Electrical Engineer

Job Title

Responsible for the design, modeling, development, and testing of a machine, structure, or system. Develops functional requirements. Understands and applies standard engineering principles. Creates simulations and prototypes to evaluate preliminary designs and test how a machine, structure, or system operates. Designs and tests components, and integrates components to produce the final product. Monitors the quality of products and controls the efficiency of processes. Evaluates a design's overall effectiveness, cost, reliability, and safety. Investigates root causes of failures to maintain quality and recommend improvements.

Project Overview

The team handles day-to-day maintenance and corrective work at substations. Engineers will lead for-like replacements and upgrades of substation equipment (e.g., breakers, switches, transformers, relays, bushings, arresters), perform troubleshooting, initiate projects, order materials, develop/adjust designs as needed (brownfield—no greenfield design), coordinate with construction to execute, manage schedules, and ensure communications to all stakeholders (construction, substation maintenance team, etc.). Deliverables include scoped work packages, materials requisitions, field coordination, and completion of replacement/maintenance activities.

Typical Day

Hybrid schedule: Mon/Fri work from home; Tue–Thu on-site at the Maple Grove office. Typically 8 hours/day (e.g., 8:00–4:30 or 9:00–5:00). Weekly field visits to substations (1–2x/week) are common; field time counts toward regular hours and can be flexed (e.g., if in the field Monday, work from home Tuesday). Activities include scope definition, troubleshooting, site visits, coordinating with crews, stakeholder communication, and project follow-ups. No routine overtime expected.

Work Environment / Team Culture

Highly supportive and collaborative; strong emphasis on teamwork with other groups and field crews.

Safety Considerations

Field work at substations (high-risk environment); PPE required (e.g., steel-toe shoes). PPE is typically provided by the contracting company and can be expensed to Xcel as needed. Weather exposure in Minnesota conditions should be expected.

Work Hours/Shift

Hybrid schedule: Mon/Fri work from home; Tue–Thu on-site at the Maple Grove office. Typically 8 hours/day (e.g., 8:00–4:30 or 9:00–5:00). Weekly field visits to substations (1–2x/week) are common; field time counts toward regular hours and can be flexed (e.g., if in the field Monday, work from home Tuesday).

Top Skills and Qualifications

1. Electrical Engineering degree (required). 2) Substation equipment knowledge and field troubleshooting experience or strong willingness to be in the field. 3) Familiarity with brownfield replacement/maintenance workflows. 4) Stakeholder coordination and project initiation/materials ordering. 5) Software: SAP, ProjectWise, and basic PLC/logic programming a plus (not required).

Non-Technical Skills

Problem solving, teamwork/collaboration, and professional communication (especially with field crews).

Ideal Candidate Background

Role A (mid-level): ~5+ years preferred; Minnesota PE preferred (Wisconsin PE also valued). Role B: 0–5 years acceptable (manager prefers experience but is open to early-career if needed). Minnesota PE preferred for the senior position.

Preferred Skills

Field experience in substations and basic PLC/logic programming familiarity.

Location

Hybrid: Tue–Thu in office (Maple Grove, MN); Mon/Fri remote. Parking was not discussed.