Position Summary:

This position plays a critical role in the strategic planning and optimization of electric and gas distribution systems. This position leads the development of the five-year Construction Work Plan and the 10-year load forecast, ensuring system capacity aligns with capital budgets and projected demand.

With advanced engineering expertise and strong project management skills, the Engineer designs infrastructure, conducts complex system analyses, manages capital investment planning, and ensures compliance with safety and regulatory standards. This role directly supports our mission to deliver safe, reliable, and cost-effective service through the effective planning and execution of system improvements and expansions.

The ideal candidate is a proactive problem-solver capable of preparing detailed technical analyses with minimal supervision, demonstrating both strategic vision and technical depth. 

Job Function:

Responsible for a five-year Construction Work Plan that specifies system improvements, capital budgets, and schedules that are required to meet the expected demand of the gas and electric distribution systems throughout the planning period.

• Prepares 10-year load forecast for the Construction Work Plan, ERCOT ALDR, and transmission and substation budget.
• Responsible for gas and electric infrastructure capital budgets, including new services, system improvements, relocations, and maintenance.
• Designs gas and electric facilities to be placed into the system, including sizing pipe, estimating meter and regulator capacity, calculating pressure and demand requirements for new services, and assessing district regulators.
• Determines the size and location for backbone gas and electric infrastructure using knowledge of infrastructure design and construction.
• Reviews designs new services and advises on the proper protective equipment and system configuration that is required to serve the additional load.
• Uses engineering models to perform system analyses, including system stability, fault current, contingency planning, and load and capacity forecasting.
• Prepares load analyses to comply with PUCT and ERCOT emergency protocols related to load shedding and under-frequency relaying.
• Performs engineering calculations and analysis, including load flow, pressure drop, Btu factors, system looping, meter and regulator capacities, and reinforcement studies.
• Calculates short circuit currents and performs fault current analysis to determine the size, setting, and location of protective devices.
• Advise Operations personnel during outage and power quality investigations, including equipment failures, grounding, harmonics, ferroresonance, voltage sags and swells, flicker, animal protection, tree trimming, recloser and breaker operations, etc.
• Provide technical guidance to less experienced team members.
• Responsible for balancing the load between substations to prevent equipment overload and alleviate capacity constraints.
• Performs interconnection analyses of motors, DERs, redundant services, and other sensitive loads to identify the impacts on the system. Determines necessary service improvements and coordinates with project stakeholders.
• Applies different statistical analysis techniques to various datasets.
• Produces cost estimates on various projects and monitors costs as projects proceed.
• Determines easement requirements for infrastructure and coordinates acquisition with Right Of Way Department.
• Provides technical guidance to Members and customers relating to gas and electric services, policies, procedures, and programs.
• Collaborates with other engineers, consulting engineering firms, and contractors for the design and construction of city-gate meter and regulator stations, district laterals, main and service lines, and related facility designs.
• Coordinates planned system expansions and improvements from the five-year construction work plan with project stakeholders.
• Manages system power factor to ensure compliance with ERCOT nodal protocols.
• Prepares reports related to standard reliability indices to benchmark and prioritize distribution circuits for upgrades.
• Applies knowledge of distribution system and service territory to advise Business Development teams of reasonable options for new loads.
• Coordinate system capacity allocations with customer load estimates and construction schedules from the Business Development Department.
• Advise Customer Services and Billing Departments on technical matters concerning energy usage and demand.
• Collects field data necessary to maintain system model accuracy.
• Develops and maintains a working knowledge of Texas Railroad Commission and Public Utility Commission of Texas regulations and rules, as well as local codes and ordinances.
• Develops and maintains working knowledge of industry codes, including NFPA, NESC, IEEE, and NEMA.
• Complies with established Company safety and operating rules, procedures, and guidelines, including reporting unsafe practices to a supervisor.
• Complies with established Company Information Security Handbook, policies, procedures, and guidelines, including reporting suspected information security incidents to Tech Support.
• 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.
• Ensures 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 Company's area of interest.
• Attends Smith Driving, CPR, and other Company-required training.
• Attends the Company University 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.

Experience and Education:

• Bachelor of Science from an ABET accredited university in Electrical, Civil, or Mechanical Engineering.
• 4 years of experience in the gas or electric utility industry.
• Experience using ESRI and ARC FM mapping software.
• Experience using Synergi Gas network modeling software.
• Skilled in developing and delivering oral and written presentations.
• Ability to work both independently with minimal supervision as well as in teams.
• Knowledge of Engineering Analysis software, such as Milsoft WindMil, ETAP, CYME, etc.
• Knowledgeable about CIS and MDM systems.
• Working knowledge of 16 TAC Part 1 and 49 CFR Part 192 relating to pipeline safety regulations
• Ability to work under deadlines and to solve problems effectively.
• Ability to prioritize and manage multiple tasks.
• Develop a working knowledge of the company’s service area, distribution system, and system construction.
• Develop a working knowledge of Company’s tariff policies, rules, regulations, and procedures.
• Have basic skills in the operation and functions of computers including, but not limited to, Windows applications, Excel, Word, Outlook, and Internet Explorer. 

Preferred Qualifications:

• 6 years of experience in the gas or electric utility industry.

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