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City of Austin - JOB DESCRIPTION

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Power System Principal Engineer


FLSA: Standard/Exempt EEO Category: (20) Professionals
Class Code: 17096 Salary Grade: HC4
Approved: January 22, 2006 Last Revised: September 18, 2023


Purpose:
 
Under general direction, provides professional technical and specialized engineering expertise to assure delivery of services to customers, advancement of new technologies and processes, and/or development and maintenance of technical utility standards.
Duties, Functions and Responsibilities:
  Essential duties and functions, pursuant to the Americans with Disabilities Act, may include the following. Other related duties may be assigned.
  1. Develops technical specifications and standards by applying knowledge of the principles and practices of engineering discipline, including the methods, materials, equipment and techniques used.
  2. Plans, researches, designs, and implements engineering studies and projects and/or program areas by applying advance technical knowledge of engineering discipline.
  3. Manages and negotiates contracts by reviewing monthly progress reports, verifying final quantities and costs, compiling requisite documentation, reviewing change orders, and auditing as-built records.
  4. Acts as a liaison among consultants, contractors, subcontractors, manufacturers, fabricators or suppliers and City.
  5. Negotiates problems of changes, errors or deficiencies and ensures compliance with project specifications and requirements.
  6. Manages and monitors engineering projects for compliance.
  7. Reviews, analyzes, and interprets plans, specifications, contracts and other related documents.
  8. Develops and monitors project budgets and assists in developing, managing and submitting proposed budget forecast planning for short- and long-term city planning.
  9. Monitor projects for regulatory compliance and maintains knowledge of the latest developments in the utility industry, to meet North American Electric Reliability Council (NERC), Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC), Electric Reliability Council of Texas (ERCOT) and Texas Public Utility Commission (TX PUC) standards and regulatory requirements.
Responsibilities - Supervisor and/or Leadership Exercised:
 
  • May provide leadership, work assignments, evaluation, and guidance to others.
Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities:
  Must possess required knowledge, skills, abilities, and experience and be able to explain and demonstrate, with or without reasonable accommodations, that the essential functions of the job can be performed.
  • Knowledge of engineering design principles applicable to electric utility operations such as, generation, transmission, distribution and other related fields.
  • Knowledge of utility standards and regulatory requirements, to meet North American Electric Reliability Council (NERC), Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC), Electric Reliability Council of Texas (ERCOT) and Texas Public Utility Commission (TX PUC) compliance requirements.
  • Knowledge of engineering standards, codes, practices, procedures, materials, and equipment used in the design, construction, and operation of the electric utility systems.
  • Knowledge of established engineering principles and methods.
  • Knowledge of preparation of cost estimates and engineering and feasibility reports.
  • Knowledge of regulatory requirements within the Local, State and Federal ordinances and laws.
  • Knowledge of City of Austin purchasing and contract policies and procedures.
  • Skill in oral and written technical and/or general communication including preparation of written reports.
  • Skill in negotiations and handling conflict resolution.
  • Ability to perform more complex engineering calculations and to analyze engineering problems.
Minimum Qualifications:
 
  • Graduation with a Bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university with major coursework in Engineering, or in a field related to the job, eight (8) years of experience in engineering, acquired either before and/or after licensing as a professional engineer.
Licenses and Certifications Required:
 
  • Licensed Professional Engineer (PE) in the State of Texas; or if currently licensed in another state, the ability to obtain a Texas PE license within one (1) year of employment.

This description is intended to indicate the kinds of tasks and levels of work difficulty required of the position given this title and shall not be construed as declaring what the specific duties and responsibilities of any particular position shall be. It is not intended to limit or in any way modify the right of management to assign, direct and control the work of employees under supervision. The listing of duties and responsibilities shall not be held to exclude other duties not mentioned that are of similar kind or level of difficulty.