PG&E Corporation

Power Generation Project Engineer, Senior (ESC) - Auberry

Posted on: 4 Apr 2021

Auberry, CA

Job Description

Department Overview

PG&E's Power Generation Department manages and operates the largest privately-owned hydroelectric system in the nation. These renewable electric generation resources, located mostly at high elevation in California mountain ranges including the Sierra Nevada and southern Cascade mountains include 68 powerhouses, 184 miles of canals, 41 miles of flumes, 135 miles of tunnels, 19 miles of penstocks, 99 reservoirs, and 142,000 acres of watershed lands all covered by 26 operating licenses issued by the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC).

Position Summary

This is a senior-level project engineer job that requires mastery of the Journey Project Engineer job duties and is responsible for leading, as assigned, engineering & design, project management, program management, and/or water rights management, and technical support to O&M staff for a wide range of complex issues and multiple large capital and expense improvements to power generation and infrastructure facilities. Project duration is generally multi-year, requires significant risk management, and may include formal partnering agreements with outside firms. The position requires an extensive knowledge of the power generation or heavy industry; extensive project management skills; extensive contract management skills; excellent verbal and written communication skills; and sound judgment to independently resolve complex problems with only general direction. Provides leadership, coaching, technical direction, knowledge transfer and assistance to technical employees and teams. Job duties will vary by assignment. Responsibilities may include Privileged and Confidential work

This position is assigned to the dam safety program south.

Responsibilities:

Performs functions of Associate and Journey level Project Engineers, but for more complex, larger budget, and higher profile projects. Job duties will vary by assignment. In addition, job duties include, but are not limited to:

Leads and applies extensive knowledge in the design and/or project management efforts for multiple complex and/or large generation projects that can be discipline specific, multi-discipline, or programmatic in nature.

Provides leadership, coaching, technical direction, oversight and quality control for assigned projects and technical work done in discipline, knowledge transfer, and assistance to many technical and/or project management employees and teams; some technical services often overlap with those provided by operations & maintenance specialists, but from a design perspective; may act as an engineering and/or project management mentor.

Proactively controls scope, schedule, cost, and quality of a large portfolio of projects throughout project life cycle; may oversee the work of other project managers and engineers.

Approves, leads, and/or performs extensive complex risk management and engineering analyses & studies of generation assets, including dynamic and static modeling of structural, hydraulic, and electrical systems and as assigned, water rights.

Leads the development and/or presentation of findings to both internal and external organizations, including regulatory bodies, contractors and outside vendors.

Interprets, applies, and educates others in applicable industry standards, and regulatory codes and regulations.

Develops and/or evolves standards and specifications.

Works with supervisor and others to manage relationships with external stakeholders; develop regulatory and facility safety strategies; and negotiate with regulatory agencies and third parties on complex project and facility safety issues and as assigned, water rights.

Provides extensive knowledge and guidance to others in start-up testing, inspections, and condition assessment; actively supports complex and/or large project start-up tests and field inspections, and as assigned, water rights.

As assigned, may perform water rights management, including interpreting, preserving, investigating, tracking, records management, permitting, licensing, filing and responding to protests and complaints, reviewing and responding to water right applications and other filings by entities other than PG&E, providing expertise, representing PG&E in regulatory and other proceedings, providing internal expert counsel and direction, reviewing and payment of water right fees, and other tasks related to water rights. Duties include:

o Conducts meetings, prepares written technical and regulatory documents, prepares water rights applications and agreements

o Represents company to government bodies, conducts site inspections , plans and manages annual water rights budget, and works with Supervisor to prepare written and verbal communications with regulatory agencies, governmental organizations and other third parties

o Negotiate with regulatory agencies, non-governmental organizations and other third parties, develop strategies related to water rights, and monitor and adopt changes in industry, legislation and regulation related to water rights

Provides independent oversight and administration of EPC contracts

Develops and champions company-wide best practices

Makes presentations to PG&E Officers, various agencies, and the public as appropriate

Mentors and provides guidance to less experienced team members

Other duties as assigned as related to engineering and project management.

Will work with Supervisors and Principals for some duties.

Manages multiple complex issues and projects and resolves problems of complex scope. Assignments regularly provide an opportunity for creative or non-standard approaches. Under limited general direction, independently plans and conducts work to meet assigned general objectives. Supports Supervising Engineers Project Managers, Principal Engineers, and/or leads the development and implementation of programmatic solutions, process improvements, regulatory relations, contracting strategies, and very large and/or complex projects.

