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City of Austin - JOB DESCRIPTION

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Power System Engineer Senior
FLSA: Standard/Exempt EEO Category: (20) Professionals
Class Code: 17099 Salary Grade: HC5
Approved: January 22, 2006 Last Revised: September 11, 2017

Purpose:
  Plans, directs, and coordinates design of electric utility system facilities, including generation, electric substations, overhead and underground transmission and distribution lines, network systems, protection systems, supervisory control systems (SCADA), market operation and settlement systems, street lighting, and other electric system facilities.
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. Performs complex power system analyses, such as protective coordination, fault studies, load flows, service reliability, load forecasts, power quality, voltage stability, system expansion studies, and market operations.
  2. Prepares and reviews standards, equipment specifications, design procedures, and test procedures.
  3. Develops and prepares engineering designs, drawings, circuit maps, control diagrams, charts, databases, plans, and other documents for transmission and distribution systems, generation and substation facilities, market operation and settlement systems and SCADA/EMS.
  4. Provides technical expertise in materials, design, welding, equipment standards, relay coordination, technology or other areas related to the utility industry.
  5. Formulates, prepares, and implements operating and safety procedures and guidelines, and operating manuals for system facilities including substations, transmission, distribution, and generation.
  6. Prepares necessary reports to regulatory agencies.
  7. Assists in providing technical and financial inputs for projects in electric utility budget process.
  8. Identifies, investigates, and analyzes engineering design problems, and develops corrective actions.
  9. Provides technical leadership for major or complex engineering and construction projects, and works closely with field personnel to support project energization.
  10. Assists efforts to keep up with 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 be responsible for the full range of supervisory activities including selection, training, evaluation, counseling, and recommendation for dismissal.
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 advanced mathematical techniques such as trigonometry, calculus, and coordinate geometry.
  • Knowledge of engineering standards, principles, methods, codes, practices, procedures, materials, and equipment used in the design, construction, and operation of the electric utility systems.
  • Knowledge of preparation of cost estimates and engineering and feasibility reports.
  • Knowledge of regulatory requirements within the local and state 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, plus seven (7) years of experience related to engineering.
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.