Utility Grid Analyst (Smart Device Processes) (New Orleans, Louisiana, United States) - Entergy

Posting End Date:  

Work Place Flexibility: Onsite 

Legal Entity: Entergy Services, LLC 

This role is considered an onsite position and may be filled as an Advanced Grid Ops Analyst I or II depending on the qualification level of the applicant.

Job Summary/Purpose

The Advanced Grid Operations Analyst (AGOA) is responsible for monitoring advanced grid equipment and ensuring secure connectivity, configuration and device performance.  Examples of advanced grid devices include advanced meters, smart streetlights, intelligent electronic devices (IEDs) such as recloser or capacitor bank controls, and integrated distributed energy resources (DERs) such as batteries or utility-controlled customer loads like smart thermostats.  AGOAs will monitor and analyze event and alarm data and provide the first tier response from a control center environment.  Working closely with network and data integrity analysts, Advanced Grid Ops Analysts will determine if any issues with device performance are local to a specific device or due to broader problems with telecom networks or IT systems.  Incident tickets will be routed to the appropriate group to resolve—i.e. telecom field resources, OpCo servicemen, IT support, etc.  AGOAs are also responsible for planning and implementing configuration changes to devices over the network—typically for a large population of devices.  Configuration changes can include device firmware, programming, or settings changes.

For example, Advanced Grid Ops Analysts will be supporting resources in the AMI Operations Center (also known as “AMOC”) responsible for day-to-day monitoring and maintenance of revenue meter reliability in an AMI operational environment. During both deployment and steady-state, individuals in this role will ensure that meter reads are consistently communicated between the devices (meters) and the head-end system, and that any issues or incidents preventing communication or data are triaged and addressed in a timely manner.

The Advance Grid Ops Analyst will manage connected-grid devices and the software platforms that are integrated with them. Tasks include:

• Daily analysis of device events and alarms in order to identify trends and address the most critical issues requiring resolution
• Implementation of processes and procedures to ensure that devices are operating and communicating data securely
• Remote device analysis and incident response coordination
• Responsibility for decision to deploy field resources to replace inoperable equipment and determination of appropriate resources and prioritization
• Device service management and device configuration management—including developing implementation plans for deployment of programs or firmware to a high volume of devices
• Significant collaboration with telecom and IT operations resources to coordinate incident response—i.e. “is it the network, the system or the device?”
• Utilization of analytics and data computation tools in order to perform high volume service and event management—i.e. Spotfire, Tableau, Cognos, Excel, Informatica, etc.

Job Duties/ Responsibilities

• Support the resolution of incident and problem management between operations center (i.e. AMOC) and field services teams, monitor field service requests and give direction on troubleshooting-related work orders.
• Assist in the analysis of device communication routes and reliability; troubleshoot unreachable devices and issue device configuration files remotely.
• Monitor device management systems—i.e. AMI head-end system—for events and alarms, triage actionable activities.
• Conduct investigation of relevant device events and alarms, ensure that device-related incidents are resolved in a timely and consistent manner; provide technical support after-hours or on holidays if required.
• Capture incident and problem management learnings as knowledge management use cases for training and archival purposes.
• Adhere to standard Service Management (problem, incident, and knowledge management) processes.
• Develop and implement plans for changing device configuration across a large volume of devices—i.e. 1 million meters.  Manage risks, issues, and schedule during the execution of device change control activities.
• Leverage data analytics to develop and optimize reports and dashboards for executing newly created or modified procedures.
• Test new process, procedure and technology releases to ensure seamless business operations during the execution of initiatives that impact the steady-state—i.e. major projects, software releases, vendor product upgrades, etc.  Participate in change management planning and execution activities in support of these initiatives.
• Collaborate with peers in data integrity, network, IT and lab engineering roles to develop solutions and execution plans for complex issues—i.e. security threat diagnosis, network performance optimization, persistent problems with a device platform, etc.
• Track device events and alarms over pre-determined time frames to identify trends, conduct complex modeling, forecasting, and variance analysis to identify operational efficiencies.
• Develop relevant operational reports to demonstrate trends in device and network events and incidents and assist in the proactive identification and resolution of incidents, with the goal of maintaining reliable device—i.e. advanced meter—communication at all times.

Minimum Requirements

Minimum education required of the position

• Bachelor's Degree in a technical or business related field required or equivalent work experience.
  • Desired: Master's Degree. Bachelor’s degree in business, database management, management information systems preferred.

