Electrical Engineer, Assistant; Joint Use Wireline Engineering

Position Description

Seattle City Light's (SCL) Joint Use Wireline Engineering Team has an entry-level opportunity for an Electrical Engineer Assistant. Joint Use is the sharing of space on a single set of poles with multiple utilities, and our team is responsible for managing and engineering all non-SCL attachments on SCL poles. Using the guidelines in the National Electric Safety Code (NESC), we make sure each pole is strong enough to support everything attached to it, and to ensure each line is spaced far enough from buildings, roads, sidewalks, and other lines.

This is essential to allowing the expansion of internet access while maintaining public safety, and we take great pride in supporting this mission.

If you enjoy a mix of hands‑on work with engineering theory, a job that has both office/home and outdoor work, and want to serve your community, this could be a great fit! This position reports to the Joint Use Electrical Engineering Supervisor at Seattle City Light.

Here is more about what you'll be doing:

The Joint Use Electrical Engineer Assistant performs an interesting mix of work involving civil, mechanical, and electrical engineering, as well as a lot of practical construction skills. The role is ideal for anyone who wants to gain broad experience of power utility systems. You'll be in the group responsible for ensuring all our power poles can safely handle modernization, like broadband internet lines, 5G wireless antennas, and pole‑mounted EV charging stations.

You'll learn how to design transmission and distribution poles, and gain experience in nearly every facet of line engineering between the power substation and the customer’s meter. In a normal week, you'll spend about three days driving around the greater Seattle area inspecting and measuring poles. If you discover problems, the rest of your time in the office or teleworking will be spent preparing instructions for line workers to fix them.

Your work will generally involve the following duties:

• Design, plan, and determine requirements for the installation, maintenance, restoration and/or relocation of overhead and underground electrical distribution systems and services related to customer‑driven projects.
• Ensure lines are spaced far enough from buildings, roads, sidewalks, and other lines so that everyone stays safe (using NESC).
• Ensure each pole is strong enough to support everything attached to it (using NESC).
• Prepare preliminary and long‑range plans, estimates, budgets, material requirements, specifications, work orders and instructions, operating and maintenance instructions, special conditions and agreements.
• Prepare construction documents and monitor construction progress.
• Provide instructions to field crews and answer questions concerning design issues.
• Use 3D CAD software to model the poles, AutoCAD to create a work sketch of engineering instructions, and other programs to provide the supporting documents needed to do the work according to Seattle City Light standards.
• Participate in presentations, special projects and other Joint Use related assignments as directed.
• Potentially assist other work groups within the Joint Use team.

Required Qualifications:

• Bachelor of Science in Electrical Engineering OR expected to obtain the BSEE by June 2026; if scheduled, please attach your college/university transcript.
• Other combinations of education and/or experience that provide preparation to do professional electrical engineering work will be considered on a case‑by‑case basis.

In addition to the skills and experience mentioned below, a successful applicant will have experience that reflects a commitment to creating fair and equitable outcomes.

• Most work is performed in a normal City work/office environment.
• Field assignments may entail exposure to all types of weather, traffic, hazardous/toxic substances, high voltage energized equipment and work in or near construction sites.
• May be required to stand, walk, or bend for extended periods of time.
• May be required to work nights, evenings, weekends, and/or holidays.
• Overnight travel may be required.