other related duties as required or assigned.

EDUCATION AND EXPERIENCE

•Bachelor of Science degree in Electric or Mechanical Engineering from a nationally accredited ABET (Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology) college or university.

•Ten to twelve years of relevant experience covering the essential job functions, as well as overhead and underground electric distribution and transmission engineering design.

•Experience with Electric Utility Engineering Analysis and Modeling software.

•Extensive Knowledge of the NESC.

REQUIRED CERTIFICATES, LICENSES, REGISTRATIONS

•Must possess a valid Florida Driver's License with an acceptable driving record.

•Certification from one or more USA power industry-recognized training entities with documentation of at least 24 hours of direct classroom training hours in the area of electric utility protection system coordination including recloser controls. This requirement can be waived with work history proof of 3 years or more in a USA-based electric utility with a job title and description that supports direct responsibility for that functional duty.

PREFERRED CERTIFICATES, LICENSES, REGISTRATIONS

•E.I.T. (Engineer-In-Training) or F.E. (Fundamentals Engineering) certification is strongly preferred.

RESPONSIBILITY FOR FUNDS, PROPERTY and EQUIPMENT

Annual Budget: $0

SUPERVISORY RESPONSIBILITIES

This position will directly supervise 5 employees.

This position may indirectly supervise 5 employees.

If applicable, supervisory responsibilities include interviewing, hiring and training employees; planning, assigning and directing work; appraising performance, rewarding and disciplining employees; addressing complaints and resolving problems.

ANALYTICAL ABILITY / PROBLEM SOLVING

MODERATELY DIRECTED. Activities covered by wide-ranging policies and courses of action, and generally directed as to execution and review.

PLANNING

With regard to general assignments in planning time, method, manner and/or sequence of performance of own work.

CONSIDERABLE RESPONSIBILITY; in addition, the organization and delegation of work operations for a Group of employees engaged in Widely diversified activities.

DECISION MAKING

Performs work operations which permit opportunity for decision-making of minor importance. FREQUENTLY;

Performs work operations which permit opportunity for decision-making of major importance. FREQUENTLY;

COMMUNICATION SKILLS

Ability to read, analyze, and understand common scientific and technical journals, financial reports, and legal documents; Ability to respond to complex or difficult inquiries or

complaints.

MATHEMATICAL SKILLS

Ability to comprehend and apply principles of advanced calculus, modern algebra, and advanced statistical theory.

CRITICAL THINKING SKILLS

Ability to apply principles of logical or scientific thinking to a wide range of intellectual and practical problems. Ability to deal with nonverbal, logical or scientific symbolism such as formulas, scientific equations, and graphs.

SUPERVISION RECEIVED

Under general direction, WORKING FROM POLICIES AND GENERAL DIRECTIVES. RARELY REFERS SPECIFIC CASES TO supervisor unless clarification or interpretation of the organization’s policy is required.

MENTAL DEMAND

COMPREHENSIVE AND VERY INTENSEMENTAL; Comprehensive and continual involvement with multiple divisions, departments and/or organizations. Strategic and operational management functions which relate to both the short-term and long-term time periods.

USE OF MACHINES, EQUIPMENT AND/OR COMPUTER

Regular use of highly complex machines and equipment; specialized or advanced software

programs.

ACCURACY

Probable errors would normally not be detected in succeeding operations and could have serious effects in relationships with patrons and/or with the operations of other segments of the organization. Frequent possibilities of error would exist at all times.

PUBLIC CONTACT

Regular contacts with patrons initiated by the employee. Involves furnishing and obtaining information and, attempting to influence the decisions of those contacted. Failure to exercise proper judgment may result in important losses to the organization.

EMPLOYEE CONTACT

Contact with other departments or offices and also frequently with individuals in middle level positions; consulting on problems that necessitate judgment and tact, plus frequent contact with senior level internal officials.