Minimum experience required of the position

• Advanced Grid Ops Analyst I - 0-2 years of professional experience
• Advanced Grid Ops Analyst II - 2-4 years of professional experience
  • Professional experience in a control/operations envrionment preferred—i.e. telecom, energy or utilities operations

Minimum knowledge, skills and abilities required of the position

• Analytical skill set with advanced knowledge of Microsoft Office: Word, Excel, and PowerPoint.
• General knowledge of database-related concepts and internet-of-things (IoT) concepts.
• Competency performing data entry and system monitoring.
• Ability to trouble-shoot and solve problems by analyzing data from multiple sources and timelines.
• Ability to handle potentially sensitive customer and operational information and interact with data that impacts customer bills.
• Ability to develop reports and dashboards using enterprise analytics tools.
• Ability to develop new processes and procedures to optimize performance and adapt to changing business expectations.

Any certificates, licenses, etc. required for the position

• ITIL Certification Preferred

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Primary Location: Louisiana-New Orleans Louisiana : New Orleans 
Job Function: Professional
FLSA Status: Professional 
Relocation Option: No Relocation Offered
Union description/code: NON BARGAINING UNIT 
Number of Openings: 2
Req ID: 116568
Travel Percentage:Up to 25%

An Equal Opportunity Employer, Minority/Female/Disability/Vets. Please click here to view the EEI page, or see statements below.

EEO Statement: The Entergy System of Companies provides equal employment opportunities (EEO) to all employees and applicants for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, national origin, age, disability, genetic information, marital status, amnesty, or status as a protected veteran in accordance with applicable federal, state and local laws. The Entergy System of Companies complies with applicable state and local laws governing non-discrimination in employment in every location in which the company has facilities. This policy applies to all terms and conditions of employment including, but not limited to, recruiting, hiring, placement, promotion, termination, layoff, recall, transfer, leaves of absence, compensation, and training. 

The Entergy System of Companies expressly prohibits any form of unlawful employee harassment based on race, color, religion, sex, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, national origin, age, genetic information, disability, or veteran status. Improper interference with the ability of the Entergy System of Company employees to perform their expected job duties is absolutely not tolerated.

Accessibility: Entergy provides reasonable accommodations for online applicants. Requests for a reasonable accommodation may be made orally or in writing by an applicant, employee, or third party on his or her behalf. If you are an individual with a disability and you are in need of an accommodation for the recruiting process please click here and provide your name, contact number, the accommodation requested and the requisition number that you are requesting the accommodation for. Employee Services will contact you regarding your request.

Additional Responsibilities: As a provider of essential services, Entergy expects its employees to be available to work additional hours, to work in alternate locations, and/or to perform additional duties in connection with storms, outages, emergencies, or other situations as deemed necessary by the company. Exempt employees may not be paid overtime associated with such duties.

Entergy Pay Transparency Policy Statement: The Entergy System of Companies (the Company) will not discharge or in any other manner discriminate against employees or applicants because they have inquired about, discussed, or disclosed their own pay or the pay of another employee or applicant. However, employees who have access to the compensation information of other employees or applicants as a part of their essential job functions cannot disclose the pay of other employees or applicants to individuals who do not otherwise have access to compensation information, unless the disclosure is (a) in response to a formal complaint or charge, (b) in furtherance of an investigation, proceeding, hearing, or action, including an investigation conducted by the employer, or (c) consistent with the Company’s legal duty to furnish information.  41 CFR 60-1.35(c). Equal Opportunity and Pay Transparency.

Pay Transparency Notice:

Pay Transparency Nondiscrimination Provision (dol.gov)

The non-confidential portions of the affirmative action program for individuals with disabilities and protected veterans shall be available for inspection upon request by any employee or applicant for employment.  Please contact HRCompliance@entergy.com to schedule a time to review the affirmative action plan during regular office hours.

WORKING CONDITIONS:
As a provider of essential services, Entergy expects its employees to be available to work additional hours, to work in alternate locations, and/or to perform additional duties in connection with storms, outages, emergencies, or other situations as deemed necessary by the company. Exempt employees may not be paid overtime associated with such duties.

Please note: Authorization to work in the United States is a precondition to employment in this position. Entergy will not sponsor candidates for work visas for this position.