Electrical Engineer

Summary

Onward Energy is an independent power platform that owns and operates over 7 GW of utility-scale wind, solar and natural gas generation projects across the U.S. The Electrical Engineer will provide operations engineering support across the company’s entire fleet of generating assets, focusing on system protection, electrical safety, and regulatory compliance.

Responsibilities

• Reviews plant trip events using relay records, COMTRADE files, and plant reports to diagnose the cause of the issue and recommends actions to restore availability
• Provides real-time, interactive technical support to sites during events, including fault location and protective relaying recommendations
• Determines root causes of electrical events and recommends longer-term corrective actions to prevent recurrence
• Provides on-site support during outages, overseeing contractors performing electrical work and helping resolve issues in real time
• Performs relay settings optimization and develops relay setting recommendations. Reviews and approves settings developed by third-parties
• Develops relay upgrade designs and reviews third-party protection and control designs
• Performs power system studies (short circuit, load flow, coordination) using ETAP
• Performs arc flash hazard analysis and supports arc flash and other electrical hazard mitigation across the fleet
• Optimizes protection and coordination to reduce arc flash incident energy where practical
• Reviews switching, isolation, and lockout/tagout (LOTO) procedures
• Supports sites and the safety department with electrical hazard identification and mitigation
• Performs contingency planning for critical assets such as main power transformers and high-voltage breakers
• Assists in developing substation and electrical distribution maintenance scopes
• Reviews maintenance and test results and provides recommendations
• Assists with troubleshooting electrical issues affecting day-to-day operations, such as transformer alarms, relay alarms, and breaker issues
• Performs NERC PRC-019, PRC-024, PRC-025, and PRC-027 studies, and assesses PRC-002 and PRC-028 compliance
• Reviews power system events for mis operations and unexpected changes in output under NERC PRC-004 and PRC-030
• Performs MOD-025 testing and oversees contractors performing MOD-026 and MOD-027 testing
• Performs FAC-008 studies and develops the PRC-005 Protection System Maintenance Plan, including identifying plant equipment covered under PRC-005
• Reviews MOD-032 data prior to submittal
• Assists with responses to stakeholder and regulatory RFIs, periodic data submittals, self-certifications, and audits, and prepares technical reports and evidence packages
• Provides operations engineering input on development and M&A activities, including technical review of electrical systems and identification of operational and reliability considerations for prospective and new assets
• Develops and applies broad knowledge across all of the group’s technical domains, learning and performing studies as workload requires
• Supports the development and improvement of group processes, procedures, and tools
• Provides plant support when events occur
• Other duties as assigned

Skills

• Bachelor's degree in Electrical Engineering
• Minimum of four (4) years of related experience in power generation, transmission, and/or distribution
• Working knowledge across multiple electrical engineering domains, including system protection, arc flash and electrical safety, maintenance and reliability, and NERC compliance
• Experience executing power system studies (short circuit, load flow, coordination, arc flash) using ETAP, SKM Power Tools, EasyPower, or similar modeling software
• Knowledge of protective relaying, including settings development and review, and familiarity with relay configuration and event record analysis
• Strong working knowledge of NERC reliability standards relevant to generation, including the PRC, MOD, and FAC families of standards
• Experience supporting NERC audits, self-certifications, RFIs, and periodic data submittals
• Extensive knowledge of major power plant electrical equipment, controls, and protection systems, along with root cause and risk analysis
• Demonstrated ability to troubleshoot and lead root cause analysis of technical issues
• Strong analytical and critical thinking skills
• Exceptional verbal and written communication and presentation skills
• Self-starter able to make decisions and take action without specific direction
• Effective time management and organizational skills, with strong attention to detail and the ability to manage multiple concurrent priorities
• Ability to work well independently and as part of a cross-functional team
• Valid U.S. driver's license with acceptable MVR history
• A PE license is preferred; in lieu of a PE license, a minimum of five (5) years of experience as a practicing engineer is required
• Utility-scale and renewable generation experience preferred

Qualifications

Must Haves

• Bachelor's degree in Electrical Engineering
• Minimum of four (4) years of related experience in power generation, transmission, and/or distribution
• Working knowledge across multiple electrical engineering domains, including system protection, arc flash and electrical safety, maintenance and reliability, and NERC compliance
• Experience executing power system studies (short circuit, load flow, coordination, arc flash) using ETAP, SKM Power Tools, EasyPower, or similar modeling software
• Knowledge of protective relaying, including settings development and review, and familiarity with relay configuration and event record analysis
• Strong working knowledge of NERC reliability standards relevant to generation, including the PRC, MOD, and FAC families of standards
• Experience supporting NERC audits, self-certifications, RFIs, and periodic data submittals
• Extensive knowledge of major power plant electrical equipment, controls, and protection systems, along with root cause and risk analysis
• Demonstrated ability to troubleshoot and lead root cause analysis of technical issues
• Strong analytical and critical thinking skills
• Exceptional verbal and written communication and presentation skills
• Self-starter able to make decisions and take action without specific direction
• Effective time management and organizational skills, with strong attention to detail and the ability to manage multiple concurrent priorities
• Ability to work well independently and as part of a cross-functional team
• Valid U.S. driver's license with acceptable MVR history

Nice to Haves

• A PE license is preferred; in lieu of a PE license, a minimum of five (5) years of experience as a practicing engineer is required
• Utility-scale and renewable generation experience preferred

Benefits

• Market-competitive compensation
• Health, life insurance, and retirement savings benefits