Principal Relay Protection Test Engineer

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.

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.

Summary:

System Protection provides engineering for the design and operation of protective relays and their logic schemes for transmission, distribution, and generation systems to detect abnormal power system conditions and initiates corrective action to return the power system to its normal state. Protection engineering deals with protecting the electrical power system from faults through the isolation of faulted parts from the rest of the electrical network.

As a Protection Testing Engineer, you will provide test and energization support for field technicians during implementation and operation of protective relays for transmission, distribution, and generation systems. Additional job duties may include providing engineering of system protection and protection maintenance/operation support including, but not limited to developing protection requirements, creating relay settings, performing fault studies, analyzing system events.

Key Job Information

Principal Protection Testing Engineer 6385

Grade 8
Career Level: P4

Specialist Professional

• Requires specialized depth and/or breadth of expertise Interprets internal or external business issues and recommends best practices
• Solves complex problems; takes a broad perspective to identify innovative solutions Works independently, with guidance in only the most complex situations
• May lead functional teams or projects

Key Responsibilities

Engineering Standards Maintains currency in state-of-the-art engineering practices and discerns the need for and provides guidance and direction to colleagues on engineering processes and standards. Ensures QA activities are well documented. Identifies and implements improvements and ensures proper document control to meet NERC reliability audit requirements. Leads development of control and protection design standards and criteria; gathers data and provides documentation review to establish PGE compliance with WECC and FERC protection criteria.

Engineering Standards: Testing Sub-Function Ensures QA activities are well documented. Identifies and implements improvements and ensures proper document control to meet NERC reliability audit requirements. Leads development of control and protection design standards and criteria; gathers data and provides documentation review to establish PGE compliance with WECC and FERC protection criteria; maintains a high level of engineering proficiency within the field of specialization and up-to-date technical knowledge of all current techniques, applicable codes, and regulations.

Engineering Production Reviews work performed by other engineers; performs operational assessments of system disturbances, including Root Cause Analysis and communication with affected customers. Develops a vision for control and protection systems of the future, supporting continuous improvement of systems and processes; drives for continuous improvement in T&E activities by improvement of systems and processes.

Leads the development of testing plans for large and complex protection and control systems which identify physical safety barriers, electronic safety barriers, interconnected control systems to be tested, and best testing practices to reduce system risk. Ensures control systems efficiently check schemes by eliminating duplications while ensuring compliance to WECC standards. Leads development of postconstruction QA checklist, and recommends overall process improvements; provides support to operations personnel for switching and load restoration activities.

Project Coordination Actively coordinates with other internal/external team members on complex projects, representing the team to internal and external stakeholders (i.e., regulatory, technical society, etc.). Coordinates more complex projects with outside entities including PGE System Control Center, other interconnected utilities, major customers through key customer managers and other PGE departments; partners with construction engineers to develop high level sequenced construction plan on complex projects with major shutdown requirements including switching and energization plans. As a recognized authority, provides engineering expertise and broad support to construction crews on complex design and construction issues (e.g., constructability reviews, design philosophy, design additions or changes during construction, equipment integration). Supports overall project management (construction engineer and crews) with scope changes.

Knowledge Sharing Actively advances knowledge management of the enterprise and provides mentoring; participates in professional societies and technical committees and may assist with code/standard authoring; is externally recognized in the industry as a technical expert; reviews engineering work; resolves resource conflicts and identifies training needs. Identifies training and testing requirements for new and complex control systems; leads efforts to deliver technical training to substation wiremen and technicians and supports Meter/Relay/SCADA technicians with highly complex or nonstandard design issues and changing technologies.

Education/Experience/Certifications

• Education Requires a bachelor's degree in engineering. Electrical Engineering degree preferred. ABET accredited engineering program or program accredited by an equivalent agency preferred.
• Experience Typically eight or more years in related field.
• Certifications, Licenses and Training Professional Engineering (PE) license strongly preferred; may be required based upon role.

Competencies (Knowledge, Skills, Abilities)

Functional Competencies

• Expert knowledge of engineering and economic principles and concepts.
• Advanced knowledge of other engineering disciplines and advanced ability to interpret engineering deliverable content as assigned.
• Expert understanding and application of engineering processes and procedures; intermediate knowledge of other related departments and functions.
• Advanced industry knowledge and technology trends.
• Advanced knowledge of company QA/QC process and procedures.
• Working knowledge of procurement and contract administration.
• Working knowledge of process, procedures for project controls and estimates.
• Expert knowledge of electrical utility infrastructure construction and testing practices.

General Competencies

• Advanced accuracy skills.
• Advanced knowledge of the utility industry.
• Advanced organization and prioritization skills.
• Advanced decision-making skills.
• Advanced problem-solving skills.
• Advanced written and oral communication skills.
• Advanced presentation skills.

PHYSICAL, COGNITIVE DEMANDS AND SCHEDULE/ATTENDANCE

Physical

• Does the job require a valid driver's license? - Yes
• 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 (check appropriate weight): Up to 10 lb
• Carrying (check appropriate weight): Up to 10 lb
• 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)

Cognitive Demands

• Ability to adhere to set response times, deadlines and time-sensitive tasks
• Ability to follow accuracy standards
• Ability to follow through on decision-making tasks
• Ability to interact effectively and collaboratively within a team environment
• Ability to communicate and problem solve when under stress
• Ability to respond and adapt to frequent change
• Ability to accept and demonstrate self-awareness when provided constructive feedback
• Ability to discern feedback and acknowledge ownership of areas of improvement
• Ability to avoid future mistakes by applying reasonable skills to new but similar work situations or tasks
• Ability to successfully collaborate with peers, managers and others within the organization
• Demonstrates sound memory
• Ability to process new information to be applied consistently to work tasks

Schedule/Attendance

• Ability to adhere to pre-established schedule, including start/stop time and break/lunch schedule [typically for nonexempt positions, although some exempt positions may have an established start/stop time]
• Ability to work long hours
• Ability to work a variable schedule
• Ability to report to work and perform work during periods of severe inclement weather
• Ability to consistently meet attendance standards for regular, reliable, predictable, full-time attendance
• Ability to work shift schedule
• Ability to work on-call schedule

Environment

• Office environment
• Plant environment
• Field environment

#LI-SB1, #LI-Hybrid, #LI-Onsite

Compensation Range:

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.

Join us today and power your potential!

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PGE is an equal opportunity employer and is committed to fostering a workplace where employees feel connected, valued, and empowered to thrive. 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 Recruiter associated with the job posting. You may also make this request by contacting talentacquisition@pgn.comor by calling 503-464-7250. The Recruiter will provide information and next steps for the accommodation process.

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.