What are the responsibilities and job description for the Principal Electric Utility Engineer position at City of Santa Clara?
The Department:
Silicon Valley Power (SVP) is a not-for-profit electric municipal utility of Santa Clara, CA, serving residents and businesses for over 120 years. SVP provides power to nearly 55,000 customers, at rates 25 to 48 percent below neighboring communities. SVP is the only full service, vertically integrated publicly owned utility in Silicon Valley owning generation, transmission and distribution assets. As a Public Electric Utility, Santa Clara’s Silicon Valley Power is not driven by profits, as reflected in its significant lower utility rates when compared to other private sector utilities. Silicon Valley Power is community and policy driven, which is reflected in the many green policies that it promotes, reduced rates and its strategic plan. Silicon Valley Power is one of few public electric utilities in California with an upward trajectory of growth. In 2017, Silicon Valley Power also achieved 36% renewable and 72% HGH free energy and, since January 2018, Silicon Valley Power has been delivering GHG-free energy to all residential customers. All this was accomplished while maintaining the lowest electricity rates in Santa Clara County.
The Position:
Silicon Valley Power (SVP) is seeking a dynamic, engaging and highly qualified professionals for four (4) vacant unclassified management positions of Principal Electric Utility Engineer in various divisions under our Customer Development and Project Management groups.
System Expansion Capital Projects
This position will have the opportunity to work on complex and exciting large capital system expansion improvement projects in a dynamic, team-oriented environment. This position will be responsible for managing four large system expansion projects moving forward to bid and construction, totaling an estimated cost of $420 million. This position will oversee engineering consultants, Program Management consultants, and construction of 3 receiving station projects and one 2.25-mile 115kV transmission line project. As such, the ideal candidate will have large substation or receiving station project experience and be able to work in a fast-paced environment with competing priorities. The candidate will show proven problem-solving skills and excellent communication.
System Planning and Asset Management
This position will lead the System Planning & Asset Management team that will include Transmission Planning, Distribution Planning, and Asset Management. This position will be responsible for load forecasting, transmission and distribution system modeling and design, operations modeling support, and asset management. System planning will include the participation in the yearly California Energy Commission (CEC) IEPR load forecasting process, the California Independent System Operator (CAISO) Transmission Planning Process (TPP), and the management of Western Electric Coordination Council (WECC) Transmission Planning (TP), Distribution Planning (DP), Transmission Owner (TO), Transmission Operator (TOP), Distribution Planning (DP), and Load Serving Entity (LSE) registration responsibilities. Operations support will include assisting SVP’s control center with electric clearance switch plan studies at both distribution and transmission system. As such, the ideal candidate will have a deep understanding of how the electric system works, including transmission, distribution, and substation systems and be able to work in a fast-paced environment with competing priorities. The candidate must have proven problem-solving skills and excellent communication skills.
Engineering Division and CIP projects
The first position will lead an engineering team that will include substation engineering, Transmission system engineering and distribution system engineering. This position will be responsible for performing and managing the design of substation and transmission line projects from conception through construction and commissioning. This position will develop standards, specifications, engineering studies, calculations, evaluations, design documents associated with the planning, design, construction and maintenance of SVP substations, Transmission system, distribution system and other utility facilities. The candidates must have extensive experience in High voltage Substation and Transmission line design, plan, standard and specification preparation. The candidates must have proven problem solving skills and excellent communication skills.
The second position will lead the Capital Improvement Project group. This position will be responsible for performing and managing the work related to implementation of a portfolio of projects that can include new substations, transmission lines, and distribution systems to ensure the projects are delivered within schedule, scope and budget. This position will manage various consultants and work with business services group for procurement and onboarding consulting firms and contractors to support CIP projects. This position will create or update existing project management processes as necessary and will engage in collaboration and change management with other internal and external teams. This position will work in a cross-functional and cross-organizational environment including various consultants, contractors and developer team. The candidates should have extensive experience in the implementation and project management of high voltage electric utility projects.
As a member of the City's Unclassified Service, this is an "at-will" position and the incumbent serves at the discretion of the City Manager.
Additional Information:
Applications must be filled out completely (e.g. do not write “see resume, NA, or personnel file.”). To receive consideration for the screening process, candidates must submit a 1) Resume and, 2) Certificate of registration as a Professional Engineer in the State of California. Incomplete applications will not be considered.
Application packets may be submitted online through the “Apply Now” feature on the job announcement at www.santaclaraca.gov. Applications must be submitted by the filing deadline of Wednesday, February 26, 2025 at 4:00 PM.
THIS RECRUITMENT MAY BE USED TO FILL MULTIPLE POSITIONS IN THIS, OR OTHER DIVISIONS OR DEPARTMENTS BESIDES THE POSITIONS LISTED BELOW. IF YOU ARE INTERESTED IN EMPLOYMENT IN THIS CLASSIFICATION, YOU SHOULD APPLY TO ENSURE YOU ARE CONSIDERED FOR ADDITIONAL OPPORTUNITIES THAT MAY UTILIZE THE APPLICANTS FROM THIS RECRUITMENT. MEETING THE MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS DOES NOT GUARANTEE ADMITTANCE INTO THE EXAMINATION PROCESS. ONLY THE MOST QUALIFIED CANDIDATES WHO DEMONSTRATE THE BEST COMBINATION OF QUALIFICATIONS IN RELATION TO THE REQUIREMENTS AND DUTIES OF THE POSITION WILL BE INVITED TO TEST OR INTERVIEW.
The annual salary range for this position is $207,996.72 - $269,168.88. This position may be filled at or near the minimum of the salary range.
Follow this link to view the entire Class Specification, which includes more information on Typical Duties and Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities.
EDUCATION AND EXPERIENCE
Minimum Education Requirements:
- Education and experience equivalent to graduation from an accredited college or university with a Bachelor's Degree in electrical, mechanical, civil or other related field of engineering
Minimum Experience Requirements:
- Five (5) years of increasingly responsible experience in electric utility engineering work
- Candidates from a non-accredited college or university must demonstrate educational equivalency by registration as a professional electrical, mechanical or civil engineer in the State of California
Acceptable Substitution:
- A Master's Degree in electrical, mechanical or civil engineering, or business or public administration from an accredited college may be substituted for one year of experience
License/Certifications:
- Possession of a certificate of registration as a Professional Engineer in the State of California is required
- Possession of a valid California Class C driver's license is required at the time of appointment and for duration of employment
Other Requirements:
- Must be able to perform all of the essential functions of the job assignment
- May be required to work unusual hours in emergency situations
- Required to pass initial and periodic comprehensive background checks, which may include fingerprinting, to meet Federal, State, and /or industry security requirements
Salary : $207,997 - $269,169
