Electrical Engineer / System Engineer / Senior System Engineer (POWER)

Power Up Your Career with Franklin PUD!

We're searching for a driven Electrical Engineer to join our team and take on the challenge of designing, optimizing, maintaining, and safeguarding the electric system that keeps our homes and businesses running.

This is an opportunity to apply your technical expertise to meaningful infrastructure projects that help meet the current and future power needs of our community. 

We value collaboration, technical excellence, accountability, and a commitment to safety and reliability in everything we do. If you're looking for a role where your work directly supports the systems communities depend on, we welcome your application.

Candidates will be considered for the position level and salary range appropriate to their education, experience, and ability to perform specific position related requirements.

Electrical Engineer

Implements projects to replace aging overhead and underground equipment to improve the reliability of the District’s electric system, and assists in substation, transmission, and distribution system design.  

Performs electrical system studies, planning, and the design of transmission and distribution systems to meet the needs of the District and improve operating efficiency.   

Performs electrical system planning, substation, transmission, and distribution system design, and engineering studies and standards to meet the needs of the District and improve operating efficiency.  

1. Responsible for planning and design of District substations, transmission, and distribution facilities. Identify and develop system improvement projects. Interpret scope and requirements of projects, develop alternatives, economic evaluations, evaluate environmental impacts, recommend action, and implementation.   Performs highly complex calculations and engineering analysis.

2. Manage complex engineering design and construction projects for District substation, transmission, and distribution systems. Develop and ensure compliance with project controls such as scope, budget, and schedule. 

3. Determine voltage control settings, relay settings and equipment sizing.  Review system operation to ensure adequate delivery voltage and operating ranges.  Design and implement solutions to electrical system problems.

4. Produce system studies, feeder modeling, load flow, voltage, fault current, var flow and loss analysis. Design and analyze protection settings and coordination, Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition (SCADA), Advanced Meter Infrastructure (AMI), Geographic Information System (GIS) mapping programs, grounding systems, control circuits and electrical equipment.

5. Provide engineering support for District employees and customers.  Work to solve and prevent problems related to customer interface including motor start, harmonic loads, and other power quality problems. Develop test plans and procedures to ensure correct operation of District substation equipment to ensure proper operation.  Review and recommend system design.

6. Specify equipment, engineering, and construction practices. Perform detailed engineering evaluation of events, practices, and materials. Determine electrical and mechanical requirements for equipment purchases.  Prepare specifications for bid documents. Review professional engineering statement of qualifications. Make decisions on purchasing and construction practices.

7. Participates in on-call standby rotation to assist with outage management response. Maintains knowledge of SCADA and mapping systems.

8. Professional behavior: Understand and follow District/supervisor expectations regarding professional appearance, attendance, punctuality, scheduled and unscheduled time off, and appropriate use of District time, equipment, and resources. Maintain a record of attendance and availability necessary to provide adequate support to the department.

9. In the absence of the Engineering and Operations Director may be required to oversee employees and provide training and/or mentorship of others within the department. 

10. Performs other duties as assigned. 

All employees are responsible for understanding our Mission, Vision, Values and Guiding Principles and for demonstrating them during the normal course of business through example and action - applying them whenever situations arise that cannot readily be resolved by application of department procedure or District policy. Values include: Customer Focus, Forward Focus, Integrity, Personal Responsibility, Respect and Teamwork.

Education and experience: Education requirements include a BA/BS in Electrical Engineering with a preferred emphasis in Power and a minimum of three years experience in the electrical utility engineering field. Washington State Engineer in Training (EIT) certification is preferred.  

Knowledge, skills and abilities: Understanding of engineering principles and the theory of electrical utility design and operation concepts. Use of computer software and applications such as MS Office, AutoCAD, SCADA, GIS, system analysis, and various equipment interfacing programs. Ability to learn and apply industry standards and understand the operation of an electrical system and principles such as voltage control and system protection. Ability to adapt to, learn and perform duties of a new nature. Ability to communicate effectively both verbally and in writing; ability to communicate technical subjects to customers and other employees and to deal tactfully and courteously with others. Ability to read specifications, schematics, and construction drawings and is capable of learning and interpreting District policies and practices. 

Education and experience: A bachelor’s degree in electrical engineering with an emphasis in power and five years of engineering experience. An equivalent combination of education and experience that would provide necessary knowledge, skills, and abilities to successfully perform the essential functions of the job may be substituted.

Knowledge, skills, and abilities: Thorough understanding of electric transmission, substation, and distribution systems, operating principles such as voltage control and system protection, engineering standards, construction procedures, and project management. Ability to use Microsoft Office suite, AutoCAD, SCADA, and GIS mapping programs. Ability to communicate effectively both verbally and in writing and communicate technical subjects to customers and other employees.  

Education and experience: A bachelor’s degree in electrical engineering with an emphasis in power and ten years of progressively responsible experience and responsibility with an electric utility.  An equivalent combination of education and experience that would provide necessary knowledge, skills, and abilities to successfully perform the essential functions of the job may be substituted.

Knowledge, skills, and abilities: Thorough understanding of electric transmission, substation, and distribution systems, operating principles such as voltage control and system protection, engineering standards, construction procedures, and project management.  Ability to use Microsoft Office suite, AutoCAD, SCADA, and GIS mapping programs.   Ability to communicate effectively both verbally and in writing and communicate technical subjects to customers and other employees.  Able to adapt to, learn, and perform duties of a new nature; direct District and dock crews and effectively coordinate their work. Capable of interpreting and working within collective bargaining agreements, articles of apprenticeship, and District policies and practices.

• Works indoors and sits for long periods; work outdoors in all weather conditions, crosses all terrain on foot. 
• Ability to operate office machines, including personal computer, laptop computer, keyboard, calculator, copier, camera, and telephone. 
• Ability to discern visual images on computer screen and operate a motor vehicle. 
• Ability to communicate in person, on the telephone and in virtual meetings. 
• Lifts, carries, pushes, and pulls up to 20 pounds.
• Valid WA State Driver License