SOFTWARE SKILLS REQUIRED

Accounting Basic

Alphanumeric Data Entry Intermediate

Contact Management Intermediate

Database Mastery

Enterprise Resource Planning Intermediate

Human Resources Systems Basic

Payroll Systems None

Presentation/PowerPoint Advanced

Programming Languages Advanced

Spreadsheet Mastery

Word Processing/Typing Mastery

ADDITIONAL SOFTWARE SKILLS

AutoCAD

Electric distribution system modeling and analysis required (Milsoft Windmill preferred)

Protection device coordination & analysis (Milsoft LightTable preferred)

Cooper Recloser programming (Cooper's ProView ver. 4.01 5.0, 5.1, 5.5, and 7.0 preferred)

S&C TripleSIngle Recloser programming (S&C's Service Center Configuration 2.1 preferred)

Vista Switchgear programming (SEL's acSELerator preferred)

Pole loading analysis (Pole Foreman or PLSCADD preferred)

OTHER SKILLS

Abstract thinking, to be able to predict and understand the direct and indirect impacts of interconnecting electrical systems of diverse electrical performance characteristics, with a critical successful outcome for overall system reliability and public safety.

Effective and concise written and oral communication skills are critical.

PHYSICAL ACTIVITIES

While performing the functions of this job, the employee may be required to:

Stand Frequently

Walk Frequently

Sit Regularly

Use hands to handle or feel Continuously

Reach with hands and arms Regularly

Climb or balance Occasionally

Stoop, kneel, crouch or crawl Occasionally

Talk or hear Continuously

Taste or smell Never

WEIGHT LIFT REQUIREMENTS

The employee must occasionally lift and/or move:

Up to 50 pounds

VISION REQUIREMENT

Specific vision abilities required by this job may include:

Ability to adjust focus (work duties that require the ability to adjust the eye to bring an object into sharp focus at various distances or focal lengths).

ENVIRONMENTAL CONDITIONS

The following work environment characteristics described here are representative of those an employee encounters while performing essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

Work near moving mechanical parts (spinning shafts, engines, lifts, etc.)

Occasionally

Work in high, precarious places (tall structures, bucket lifts, extension ladders, etc.) Never

Fumes or airborne particles (painting, sanding, solvents, flying lint or dust particles, etc.) Never

Toxic or caustic chemicals (including potential for chemical spills, etc.) Never

Outdoor weather conditions (exposure to outdoor heat, cold or inclement weather) Regularly

Wet or humid conditions (not weather-related, such as greenhouse, carwash, etc.) Never

Extreme cold (not weather-related, such as freezer, cold storage, etc.)

Never

Extreme heat not weather-related, such as furnace, kitchen, ovens, etc. where temp is regularly above 100 degrees F) Never

Risk of electrical shock (live electrical wires, equipment that retains power after shutoff) Regularly

Work with explosives (TNT, dynamite, nitroglycerine or other related explosives) Never

Risk of radiation (x-ray equipment, nuclear radiation, electromagnetic radiation, etc.) Occasionally

Vibration (jack hammer, soil compactor, equipment that creates high vibration, etc.)

Never

The noise level in the work environment is usually Moderate (business office with computers/printers, light traffic, etc.)

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

Emphasis is on electric system protection coordination, establishing and updating construction and material standards, and electric infrastructure design work. Ability to independently make technical and calculated design decisions that directly impact the reliability and safety of the transmission & distribution system as well as commercial and residential electric service.

Engineers are directly responsible for several specific areas of subject matter expertise but are expected to perform a wide range of engineering duties as needed.

Responding to emergency after-hour callouts is required unless dire circumstances prevent such a response. Some overtime may be required from time to time to accomplish assigned tasks/projects in a timely manner.

Excellent college-level written grammatical and syntax skills, to communicate clearly and concisely, are required, due to the extensive technical correspondence with various engineers, legal, and other professionals.

This is not necessarily an exhaustive list of all responsibilities, skills, duties, requirements, efforts, or working conditions associated with the job. While this is intended to be an accurate reflection of the current job, management reserves the right to revise the job or to require that other or different tasks be performed when circumstances change (e.g., emergencies, changes in personnel, workload, rush jobs, or technological developments).