Field Engineer

This position serves primarily as a distribution system designer, responsible for project design, staking, and securing easements and other required documentation for new construction and system improvements.

• To design distribution facilities to extend or enhance service in compliance with RUS construction specifications and other requirements of RUS, the Virginia State Corporation Commission and The National Electrical Safety Code, in order to obtain the most efficient and effective system design.
• Perform any field surveys, drawings, sealed and recorded plats for all company districts with assistance from parties requesting work. Provides leadership and guidance to Staking Technicians and Field Engineers.
• Use drawing software on PC to create plat or drawings.
• Answer any questions from parties involved.
• Be responsible for keeping up with all necessary training and re-qualifying requirements to maintain license.

• Design, route and lay out electric distribution and service facilities including transformers in accordance with member's desires, if possible, while satisfying RUS specifications, and accepted practices for design and construction of rural lines and prepare staking sheets, customer orders and connection orders in accordance with the Cooperative's accepted practice.
• Support system planning and engineering functions by assisting senior engineering staff with technical analyses and studies, including power flow analysis, fault studies, overcurrent coordination, load forecasting, power factor correction, and capacitor placement, to identify system needs and recommend appropriate improvements.
• Analyze distribution system performance to identify capacity limitations, reliability concerns, and operation deficiencies, and support the development of corrective action plans, engineering recommendations, and long-range infrastructure improvement strategies.
• Coordinate with Operations and Engineering to perform system studies, reliability assessments, and engineering evaluations related to distribution system upgrades, capacity expansion, infrastructure replacement, and operational improvement initiatives.
• Support distribution system planning efforts by analyzing existing and projected system conditions, developing technical recommendations, and assisting in the design and evaluation of solutions to address identified deficiencies and future system needs.
• Assist senior engineering staff in development and coordination of the construction work plan by performing area system planning studies, identifying and evaluating system deficiencies, recommending corrective measures, and developing conceptual improvement plans and preliminary cost estimates for capital and system improvement projects.
• Use specialized utility engineering and design software systems, including NISC iVUE Connect Staking for project design and staking, SPIDAcalc for pole loading and structural adequacy analysis, and Milsoft and Distribution Engineering Workstation analysis tools for distribution system modeling, planning studies, and engineering evaluation of system performance and improvement alternatives.

(See Full Job Description PDF below)

Specifications and Requirements:

Bachelor of Science in Electrical Engineering from an accredited four-year college or university required. Preference will be given to candidates with academic emphasis or relevant experience in power systems, electric utility engineering concepts, or industrial power applications.

A minimum of six (6) years of experience in an approved utility program may be substituted for the education requirements above.

Must have a strong knowledge of mathematics and be able to develop a working knowledge of distribution line design, transformer sizing, construction specifications, right-of-way easement procedure, National Electrical Safety Code, National Electric Code, Virginia Department of Transportation utilities relocation procedure, drafting, construction materials, communication skills, GPS, and surveying. Must possess a valid driver’s license. Understand and adhere to all regulations and requirements set up by the Virginia Department of Professional and Occupational Regulation.

Must possess basic computer skills, to include a working knowledge of Microsoft Office products, including, but not limited to:
Outlook, Excel, Word and PowerPoint as required by job responsibilities.

Must have the ability to:

• Design distribution lines, service laterals, and transformer sizes.
• Prepare clear and concise staking sheets, plats, right-of-way easements and other support documents.
• Prepare cost estimates for line extensions and relocation projects.
• Communicate with the general public and secure right-of-way easements and contractual agreements.
• Must have strong PC skills and knowledge of Microsoft Office is required.
• Perform all office and field procedures related to completing a successful…