Lead Commissioning Engineer

Wunderlich-Malec Engineering (WM) is a 100% employee‑owned ESOP and one of the largest and most well‑established engineering companies in the United States.

• 100% employee‑owned with 40+ years of industry history
• ENR (Engineering News Record) Top 500 firm
• Rated as a top System Integrator Giant

We have a Lead Commissioning Engineer opportunity available in Modesto, CA. The Lead Commissioning/Testing Engineer will be responsible for testing/commissioning Transmission and Distribution substations additions or modifications to ensure they are installed, function, and are energized correctly. This position is responsible for leading the testing and commissioning of electrical equipment within a substation or generator plant, performing and directing all aspects of electrical testing including, but not limited to, protection relays, circuit breakers, transformers and other substation equipment.

The Lead Engineer is also responsible for training new engineers/technicians in relay testing, equipment testing and substation commissioning.

• Review specifications and engineering drawings to understand the purpose and functionality of the substation, identify and resolve design errors
• Manage and schedule the installation and commissioning with subcontractors, personnel and customers in accordance with project requirements
• Provide safety analysis and proper equipment isolation procedures
• Provide a day‑to‑day outage plan for customers
• Develop detailed test procedures and sign‑off sheets for each piece of equipment
• Monitor construction and be available to address technical questions as they arise during construction, installation and testing
• Demonstrate ability to service newly designed and experimental equipment, which has not been seen before, and instill confidence in the customer
• Assist field crews and dispatch in developing switches to properly sequence equipment, ensuring proper hold points for testing are incorporated
• Directly witness or perform critical tests such as DC Functional Trip Testing prior to energization and in‑service
• Direct crews as necessary during critical work junctures, typically during final commission, just prior and through initial energization
• Confirm substation modification is complete and functional and formally hand it over to Dispatch to be operated within its design limits
• Support several capital projects occurring simultaneously; rotate amongst the jobs, review test results and monitor work to anticipate problems and gauge involvement from a technical support perspective
• Near project completion, work extended hours/days if required at a particular job site
• Develop and maintain strong working relationships with customers, demonstrating awareness of customer needs, preferences, and time and financial constraints
• Show proven customer service, sales ability, and ability to handle difficult customers while meeting satisfaction
• Support the development of estimates for client proposals and further business development
• Understand AC and DC elementary diagrams, wiring diagrams and one‑line drawings to develop testing requirements and procedures
• Develop standard testing documentation, training procedures and maintain all project documentation including certifications and calibration records; candidate should be able to obtain NICET certification or equivalent
• Know programming and testing protection relays from GE, SEL, ALSTOM, SCHNEIDER, SIEMENS, and ABB; develop programming macros for automated relay testing

• Proven ability to motivate, mentor, and optimize in a collaborative, team‑oriented environment
• Goal oriented and focused
• Strong drive, energy, enthusiasm, and proactive style
• Experience managing technical projects of various sizes
• Excellent communication (written and oral) and interpersonal skills
• Excellent negotiation, influence, mediation, and conflict management skills
• Proven ability with problem solving and decision making
• Strong organizational, multi‑tasking, and time‑management skills
• Strong budget management skills
• Diverse skill set with the ability to work independently; will act as technical lead on projects and guide less experienced…