Commissioning and Substation Services Engineer

FirstEnergy at a Glance We are a forward-thinking electric utility powered by a diverse team of employees committed to making customers’ lives brighter, the environment better and our communities stronger. FirstEnergy (NYSE: FE) is dedicated to integrity, safety, reliability and operational excellence. Headquartered in Akron, Ohio, FirstEnergy includes one of the nation's largest investor-owned electric systems, more than 24,000 miles of transmission lines that connect the Midwest and Mid-Atlantic regions, and a regulated generating fleet with a total capacity of more than 3,500 megawatts. About the Opportunity This is an open position with FirstEnergy Service Co., a subsidiary of FirstEnergy Corp. The selected candidate may be offered a position within the same job family, at a level that is lower than what was posted. This will be determined based upon the results of the interview process which considers the candidate’s skills, work history, experience level, and other relevant qualifications. This position can be in the following office locations: State College, PA. This position is to provide field engineering services and technical support for the maintenance, construction, testing and commissioning of substation equipment up to and including 500kV. Equipment includes power transformers, circuit breakers, CCVT's, Cap Banks, SVC's, associated relay protection and control equipment, and SCADA systems. Maintenance and commissioning activities can be of either new or modifications to existing substations. This position includes a significant amount of time (90% or more) working outside of an office environment at various company and customer substation facilities and service centers. In addition to maintenance and commissioning activities, there may be occasional technical support for regional substation activities including those in other operating companies. Responsibilities Maintaining a safe workplace for coworkers and the community based upon developing knowledge of potential hazards, industry regulations/requirements and company practices. Commissioning new transmission substation equipment prior to it being released to transmission operations. Developing check‑out guides, review and approving test results and isolation plans, and developing energization plans to minimize system risk. Providing limited field design services to correct minor design problems encountered during the implementation of substation capital projects. Providing onsite technical support to regional substation services employees during preventive and corrective maintenance activities. Applying engineering skills and operational knowledge in the identification and resolution of technical problems while in the field during the installation phase, testing phase, and during the design life of the substation equipment. This includes challenging and validating design approaches when necessary. Assisting in the development of new or in the modification of existing maintenance practices to address changing technology, new equipment types, improved test and diagnostic methods, regulatory changes, etc. Auditing preventive and corrective maintenance paperwork and test results to verify technical adequacy and regulatory completeness. Providing emergency technical support following substation equipment failures to support customer restoration and system reinforcement. This includes developing field modifications and commissioning the installation of mobile substations. Supporting the emergency plan through participation in assigned storm duties including hazard responding. Ability to work both independently and in unison with others including regional and plant personnel as well as other departments/sections and outside vendors. Communicating across multi‑disciplined teams to include electrical contractors, customers, FirstEnergy regional switchmen/technicians, transmission operations, design engineering, planning/protection and project management to ensure successful and timely project completion. Assisting in performing Apparent Cause and Root Cause analyses, including formally documenting findings through the preparation of technical reports and presentations. Assisting in the education of others on technical subject matters and in the improvement of technical programs and process effectiveness. Maintaining a safe workplace for coworkers and the community based upon a developing knowledge of potential hazards, industry regulations/requirements and company practices. Supporting the development of corporate programs and policies; assist others tasked with leading organizational change. Assisting senior technical staff in developing solutions to complex technical assignments. Supporting FE Utilities Operations and Maintenance staffs in reaching goals and meeting deadlines. Producing results that have a direct, positive impact on the Company. Consistently anticipating customer needs and deliver high quality results. Willingness to travel throughout the FirstEnergy system including occasional overnight stays when necessary. Qualifications Bachelor of Science degree in Electrical or Mechanical Engineering (BSEE, BSME) from an ABET accredited institution is required. Acceptable alternatives are: (1) a Professional Engineer’s (PE) License (2) a Bachelor’s degree in Electrical or Mechanical Engineering or technical field of study (non-ABET) plus an advanced degree in Electrical or Mechanical Engineering from a university with an ABET accredited Bachelor’s program. A Fundamentals of Engineering (FE) License is preferred. Minimum of 2 (two) years of Engineering experience is required. A working knowledge of electrical engineering, transmission substation equipment, transmission system protection and transmission system operations are desired. Strong consideration will be given to those with previous experience in the design, maintenance or testing of substation equipment. Also, familiarity with the understanding, application, and communication of microprocessor‑based protection and control equipment is a plus. Experience with SEL products and software, Enoserve RTS and Doble testing. Superior written and verbal communication skills. Commitment to FirstEnergy's Safety Policies and the Accident Prevention Handbook. Understanding of FirstEnergy's Manual of Operations. Ability to participate in after‑hours (e.g. evening, weekend and holidays) callouts to provide onsite technical and operational guidance in support of system emergencies. Ability to lead by example. Must be able to manage and prioritize multiple projects simultaneously and be able to work effectively under the pressure of deadlines, unexpected developments, changes in project scope, budget constraints, unforeseen field problems and demands on time for work assignments outside of the normal duties. Demonstrate a questioning attitude to continue to learn, produce results, and strengthen existing relationships. Strong mechanical aptitude. Benefits, Compensation & Workforce Diversity At FirstEnergy, employees are key to our success. We depend on their talents to meet the challenges of our changing business environment. We are committed to rewarding individual and team efforts through our total rewards philosophy which includes competitive pay plus incentive compensation, a company‑sponsored pension plan, 401(k) savings plan with matching employer contribution, a choice of medical, prescription drug, dental, vision, and life insurance programs, as well as skills development training with tuition reimbursement. Please visit our website at to learn more about all of our employee rewards programs. FirstEnergy proudly supports workforce diversity. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, religion, color, national origin, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, age, status as a protected veteran, or status as a qualified individual with a disability. No recruiters or agencies without a previously signed contract. Unable to sponsor or transfer H‑1B visas at this time. Safety Safety is a core value for FirstEnergy and is essential to all of our business activities. We ensure employees have the tools, information, and processes to perform their duties in a manner that assures safety for themselves, their co‑workers, our customers and the public. Our goals are to provide a safe work environment, to maintain an accident‑free, injury‑free workplace, and to promote and maintain public safety. To meet these goals, we dedicate ourselves to achieving world‑class safety standards. #J-18808-Ljbffr