Job Information
Portland General Electric Senior Distribution Operations Engineer - Power Quality Focus in Beaverton, Oregon
At PGE, our work involves dreaming about, planning for, and realizing a smarter, cleaner, more enduring Oregon neighborhood. Its core to our DNA and we haven’t stopped since we started in 1888. We energize lives, strengthen communities and drive advancements in energy that promote social, economic and environmental progress. We’re always on the lookout for people passionate about leading and being a part of teams that are advancing innovative clean energy solutions that are also affordable and accessible to all.
Are you passionate about the future of sustainable energy and the role that power distribution plays in ensuring a reliable and efficient energy grid? If so, we have an exciting opportunity for you as a Principal or Senior level Power Distribution Operations Engineer with a focus on Power Quality Engineering.
As part of our Engineering team, you will be a technical resource, driving leading-class energy solutions for our customers; full-service engineering, planning and technical services in support of our operations, maintenance and capital investments. The Power Quality Engineer will utilize a unique technical skillset within the Distribution Operations Engineering group, to troubleshoot, diagnose, and offer solutions to power quality problems on both sides of the service meter. Your focus will be on Power Quality investigations, corrective actions, mitigation, and providing subject matter expertise in support of other groups, with a background in Distribution design, planning and/or operations.
This position will be customer-facing and involves external communication, as a subject-matter expert. This role is critical to address emerging needs for greater fidelity in service performance and reliability, with growth in inverter-based distributed generation, EV charging, community solar, and increased sensitivity in tech-industry manufacturing processes. This position will be a partner and technical peer, supporting the Western and Southern region.
Summary
In this role you will partner with Line Operations craft and other operations personnel to facilitate proper operation of electric power distribution and transmission systems, to meet power demands and power quality requirements. You may be asked to perform electrical analyses and provide real-time engineering for capital and maintenance activities. This position also recommends improvements associated with design and construction of overhead and underground distribution facilities, standards, operations, materials and new technology, with emphasis on high reliability and quality of service. You will support field operations, customer account management, OPUC liaisons, planning and key stakeholder groups, with a high level of visibility and moderate autonomy.
Responsibilities
Engineering Standards Maintains currency in state-of-the-art engineering practices and provides guidance and direction on engineering processes and standards to colleagues when requested. Provides professional engineering expertise on distribution design, code interpretation and distribution standards and equipment specifications (e.g., switches, reclosers, network protectors, distribution automation equipment); provides expertise in distribution design and code interpretation to resolve complex problems on the distribution system.
Engineering Production Prepares a variety of complex engineering deliverables for larger or multiple projects; coordinates multiple- discipline activity. Completes and reviews engineering analyses and prioritizes and supports complex system restoration efforts involving network systems, core areas and major customers; works with line crews to solve problems found in the field; identifies trends/patterns in outage reports and proposes solutions to complex distribution reliability problems; proposes distribution expansion projects needed to increase operational flexibility; responds to unplanned outages and leads efforts to restore the distribution system and service to customers.
Project Coordination Actively coordinates with other internal/external team members on moderately complex projects, including representing the team to interdepartmental stakeholders. Proposes projects needed for expansion of the distribution system to add capacity and operational flexibility; provides recommendations to management for viable alternative solutions to complex distribution reliability and system-hardening problems; serves as work order owner for distribution maintenance and feeder getaway projects.
Knowledge Sharing Serves as a technical specialist and provides consultation/guidance to project teams in a particular practice area; actively fosters knowledge management and provides mentoring; implements resource-management strategy.
Customer Support Serves as a liaison to external customers; provides job status updates, requests additional design information, investigates outages and power quality issues, follows up on customer technical issues and provides information to Distribution Planning.
Customer Relations Understands the wholistic impact of a customer relationship and builds trusted relationships working directly with customer’s technical staff; communicates complex concepts to customers.
