Transmission and Planning Engineer - City of Farmington

JOB OPENING

CITY OF FARMINGTON

JOB POSITION #174 - Transmission and Planning Engineer

NUMBER OF VACANCIES: 1

DEPARTMENT: Electric Utility / Engineering

WORK LOCATION: MOC

HIRING RANGE: $83,652 - $130,001 / Annual

PAY GRADE: Q - Exempt

TYPE OF POSITION: Regular / Full-Time

DAYS WORKED: Monday - Friday

HOURS WORKED: 8:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.

APPLICATIONS WILL BE RECEIVED THROUGH: October 9, 2024

JOB DUTIES

The City of Farmington reserves the right to hire at either the Engineer or Senior Engineer level depending on experience and qualifications.

ESSENTIAL DUTIES

Follows established safety protocols and policies as set forth by the Utility and as required for the job at hand. Must embrace and work with a "safety first" mentality. Attendance at certain safety training will be mandatory.

Perform, lead, or facilitate power system studies and transmission planning. Oversee consultants and other subject matter experts as required. Performs office administrative work to evaluate transmission plans against NERC Reliability Standards, coordinate plans with electric utilities and governmental agencies, and validate power flow and dynamic study data.

Act as subject matter expert for a number of NERC Reliability Standards. These include but are not limited to parts or all of the latest versions of NERC Reliability Standards listed here: FAC010, FAC-013, FAC-014, IRO-017, MOD-031, MOD-032, MOD-033, and TPL-001. This list can be modified depending on various requirements and conditions of the applicability of Standards, or if new related Standards are implemented, or the needs of the Utility.

Work under the general supervision of the Engineering Manager.

Create and maintain system models for power flow and dynamic power flow. Coordinate the modeling data with the system projection models, interconnected neighbor utilities, high voltage customers, regional entities, and internal departments. Use load flow software and archived SCADA and meter data to perform load flow studies, and electric system long range planning studies. Research electric system load growth patterns, determine if adequate facilities exist for new system loads, and establish load projection guidelines for capital project development.

Identify the need for major capital additions and project requirements to maintain and enhance integrity of the electric transmission system. Create capital budget items as identified for the six year running Capital Improvement Program and see to their implementation.

Use load flow reports as described above, power flow analyses and other resources to assist Distribution Engineer in the planning, preparation, and recommendation of the expansion and modification of the Electric Utility's main distribution system as may be necessary.

Study interconnections proposed by third parties to determine how the FEUS system can be improved by interfacing with proposed third-party projects.

Work independently and apply engineering training and judgment under general direction and supervision of the Electrical Engineering Manager.

Coordinate data acquisition and report dissemination with GIS Drafting Department, Operations, Line Department, Engineering, Customer Service, and the Public in general. These reports may be utilized in studies, kept for archive, used as evidence, or be provided as data for NERC/WECC/Compliance data requests.

Must be very well versed in the use of PowerWorld Simulator or Siemens PSS/E or GE Vernova PSLF software suites. Must be familiar with Microsoft Office suite, email and internet search. Familiarity with other software including OSIsoft PI Vision, PLS CAD, MATLAB and Google Workspace is desirable.

Provides engineering assistance in restoring service to the Electric System following protective equipment failure/malfunction or unplanned transmission system outages.

Serve as a backup to the EMS/SCADA Engineer in performing contingency analysis studies and developing operating plans for outages in the operations horizon.

The above represents the scope and range of duties. Not all duties will be assigned nor is this an inclusive itemization of duties.

Attendance is an essential function of this position.

NON-ESSENTIAL DUTIES

Performs such other duties as assigned by Electrical Engineering Manager, or as may be requested by Engineering and T&D staff, including calculations and designs for distribution system substations, system protection, transmission and capital improvements.

Gain an understanding of system protection and GIS, its purpose, application and function at FEUS.

May serve on various employee committees, as required and assigned.

Keep assigned vehicle clean and maintained.

The duties listed above are intended only as illustrations of the various types of work that may be performed. The omission of specific statements of duties does not exclude them from the position if the work is similar, related or a logical assignment to the position.

QUALIFICATIONS

This position is subject to the City of Farmington's Drug and Alcohol-Free Workplace Policy.

Senior System Planning Engineer: Graduate from an accredited university with a minimum bachelor's degree in electrical engineering, mathematics, physics or similar. Senior engineer position shall require registration as a professional engineer in the state of New Mexico and a minimum of five years previous experience within an electrical utility or similar setting two years of which were system planning or another related department. Additional years of experience and/or education may be considered in lieu of professional registration.

System Planning Engineer: Graduate from an accredited university with a bachelor's degree in electrical engineering, mathematics, physics, or similar. Three years previous experience within an electrical utility or similar setting, two years of which were in system planning.

Specialized experience in electrical transmission, substation, and distribution planning, or some combination thereof.

Ability to work under stress and handle stressful situations.

Ability to meet deadlines.

Demonstrate ability to communicate with others through oral and written media.

Must possess the ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with coworkers, supervisors, outside entities and the public.

Be willing to accept assignments in all phases of Electric Utility operation for the purpose of developing a well-rounded understanding of the Farmington Electric Utility System.

Ability to follow verbal and/or written instructions and direction of supervisors.

Valid driver's license required with acceptable driving record for past three years.

Establish and maintain positive contact with the public.

Ability to do limited traveling. Approximately 5 to 10% of time may be spent out of town.

Extensive background check required.

TOOLS AND EQUIPMENT USED

Candidate must be very well versed in electrical utility system transmission and generation modeling using PowerWorld Simulator or Siemens PSS/E or GE Vernova PSLF. Be familiar with Microsoft Office, Google Workspace and office equipment including, printers, scanners, wide-format plotter/scanners, telephones, smart phones, radios, and city vehicles.

Understand the importance and application of mapping and graphical information systems (GIS) facilities database (Futura).

PHYSICAL DEMANDS

The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of the job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

While performing the duties of this job, the employee is frequently required to walk and occasionally will be required to walk over rough, undeveloped, heavy brush, and rocky ground.

The employee is frequently required to stand; use hands to finger, handle, feel or operate objects, tools, or controls; and reach with hands and arms. The employee is frequently required to sit, talk or hear; and occasionally required to stoop, kneel, crouch or crawl.

The employee must occasionally lift and or move up to 50 pounds. Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, distance vision, color vision, peripheral vision, depth perception, and the ability to adjust focus. Employee will be viewing computer screen for several hours at a time.

WORK ENVIRONMENT

The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

Work is performed inside/outside in all types of weather conditions.

While performing the duties of this job, the employee occasionally works in outside weather conditions. The employee is occasionally exposed to wet and/or humid conditions.

The noise level in the work environment is moderate to loud while in the field and quiet in the office.

WE ARE AN EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER, M/F/D/V