Senior Electrical Projects Engineer (ETAP, Plant, Substation)

Job Description

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• The Senior Engineer , under general guidance, directs or performs electrical power engineering assignments of major size or complexity and makes independent decisions on engineering problems and methods.
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• This is a power engineering role requiring deep expertise in electrical power systems analysis, equipment specification, and generating station design.
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• The Senior Engineer performs load flow studies, short circuit analyses, protective relay coordination, cable and equipment sizing calculations, and power quality assessments for the company’s steam and gas generating stations.
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• The role demands thorough knowledge of generator ratings, transformer applications, switchgear, protective relaying, grounding systems, and their relationship to NERC, NPCC, and NYSRC reliability requirements.
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• Beyond technical analysis, this role carries full project engineering responsibility: managing budgets, schedules, scoping documents, vendor relationships, and purchase specifications from conception through commissioning.
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• The Senior Engineer coordinates closely with Steam & Gas working groups, plant operations personnel, and external vendors to deliver safe, reliable, and code-compliant solutions.
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• This position demands a proactive engineer who takes ownership, surfaces issues and ambiguity early, upholds design basis discipline, and is comfortable working in active power generation plant environments.
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Required Education

Bachelor’s Degree in Electrical Engineering or Power Engineering with 8 years of experience

OR

Master’s Degree in Electrical Engineering or Power Systems with 6 years of experience.

Required Experience & Skills

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• Minimum 8+ years of experience in electrical power engineering, with emphasis on power systems analysis, equipment specification, and generating station or heavy industrial facility design. Experience should be acceptable to NY State for P.E. examination eligibility.
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• Demonstrated proficiency in performing load flow studies, short circuit analyses, arc flash assessments, and protective device coordination studies.
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• Hands-on experience with electrical equipment sizing calculations: cables (ampacity, voltage drop, conduit fill, derating), transformers (kVA/MVA sizing, impedance, tap selection), switchgear, and motor starters.
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• Strong working knowledge of protective relaying principles, including overcurrent, differential, distance, and generator protection schemes, and the ability to develop and review relay coordination studies and time-current curves.
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• Understanding of generator ratings, capability curves, excitation systems, and synchronization, and their relevance to NERC/NPCC/NYSRC reliability standards and compliance requirements.
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• Proficiency with power system analysis software (e.g., ETAP, SKM, EasyPower, or equivalent) for modeling, simulation, and coordination.
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• Working knowledge of applicable codes and standards: NEC, NFPA 70E, IEEE (C37 series, 80, 141, 242, 399, 551), ANSI, and NERC reliability standards applicable to generating stations.
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• Experience specifying and evaluating testing of power equipment: transformers (DGA, HiPot, turns ratio, winding resistance), breakers, surge arresters, CTs/PTs, and protective relays. Understanding of grounding system design, ground fault protection, and step-and-touch potential analysis.
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• Demonstrated experience managing project budgets, schedules, and full project lifecycle activities in a utility or heavy industrial environment.
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• Thorough understanding of design basis documentation and the engineering rationale behind generating station electrical installations; demonstrated commitment to maintaining design basis integrity.
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• Proven ability to identify and escalate engineering problems, scope gaps, and risks early rather than allowing issues to progress unchecked. Must demonstrate initiative and sound judgment in raising concerns.
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• Experience with cross-discipline drawing verification and peer review processes; ability to reconcile information across multiple drawing sets (e.g., electrical, instrumentation, mechanical) to ensure field accuracy.
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• Comfortable working in and around steam and gas power generation plants, including field visits and on-site engineering support.
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• Proficiency with digital project management and tracking tools; demonstrated comfort with structured documentation, status reporting, and digital workflows.
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• Strong written and verbal communication skills, including the ability to prepare and deliver technical presentations to management and cross-functional audiences.
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• Strong interpersonal skills with the ability to interact effectively with personnel at all levels, including operations, engineering, management, and external vendors. Detail-oriented with the ability to manage multiple concurrent projects and priorities while maintaining quality and traceability.
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• Systems-thinking mindset: ability to identify process improvements and propose structural solutions rather than relying solely on individual effort. Preferred Experience & Skills
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• Supervisory experience of professional and/or union employees. Experience with purchase specification development and vendor management for major electrical equipment (transformers, switchgear, generators, protective relays).
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• Direct experience supporting NERC compliance activities, including generator verification testing (MOD-025), relay-to-capability coordination (PRC-019), or reliability standards documentation.
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• Experience with medium-voltage switchgear design, specification, and commissioning (5 kV, 15 kV, or 27 kV class). Familiarity with battery systems, DC distribution, UPS design, and emergency power supply systems in generating stations.
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• Experience participating in or leading pre-project alignment sessions and collaborative design reviews.
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• Track record of contributing to knowledge management, documentation of lessons learned, or mentoring of junior engineers.
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