Engineering Specialist I

More Than A Career - A Chance To Make A Difference In People's Lives

Build an exciting, rewarding career with us – help us make a difference for millions of people every day. Consider joining the Duke Energy team, where you'll find a friendly work environment, opportunities for growth and development, recognition for your work, and competitive pay and benefits.

Duties

Under directive supervision in the field and the office at various company facilities, with an emphasis on receiving and applying training as it relates to the duties specified for the Engineering Specialist I as follows:

• Explain company policies, procedures, service requirements, and charges as they relate to projects or inquiries for external or internal customers.
• Check and approve electric service facilities for compliance with company requirements as specified in the "Information and Requirements for Electric Service" or other codes and company publications. Determine the need for approval by the local designated inspection agency before authorizing the connection or re-connection of electric service.
• Resolve differences that arise between the company and customers, or their agents concerning metering installation and locations, service drop location and underground points of service.
• Check and make routine measurements used for distribution construction, maintenance, and operations, and compare to specifications and report results.
• Contact and work with representatives of other companies, public authorities and customers or their agents as well as other divisions of the company to coordinate the location or relocation of meter and service work needed to supply the customer. Also make decisions, arrangements or agreements, subject to the approval of management.
• Collect necessary data and assign electric meter and service locations, overhead service drop attachment locations, or underground lateral points for service connections in compliance with the "Information and Requirements for Electric Service" book.
• Make calculations of secondary voltage drop to the point of connection with the customer's service.
• Visually check poles, secondary lines and equipment in the field to determine conditions and recommend replacements.
• Make field sketches showing locations of company and non-company facilities.
• Resolve construction / service details with crew supervisors on matters not covered on drawings, and make decisions in the field.
• Operate computer systems, to be able to enter and revise data to up-date company records.
• Operate computer graphics work station to prepare construction drawings.
• Explain and apply routine lighting, and traffic signal procedures, policies, and principles. Estimate the cost and any additional facility charges that exceed the standard allowances.
• Prepare basic construction drawings, lists of materials, and routine cost estimates from field notes and data supplied by others.
• Provide detailed information to the customer on electric availability.
• Respond to basic electric customer problems or internal service inquiries.
• Make sketches and stake pole locations in order to provide customer with private outdoor lighting services.
• Obtain and supply the information necessary to size and issue appropriate metering equipment to accurately measure the customer's electrical usage on residential and commercial applications.
• Assign customer meter pole locations, check and approve the customer's pole and pole hole for compliance with company requirements.
• Using a computer determine existing types and quantities of materials and equipment that exist in the field.
• Detect irregular metering conditions in the field. Complete a revenue recovery to notify proper department and notify customer of irregular conditions.
• Assist other employees in the preparation of engineering reports, system designs, estimates, economic studies, and standards.
• Read meters for the succession of customer accounts on temporary and permanent metering installations and enter complete information on meter orders via appropriate technology.
• Schedule basic customer service interruptions.
• Assist delivery operations whenever necessary in emergency situations.
• Respond to customer inquiries regarding the location of and applications for electric facilities. Be able to explain to the customer the engineering need of the facilities location, or the recommendation that they be moved when justified by field conditions.
• Follow up on customer equipment failures to assure that the proper repairs are made by the customer in a timely manner and to authorize the termination of service in those cases where the customer fails to comply.
• Analyze and evaluate customer requirements and layout, for service connection.
• Performing duties of a higher classification when preparing for advancement.
• Coordinate installation of a routine shared trench between the company and other utilities (gas, electric, telephone, fiber optic, and cable TV).
• Contacts public authorities, other utilities, contractors, consultants, and customers, or their agents, in connection with engineering assignments, project scheduling and billing matters as required.
• Coordinates the efforts of other departments on assigned projects.
• Performing duties of a higher classification when preparing for advancement.

Qualifications

• Possesses an associate's technology degree in electrical engineering, mechanical engineering, construction management (or equivalent), or 4+ years equivalent industry experience in lieu of a degree.
• Must be able to drive a vehicle with a valid driver's license to perform various duties in the field.
• Must be willing to drive personal car on company mileage.
• Must qualify on Duke Energy's employment test.
• Must have the ability to sketch field diagrams.
• Must have a working knowledge of the PC and the ability to learn new software applications.
• Must have the ability to learn and develop a general understanding of legal and regulatory codes including: NEC, NESC, NFGC, OSHA, EPA.
• Must be able to communicate clearly and concisely.
• Must possess skills in basic conflict resolution.
• Must be able to plan schedules, meet deadlines, manage multiple priorities (planning threshold = 1 day).
• Must be able to solve routine problems or know who to call.
• Must be able to apply skills to do the following: Analyze customer requirements and design electric service layouts, Electric - secondary voltage service orders and Lighting.
• Must demonstrate the ability to perform the duties of this position through the medium of observation and tests.
• Must be able to use basic equipment including a measuring wheel, hand tools and scientific calculator.

Travel Requirements 15-25%