Development engineer h1.location_city

Position Summary
The Principal Engineer is an established subject matter expert in utility engineering and provides technical oversight and leadership for the Engineering Department, using broad expertise and extensive experience. This role drives complex solutions that align with CoServ's strategy and may direct the activities of others. The position is responsible for developing standards through technical research, mentoring the team about problem-solving methodologies, and establishing excellence in all engineering practices. The Principal Engineer exercises independent judgment in methods, techniques, and evaluation criteria to obtain results without oversight and is accountable for results that may impact the entire organization.

Responsibilities
Primary Position Responsibilities

• Responsible for implementing processes and devices to comply with ERCOT emergency protocols, such as load shed and under-frequency, and to comply with other ERCOT protocols.
• Provides testimonial support as needed by the organization on technical and regulatory matters.
• Maintains comprehensive knowledge of NESC, NFPA, RUS, ANSI, IEEE, and OSHA regulations and ensures compliance in all projects.
• Develops engineering standards through research of regulations, laws, and industry codes and is responsible for implementation within the organization.
• Maintains a thorough knowledge of equipment and device specifications and construction practices used within the electric distribution system.
• Exercises full autonomy in material selection for projects, considering cost, quality, and project requirements.
• Lead complex engineering projects throughout the project lifecycle, including budgeting, design, material selection, procurement, risk management, and construction.
• Oversees contingency solutions, which includes preparation of power system grid modeling on engineering software to assess potential system overloads to the electric grid.
• Provides technical guidance for power quality investigations, including power outages, equipment failures, insufficient grounding, harmonics, ferroresonance, voltage sags and swells, flicker, animal protection, tree trimming, recloser and breaker trips, etc.
• Performs forensic studies on failed equipment and executes corrective solutions without supervision.
• Performs loading, voltage, and motor analysis of potential future large or sensitive loads, routing of onsite facilities, and direction and options of feeds. This can include recommending two-way feed systems.
• Recommends permanent mainline changes of feed (switching) when needed.
• Attends industry conferences and trainings to stay abreast of the latest developments related to gas and electric distribution safety, efficiency, and reliability.
• Assists in training new engineering department personnel in planning and designing electric power facilities.
• Identifies electrical facilities to be placed into the system, including sizing wire, calculating transformer capacity, sizes and classes of poles, computing voltage levels, assessing capacitor placement and size, regulator placement, vaults, switchgears, and duct banks.
• Oversees preparation of five-year Construction Work Plan that identifies system improvements, budget, and schedule that are required to meet the expected demand of the gas and electric distribution systems throughout the planning period.
• Provides technical guidance for various system studies such as saturation studies, substation justification studies, coordination studies, long range studies, power factor studies, switching studies, and voltage studies.
• Advises senior management on long-term engineering strategies and goals.
• Oversees preparation of 10-year load forecast for Construction Work Plan, ERCOT ALDR, and transmission and substation budget.
• Complies with established CoServ safety and operating rules, procedures and guidelines including reporting unsafe practices to a supervisor.
• Complies with established CoServ Information Security Handbook, policies, procedures, and guidelines including reporting suspected information security incidents to Tech Support.

Secondary Position Responsibilities

• Evaluate emerging technologies and industry trends to identify opportunities for innovation and competitive advantages.
• Maintains department standards on a consistent basis.
• Creates and maintains databases within Engineering & GIS software.
• Attends power distribution conferences and other meetings to stay abreast of the latest developments in the transmission and distribution of electricity.
• Mentors new engineering staff employees.
• Assists coworkers in Engineering Department.
• Demonstrates self-motivation, ownership of job responsibilities, and being pro-active in seeking solutions for the department.
• Attends Engineering meetings and other duties as assigned by the Director of Engineering.
• Performs other duties and activities as directed.

Position Requirements
Education, Experience, and Certifications Required

• High School Diploma or G.E.D equivalency.
• Bachelor of Science from an ABET accredited university in Electrical, Civil, or Mechanical Engineering
• Professional Engineer License
• 15 years’ experience in electric utility power distribution.

Education, Experience, and Certifications Preferred

• Engineering related continuing education credits.
• 20 years’ experience in electric utility power distribution.
• Master of Science in Engineering

Skills and Abilities Required

• Develops and maintains a thorough knowledge and recognition of construction units, specifications, requirements, and construction practices.
• Develops and maintains a thorough knowledge of the equipment specifications for gas and electric infrastructure.
• Strives for excellence and process improvement on a consistent basis.
• Assists Designers, Staking Techs, and Project Managers with knowledge and understanding of infrastructure design and construction.
• Attends industry conferences and trainings to stay abreast of the latest developments related to gas and electric distribution safety, efficiency, and reliability.
• Reviews designs, construction records, and inspection reports for accuracy.
• Attends regularly scheduled safety meetings and completes monthly online topics.
• Attends professional development conferences, webinars and workshops as directed.
• Communicates with team members, project stakeholders, Members, and customers in a timely and professional manner.
• Attends Business Development and/or Developer appointments as required.
• Assures that all safety precautions, procedures, and rules are followed.
• Maintains accurate and detailed work records that can be easily referenced.
• Maintains company provided tools and equipment in proper working condition.
• Operates company vehicles in a safe manner.
• Stays informed concerning all development activities within the CoServ Gas area of interest.
• Attends Smith Driving, CPR, and other CoServ required training.
• Attends CoServ Academy required training.
• Ability to travel, when necessary for business and training.
• Ability to work flexible or extended hours as needed or directed.
• Performs other duties and activities as directed.

Skills and Abilities Preferred

• Understanding of an electric distribution system; and a general knowledge of the equipment needed to build, maintain, and distribute power through that system.
• Ability to perform load growth analysis and provide a system forecast.
• Ability to provide solutions to various system issues such as low voltage, overloads, improving power factor, and improving coordination of protective devices.
• Ability to use Milsoft, or other engineering analysis software tools, to perform trend analysis, mapping, curve plotting, and various power system studies.

Physical Requirements

• Works both in the office and outdoors.
• Ability to lift a minimum of 25 pounds.
• Drives company vehicle as needed.
• Operates office equipment such as a computer, telephone, fax machine, copier, etc.
• Ability to sit for long periods of time.
• Works in potentially hazardous conditions caused by pets and wildlife in or near the work site.
• Works in areas with possible exposure to poison oak, poison ivy, and insect stings.

Other Requirements

• Must have and maintain a valid Texas driver's license

Work Authorization Requirement

Applicants must be currently authorized to work in the United States on a full-time basis. CoServ does not sponsor employment visas at this time. Individuals working under OPT or STEM OPT must be able to maintain their work status independently, as CoServ does not complete Form I-983 or participate in the OPT extension process.

Equal Opportunity Employer/Protected Veterans/Individuals with Disabilities

This employer is required to notify all applicants of their rights pursuant to federal employment laws.
For further information, please review the Know Your Rights notice from the Department of Labor.