Consulting Engineer

Job Description

Provides professional engineering services and technical leadership to department discipline supervisors and engineering staff, providing expertise in a specialized field of engineering to broadly- stated technical problems.  Solutions provided by the consulting engineer may involve unconventional or advanced problem solving techniques. Provides professional engineering service and support in the planning, construction, operation, maintenance, and analysis of PSE facilities and assets. Schedules and coordinates major segments of complex projects to meet cost and time objectives. Reviews design and documentation to ensure compliance with design criteria and standards. Assignments involve a substantial degree of complexity, with many interrelated elements, requiring considerations not previously encountered.  Supports emergency response operations when needed.

Upholds the safety compliance standards inherent in PSE’s operating and/or field procedures related to work responsibilities. Promotes and supports a culture of total safety.

This position may be subject to random DOT drug and/or alcohol testing. Demonstrates commitment to conduct business honestly, ethically and consistent with our core values and Code of Conduct.  Ensures duties are performed in accordance with all regulatory compliance obligations.

This job is considered “safety sensitive” as defined in RCW 49.44.240 and is subject to pre-employment drug screening that includes screening for the presence of marijuana and marijuana metabolites.

Job Responsibilities

The Operations & Capacity Planner in this position will have an emphasis on improving the capacity and operating performance of the distribution system in line with future integration of smart grid devices and systems, including distribution energy resources (DER), volt/var optimization (VVO), advanced metering infrastructure (AMI), distribution automation (DA). 

The right candidate is someone who is excited about realizing the future of energy delivery while meeting our customers’ needs today and is curious about learning and passionate about growth and improvement.

• Provides technical review of potential system impacts from proposed substantial load additions and provides timely response that includes study results and recommendations.
• Monitors and analyzes the electric distribution system operation performance to proactively plan projects to address system deficiencies. 
• Prepares highly complex engineering analyses and studies of the electric system to provide for future needs using LoadSEER and SynerGi modeling program.
• Develops, prepares and justifies capacity improvement projects for the electric distribution system to meet cost, design standards, and schedule objectives with appropriate documentation.
• Prepares complex engineering plans, designs, specifications, standards, evaluations and studies utilizing specialized analytical skills. 
• Responsible for solving unique problems using advanced analytical techniques.
• Communicates solutions to personnel possessing a wide variety of educational and employment backgrounds, including public forums in both verbal and written forms. 
• Ensures compliance with codes, standards, and design, operation, and maintenance requirements.
• Identifies potential areas of weakness with team’s work, and initiates corrective action.
• Documents and shares work with others to strengthen the depth and breadth of skills within PSE’s engineering workforce.
• Provides technical leadership to others in the department and throughout the company.
• Evaluates new emerging technologies to ensure all issues are addressed holistically and that problem solutions are tailored to PSE’s business environment.
• Ensures the problem solutions are tailors to PSE’s business environment.
• Maintains knowledge of industry developments and best practices and their application at PSE to further business objectives.
• Coordinate and review the work of engineers, engineering assistants, field technicians, and others who assist in specific assignments (including contractors/consultants).
• Plans and schedules engineering resources to meet department needs.
• Develops and executes department strategy to support overall business objectives.
• Supports emergency response work as requested including immediate and extended restoration efforts driven by weather and other system failures.
• Performs other duties as assigned. 

Minimum Qualifications

• Bachelor of Science degree or PE license in electrical, mechanical, civil or other appropriate engineering field.
• Extensive experience in planning, design, specification preparation, maintenance, project cost estimating and scheduling (typically achieved after 10 or more years practice as a degreed engineer).  Years of acquired experience is provided as a guide and alone does not constitute readiness for job level as individual’s skill acquisition rates can vary significantly.
• Advanced technical and scientific expertise.
• Experience leading engineering projects.
• Strong interpersonal and communication skills.
• Ability to work effectively and collaborate with a wide range of internal and external customers.

Desired Qualifications

• Possession of a Professional Engineering license.
• Broad knowledge of power industry standards and best practices.
• Experience working on complex engineering projects in the electric utility industry.
• Experience using an electrical analysis program such as SynerGi, CYME, LoadSEER, or other programs.
• Knowledge of engineering economics, analysis, and utility accounting practices.
• Experience with coordinating external consultants in the planning of a system improvement.
• Experience working with internal and external customers in meeting system and customer needs.

Additional Information