Electrical Reliability Engineer

Electrical Reliability EngineerThe successful candidate will join the Maintenance Operations team to support the Center Maintenance, Operations, and Engineering Contract (CMOE) located at NASA Langley Research Center. This position reports directly to the Maintenance and Reliability Engineer Manager. All work will be completed with a high level of quality, professionalism and full adherence to all safety policies and procedures.This position has been posted at multiple levels. Depending on the candidate's experience, requirements, and business needs, we reserve the right to consider candidates at any level for which this position has been advertised.Seeking an Electrical Reliability Engineer to support the safe, reliable, and efficient operation of electrical power systems across the Center. This position will serve as a senior technical resource for maintenance and operations personnel, with particular emphasis on advanced troubleshooting of medium- and high-voltage electrical distribution systems, substations, switchgear, transformers, protective devices, and associated equipment.This is primarily a technical support, engineering, and reliability-focused position and is not intended to perform routine hands-on maintenance activities. The engineer will serve as a point of contact for electricians, technicians, and other craftsmen when complex electrical issues require additional troubleshooting, engineering analysis, or technical direction.A significant portion of the position will also support the continued development and improvement of the Center's Reliability-Centered Maintenance (RCM) program, including evaluation of maintenance strategies, equipment failure history, asset criticality, preventive maintenance requirements, and opportunities for condition-based and predictive maintenance.Responsibilities: Serve as a technical escalation point for electricians, technicians, and maintenance personnel troubleshooting complex electrical system and equipment issues.Provide advanced troubleshooting and engineering support for medium- and high-voltage electrical distribution systems, including substations, transformers, switchgear, circuit breakers, protective relays, motor control equipment, grounding systems, and associated controls.Assist maintenance personnel during complex, abnormal, or emergent equipment conditions by reviewing system information, test results, drawings, operating history, and equipment performance to help identify probable causes and recommended corrective actions.Provide technical guidance to craftsmen while allowing maintenance personnel to remain responsible for execution of hands-on repair and maintenance activities.Analyze electrical equipment failures, recurring deficiencies, and system performance issues and lead or support Root Cause Analysis (RCA) efforts to identify corrective and preventive actions.Evaluate existing electrical maintenance practices and identify opportunities to improve equipment reliability, maintainability, safety, and system availability.Support development and continuous improvement of the Reliability-Centered Maintenance (RCM) program for electrical and facility assets.Review equipment operating history, failure data, criticality, maintenance history, and manufacturer recommendations to determine appropriate maintenance strategies.Assist in determining whether assets are best supported through preventive maintenance, predictive/condition-based maintenance, failure-finding activities, redesign, or run-to-failure strategies where appropriate.Develop, review, and improve preventive and predictive maintenance requirements for electrical assets, including substations, transformers, switchgear, breakers, motors, drives, controls, and related equipment.Review existing electrical PM tasks and job plans to identify unnecessary maintenance, missing requirements, inappropriate frequencies, or opportunities to transition calendar-based maintenance to condition- or performance-based strategies.Develop and improve electrical job plans, troubleshooting guidance, maintenance procedures, and technical documentation used by maintenance personnel.Identify electrical equipment reliability risks, single points of failure, capacity concerns, lifecycle issues, and obsolescence risks and provide recommendations for mitigation.Provide engineering recommendations supporting equipment repair, refurbishment, replacement, modernization, and capital improvement projects.Support technical review of electrical system modifications and upgrades to ensure maintainability, reliability, and operational requirements are considered during design and implementation.Support commissioning, acceptance testing, and turnover of new or modified electrical systems and verify equipment meets intended design and operational requirements.Review electrical drawings, one-line diagrams, equipment documentation, test reports, maintenance history, and system