Minimum Qualifications
P3 – Sr. Level
Education: Requires a bachelor’s degree in engineering. ABET-accredited engineering program or program accredited by an equivalent agency preferred.
Experience Typically 5 years or more years in engineering or four or more years in a related field with PE license.
Certifications, Licenses and Training Professional Engineering (PE) license strongly preferred; may be required based upon role.
Valid Drivers License required
Preferred Qualifications
Previous experience at a Utility, or Power Generation Plants
Field Engineering
Advanced knowledge of engineering and economic principles and concepts.
Advanced knowledge of other engineering disciplines and advanced ability to interpret engineering deliverable content as assigned.
Advanced knowledge and application of engineering processes and procedures; working knowledge of other related departments and functions.
Advanced industry knowledge and technology trends.
Advanced knowledge of company QA/QC process and procedures.
Intermediate knowledge of construction feasibility.
Intermediate knowledge of procurement and contract administration.
Advanced knowledge of process and procedures for project controls and estimates.
Intermediate knowledge of applicable codes and standards related to the design and operation of the electrical distribution system.
Intermediate skill designing overhead and underground distribution facilities, including relevant civil and electrical subsystems.
Advanced knowledge of real-time and off-line power flow and power system analysis software applications.
Advanced knowledge of work management, asset management, GIS and outage-management software applications.
Advanced knowledge of distribution protection schemes and device-coordination principles.
Physical Capabilities
Driving/travel/commute: Daily within service territory - Occasionally (one to two times a month or less)
Driving/travel/commute: Overnight inside/outside the service territory - Occasionally (one to two times a month or less)
Computer use (use computer regularly for entire work shift)
Lifting/pushing/pulling: Up to 10 lbs.
Carrying: Up to 10 lbs.
Unstable surfaces requiring balance (i.e., moving equipment, boats) (check all that apply):
Walking distances and surfaces (long distances and over rough, uneven or rocky surfaces)
Environment - Indoor/Outdoor:
Office
Plant
Field
PGE supports hybrid flexible work arrangements; and will have a combination of in-the-office and working offsite. This individual must be based within 75 miles of the work location and will be required to work in-the-office at least once a week. However, these arrangements may change due to business needs or changes in responsibility.
#LI-SB1 #LI-Hybrid
Compensation Range:
$96,300.00 - $189,875.00
Actual total compensation, including a performance based incentive bonus, is commensurate with experience, skills, qualifications, education, training, and internal equity. While we anticipate the selected candidate for this position will fall towards the middle or entry point of the compensation range, the decision will be made on a case-by-case basis.
PGE believes in rewarding dedicated performance. We provide a total rewards package that is designed to reward your contributions to the company, and, at the same time, support your well-being and professional development, both now and into the future. To find out more, click here (https://portlandgeneral.com/hrcs5511) .
Join us today and power your potential!
Assisting with storms or other Company emergencies is a part of all positions at Portland General Electric.
PGE is committed to diversity and inclusion in the workplace and is an equal opportunity employer. PGE will not discriminate against any employee or applicant for employment based on race, color, national origin, gender, gender identity, sexual orientation, age, religion, disability, protected veteran status, or other characteristics protected by law.
PGE does not discriminate on the basis of disability. We recognize individuals have a variety of abilities to offer and we believe there is much to value and celebrate by incorporating different abilities into the work we do. One very important way we live this out is in our application and interview process. We work hard to support individuals who may need an accommodation to fully participate in these processes. If you feel you may need an accommodation, or would like to request one, please notify the Talent Acquisition Specialist (Recruiter) associated with the job posting. You may also make this request by contacting talentacquisition@pgn.com or by calling 503-464-7250. The Recruiter will provide information and next steps for the accommodation process. Our Diversity, Equity & Inclusion (DEI) team is also available for support. You can contact them at dei@pgn.com .
To be considered for this position, please complete the following employment application by the posting close date. Posting closes at midnight (Pacific Time) on the closing date below. If no date is listed, job is open until filled.