External contacts primarily include directing project-related work and contract administration with contractors and vendors, and as assigned, water interests; providing information, conducting discussions, and obtaining approvals from regulatory agencies; and interaction with industry associations. Internal contacts are primarily with Power Gen personnel, including O&M clients and project team members, and PG&E internal services organizations and typically include directing project-related work, discussing and reporting progress, exchanging and coordinating information, managing meetings and providing appropriate documentation. Partners with internal or external stakeholders to solve problems or explore alternative solutions.

Qualifications

Minimum Qualifications:

A 4-year BS Degree in Engineering from an accredited curriculum in the US or the equivalent from outside the US is required.

Current and active California PE license required

Mastery of the Associate and Journey level Project Engineer job duties and demonstrated knowledge, leadership, and ability to perform the job duties of the Senior level Project Engineer. Meets specific technical requirements gained through a minimum of eight years of cumulative experience in engineering, design, and construction (or water rights, as assigned); at least five of which must be in generation or heavy industry.

Desired Qualifications:

MS Degree in Engineering, Construction Management, or MBA

PMI certification

Demonstrates knowledge and abilities required for the Associate and Journey level Project Engineer and also:

Demonstrated ability to lead design of a broad scope of multiple medium to large scale complex projects; provide resolution of complex technical and/or contractual issues; and/or provide project management on multiple projects with complex scope requiring non-standard approaches; without supervision.

Demonstrates extensive knowledge of the generation industry, including extensive understanding, as applicable, of design, construction, and/or operation of rotating machines, dams, and water conveyance and experience interpreting applicable codes, standards, regulations, and practices.

Provides technical leadership within licensed discipline and demonstrates extensive knowledge of the generation industry, including extensive calculation, modeling, and analysis capabilities.

Demonstrates extensive contracting knowledge and contract negotiation and management skills.

As applicable, demonstrates extensive knowledge and abilities related to water rights and ability to apply to PG&E's water rights.

Demonstrates excellent verbal and written communication skills; utilizes a variety of styles to connect with the intended audience; able to present complex information to upper management on a variety of topics.

Demonstrates application of extensive project management skills, including seasoned and experience-based judgment and organizational

savvy in applying and adapting traditional project management techniques.

Builds consensus around complex and controversial project & technical issues and successfully persuades others to act on agreements reached.

Track record of ensuring high quality work by self and others on project team and overseeing work of less experienced team members.

Experienced in integrating industry knowledge and best practices into everyday business practices and decision making; provides others with interpretation and guidance on industry standards and regulations.

Fully understands PG&E's financial and business policies & practices, and provides guidance and oversight to incorporate into day-to-day activities.

Ability to identify trends over multiple projects or years and take needed action to initiate practical system-wide improvements, provide recommendations, develop implementation plans, and lead implementation.

Track record of working to further his or her own professional development through industry associations & conferences, technical workshops, trade publications, and additional formal education, and of mentoring less senior engineers and project managers.

Background in Civil Engineering is preferred.

Familiarity with dam safety industry best practices is a plus.

Knowledge of dam safety FERC engineering guidelines and DSOD regulations is a plus.

Demonstrated participation in dam safety organizations such as ASDSO and USSD is a plus.

PG&E Corporation

San Francisco, CA

PG&E Corporation, through its subsidiary, Pacific Gas and Electric Company, engages in the sale and delivery of electricity and natural gas to residential, commercial, industrial, and agricultural customers in northern and central California, the United States. The company’s electricity distribution network consists of approximately 107,000 circuit miles of distribution lines, 50 transmission switching substations, and 769 distribution substations; and electricity transmission network comprises approximately 18,000 circuit miles of interconnected transmission lines and 84 electric transmission substations.

Its natural gas system consists of approximately 43,100 miles of distribution pipelines, approximately 6,400 miles of backbone and local transmission pipelines, and various storage facilities. The company also owns and operates nuclear, hydroelectric, fossil fuel-fired, and solar electricity generation facilities. PG&E Corporation was incorporated in 1995 and is based in San Francisco, California. On January 29, 2019, PG&E Corporation Inc. filed a voluntary petition for reorganization under Chapter 11 in the U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the Northern District of California.

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