data to support troubleshooting and reliability analysis.Collaborate with electrical craftsmen, maintenance supervision, operations personnel, mechanical engineers, reliability personnel, and other engineering disciplines to resolve equipment issues and improve overall system performance.Support development and improvement of asset criticality, failure modes, maintenance strategies, and other elements of the Center's asset management and reliability programs.Ensure engineering recommendations comply with applicable electrical codes, industry standards, site requirements, and electrical safety practices.Qualifications: U.S. Citizenship required. Must be able to obtain and maintain a security clearance. BS degree in Electrical Engineering or in appropriate discipline and four (4) to five (5) years related engineering experience, or MS degree and two (2) to four (4) years of related engineering experience, or Ph.D. and zero (0) to one (1) year of experience from an accredited engineering school and a working knowledge of maintenance and reliability requirements for mechanical systems. Excellent written and verbal communication skills and experience in Microsoft Office applications required.Functional Skills:Ability to troubleshoot and identify failure cause for Mechanical SystemsFailure analysis including preservation of evidence techniquesRoot Cause Failure Analysis (RCFA) and Failure Mode and Effect Analysis (FMEA)Engineering design standards and their applicationReliability Engineers are encouraged to get CMRP certified (Certified Maintenance and Reliability Professional)Strong experience troubleshooting and evaluating medium- and/or high-voltage electrical distribution systems and substations.Experience with equipment such as:Medium- and high-voltage switchgearPower transformersCircuit breakersProtective relays and protection schemesMotor control centersVariable frequency drivesLarge motorsGrounding systemsElectrical distribution and control systemsAbility to interpret electrical one-line diagrams, schematics, wiring diagrams, protection documentation, test reports, and equipment technical data.Experience diagnosing complex electrical failures and providing technical guidance to electricians or other skilled trades personnel.Knowledge of electrical testing and diagnostic methods used to evaluate the condition and performance of electrical distribution equipment.Experience performing or supporting Root Cause Analysis, failure investigations, or equipment reliability improvement initiatives.Understanding of preventive, predictive, and condition-based maintenance principles.Ability to communicate complex electrical problems and recommended solutions clearly to engineers, supervisors, technicians, and craftsmen.Prefer:Experience supporting electrical systems in a large industrial, utility, government, institutional, or research facility environment.Experience with Reliability-Centered Maintenance (RCM), Failure Modes and Effects Analysis (FMEA), Root Cause Analysis (RCA), or similar reliability methodologies.Familiarity with predictive and condition-monitoring technologies used for electrical equipment.Experience developing or optimizing preventive maintenance programs for electrical distribution equipment.Familiarity with CMMS and enterprise asset management systems, particularly IBM Maximo.Experience using equipment failure history, maintenance data, and asset information to identify reliability improvements.Familiarity with electrical system lifecycle planning, asset criticality, obsolescence management, and capital replacement strategies.Essential Functions:Work Environment: Office Environment (45%) Test Environment- May be exposed to areas of high noise levels, hazardous propellants, chemicals, and industrial facility environments (45%) Travel between various facilities/test operations is required (15%) Physical Requirements: Must have sufficient mobility to enter all areas of test facilities; crawl, climb ladders, enter confined spaces, ability to work at elevated levels on platforms and scaffolding, etc. (20%). Must be able to walk, stand, bend, twist and sit for extended periods as well as climb, crawl, and lift up to 35 lbs. Equipment and Machines: Standard office equipment (PC, telephone, fax, etc.) with knowledge of MS Word, Excel, Outlook, etc. (50%), Safety and personal protective equipment (20%). Attendance: Regular attendance mandatory (100%) Overtime/work outside normal schedule required (<15%)Other Essential Functions:U.S. Citizenship required.A valid driver's license is required.Must be able to complete and maintain a NASA background check.Must be able to work in a team atmosphere.Must put forward professional behavior that enhances productivity and promotes teamwork and cooperation.Grooming and dress must be appropriate for the position and must not impose a safety/risk hazard to the employee or others.Must be able to balance scope, schedule and budget to ensure project success.