Electrical Systems Engineer, Senior Distribution Engineer, Distribution Engineer

Reading Municipal Light Department — Systems Engineer

Job Title: Systems Engineer
Reports to: Assistant Director of Engineering and Director of Engineering
Division: Engineering
Job Grade: 54
Revision Date: 5/30/2024
Work Location: 230 Ash St Office
Union: IBEW Local 103
FLSA: Exempt
Pay Range: $ to $

Job Summary: Under direction of the Director and Assistant Director of Engineering, provide electrical distribution engineering services to the RMLD. Apply knowledge of electrical engineering to complex power system analysis including protective coordination, fault studies, load forecasts, power quality, voltage stability, system expansion studies. Must qualify as a Level 1 Control Authority and be capable of on‑call rotation with other Control Authorities.

The role includes field work and may involve directing line workers and grid‑asset workers during outages or emergencies.

Illustrative Work

Activities:

• Assist the Director in short‑ and long‑term electric systems planning.
• Perform circuit modeling and load analysis for feeder and substation capacity.
• Evaluate impact of distributed generation on the electric system.
• Support implementation of Distributed Generation, Solar, and Demand Response programs.
• Prepare technical procedures for system apparatus testing, maintenance, operation, and emergency operating procedures.
• Monitor system power factor and determine capacitor placement; design Volt/Var optimization techniques.
• Prepare specifications and construction drawings for O/H and U/G works and procurement of equipment.
• Perform short‑circuit, protection, coordination studies, grounding, lightning protection, and power quality analysis.
• Prepare technical procedures for testing high‑voltage equipment and design Smart Grid & Distribution Automation Roadmaps.
• Generate technical proposals, bids, presentations, one‑lines, circuit maps, and applications for permits and contracts.
• Manage multiple 35 KV, 13.8 KV, and 4.16 KV distribution construction projects, including SCADA, OMS, DMS operation.
• Perform all required engineering calculations and analyses (reliability, load flow, protection, short circuit, voltage, life‑cycle, system loss, planning studies).
• Provide technical information to other RMLD divisions, town departments, agencies, and customers.
• Monitor NERC, NPCC, and ISO compliance requirements.
• Review construction codes and standards (NESC, IEEE, ANSI, NIST) and recommend modifications.
• Qualify as a Control Authority Level 1 for emergency operations oversight.
• Develop engineering designs, drawings, circuit maps, control diagrams, and databases for the distribution system and SCADA.
• Provide technical leadership for major or complex engineering and construction projects.
• Perform GIS edits, load flow modeling, smart‑grid device programming and troubleshooting.
• Execute all aspects of quality Project Management; conduct pole guying and tension analysis; estimate construction costs.

Minimum Qualifications:

Education: Bachelor’s degree in Electrical Engineering from an accredited college or university; specialization in power systems preferred;
Master’s degree preferred.

Experience: 5–7 years of electrical engineering distribution design planning with demonstrated ability to perform load flow, protection and coordination, short circuit, voltage analysis, life‑cycle analysis, system loss calculation, pole loading, guy tensioning; 5 years of switching and tagging; 5 years of project management experience.

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities: Knowledge of electrical engineering theory, NESC, OSHA, construction standards, SCADA, GIS, Milsoft software, formal Red Tag procedures, hazardous waste regulations, cost estimating, budgeting, project management, emergency response, FERC accounting, municipal purchasing, advanced math.

Judgment and Initiative: Ability to work independently, set priorities, improve processes, manage multi‑divisional responsibilities and Control Authority duties.

Physical Demands: Capable of performing job functions under occasional adverse weather and prolonged periods of time; moderate physical effort as needed.

Manual

Skills:

Ability to use hand tools and test equipment such as high‑voltage test equipment, grounding…