Utility Industry Controls Eng

Energy Management oversees the reliable, safe and efficient operation of mechanical, electrical, and civil utilities systems in approximately 250 complex buildings on the Twin Cities campus. Home to the University’s technical and professional engineering staff, as well as a select group of skilled tradespeople, the group maintains the campus utility infrastructure and provides technical and engineering expertise to the U’s Capital Planning, Facilities Management building operations, and other facilities-related units across the U of M system.

The Twin Cities campus has a total electric utility budget of approximately $51M per year. The infrastructure required to safely and reliably distribute this energy includes more than twelve miles of underground steam tunnels and five medium voltage (13,800 Volt) switch stations. The Energy Management group manages and maintains this complex infrastructure, as well as overseeing storm water management, sanitary sewer systems, municipal water distribution, chilled water distribution, steam and condensate, and compressed air systems.

The utility controls engineer works under supervision of a principal electrical engineer, supporting the development, oversight and maintenance of the Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition (SCADA) system for the campus 13.8 kV utility systems and the main electrical services in buildings. In cooperation with Energy Management electrical engineers, this role requires the ability to recommend, develop, design and implement SCADA system control and monitoring strategies which enhance the robust operation of the electrical distribution systems.

Perform and assist with general I.T. support for servers, networks, websites, and applications for the Energy Management department. This position requires technical expertise, curiosity, and drive to work within a collaborative team dedicated to excellence in electrical distribution systems, influencing critical decisions and delivering reliable, forward-thinking solutions supporting the University mission.

• Implementing and guiding the proper operations and maintenance ofa campus SCADA system. Maintain the SCADA network and field devicesthrough trouble‑sh
• Develop and perform scheduled hardware/software maintenance and upgrades through vendor long term service agreements.
• Develop operation and maintenance standards for the SCADA system,including instruction on how to use the system.
• Proactively investigate field problems and independently developengineering solutions.
• Support the commissioning effort for new field devices
• Engaging and coordinating with electrical operations.

• Develop and implement network and application security protocols.
  
  Maintain and update standards for system security. Createdocumentation on security standards that is readily available foraudits.
• Add/delete/modify/organize database points for consistentconformance to industry and university standards.

• Develop and revise HMI graphics.
• Support the maintenance of electric metering network maps and documentation.
• Build and maintain websites and applications for datatransparency and situational awareness using custom applications through 3rd party API(s) to interact with the SCADA system.
• Identifying and planning for future capital expenditures on hardware and software replacements.

Work is performed in an office setting as well as out in the field. This position will be exposed to hazardous conditions where hearing and visual protection may be required. Must be able to walk and climb to physically access and view various sites, including mechanical/electrical…