Power Generation Project Engineer, Senior

Requisition ID # 164848 

Job Category: Power Generation; Engineering / Science 

Job Level: Individual Contributor

Business Unit: Operations - Other

Work Type: Hybrid

Job Location: Auburn

Department Overview

Power Generation operates and maintains PG&E's hydroelectric, fossil, solar generation and battery storage facilities, providing approximately 5,300 megawatts of generating capacity for our customers. Our nearly 1,000 coworkers are dedicated to delivering safe, reliable and cost-effective generation to California in an environmentally responsible manner. Our hydro facilities include 62 conventional hydro powerhouses, a pumped-storage facility, 98 reservoirs, 168 dams and more than 200 miles of canals and flumes, among other water conveyances. Natural gas-fired plants in operation are Humboldt Bay Generating Station in Eureka; Colusa Generating Station in Colusa County and Gateway Generating Station in Antioch. Several utility-scale solar generation plants also are operated and maintained, as well as PG&E’s successful entry into battery energy storage, our Elkhorn Battery facility at Moss Landing in Monterey County.​​​​​​​

Position Summary

This is an ESC represented exempt classification currently subject to collective bargaining.

This is a senior-level project engineer job that supports Power Generation’s dam safety and asset management programs to ensure public and employee safety, maintain hydroelectric infrastructure, manage risk, and meet regulatory requirements. The job requires mastery of the Journey Project Engineer job duties and is responsible for leading, consulting, and implementing engineering solutions for the department’s most complex, highest risk, and highest profile projects and programs. As a designated subject matter expert (SME), the Senior Project Engineer is widely recognized as a technical resource and practice leader within the department, as well as by external partners, regulators, and stakeholders.

The position requires application of expert judgment, a thorough understanding of regulatory guidelines and expectations for dam safety engineering, and an extensive knowledge of the power generation industry. The position also requires extensive project and contract management skills; excellent verbal and written communication skills; and ability to independently resolve complex problems with only general direction. The Senior Project Engineer provides leadership, coaching, technical direction, knowledge transfer, and assistance to technical employees and teams. Responsibilities may include Privileged and Confidential work.

PG&E is providing the salary range that the company in good faith believes it might pay for this position at the time of the job posting. This compensation range is specific to the locality of the job.  The actual salary paid to an individual will be based on multiple factors, including, but not limited to, specific skills, education, licenses or certifications, experience, market value, geographic location, collective bargaining agreements, and internal equity.  Although we estimate the successful candidate hired into this role will be placed towards the middle or entry point of the range, the decision will be made on a case-by-case basis related to these factors.​

A reasonable salary range is:​

California Minimum: $​153,828

California Maximum: $​197,628

Job 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. Job duties include, but are not limited to:

  • Assists teams of engineers, consultants, contract technical personnel, and support staff in collecting and evaluating data, conducting assessments and technical studies, performing engineering analyses, preparing reports, and developing recommendations to support the safe and reliable performance of PG&E's hydroelectric infrastructure, including dams, water conveyance, and appurtenant facilities.
  • Provides guidance, direction, and technical support for surveillance and monitoring, condition assessment, planning, engineering analysis and design, code and regulatory compliance, asset management, project construction, quality assurance, operation, maintenance, and repair of dams, canals, tunnels, flumes, penstocks, and other civil hydroelectric infrastructure.
  • Leads and applies extensive knowledge in the planning, design, permitting, and 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; may act as an engineering and/or project management mentor.
  • May oversee the work of other engineers.
  • Reviews, approves, leads, and/or performs engineering analyses, studies, designs, construction documents, regulatory submittals, and other work products.
  • 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.
  • Establishes and maintains internal guidelines for engineering studies and submittals to regulatory agencies.
  • Develops and/or evolves engineering processes, 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.
  • Develops and champions company-wide best practices.
  • Prepares and delivers technical presentations and briefings to PG&E leaders, various agencies, and the public as appropriate.
  • Mentors and provides guidance to less experienced team members.
  • Researches and develops innovative and appropriate solutions to complex technical problems.
  • Under limited general direction, independently plans and conducts work to meet assigned general objectives.
  • Performs other duties as assigned as related to engineering and project management.
  • Supports Supervising Engineers, Project Managers, and Principal Engineers.
  • Works with Supervisors and Principals for some duties.
  • Leads the development and implementation of programmatic solutions, process improvements, regulatory relations, contracting strategies, and very large and/or complex projects.
  • Represents PG&E at external industry associations, committees, trade organizations, and other inter-utility groups.

  External contacts primarily include directing project-related work and contract administration with contractors and vendors; providing information, conducting discussions, and obtaining approvals from regulatory agencies; and interaction with industry associations. Internal contacts are primarily with Power Generation personnel, including 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 and explore alternative solutions.

Qualifications

Minimum:

• 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:

• BS Degree in Civil Engineering
• Post-graduate degree in Civil Engineering with emphasis in hydrologic, hydraulic, and/or water resources engineering (or job-related discipline or equivalent experience)  
• Education, training, and expertise in hydrology and hydraulic engineering, including fluid mechanics, open channel and pressurized flow, hydraulic modeling, computational fluid dynamics (CFD) analysis, and precipitation, runoff, and flood routing studies
• Demonstrated experience with:
• Scripting, GIS and hydrologic and hydraulics software applications including HEC-HMS, RMC-BestFit, RMC-RFA, HEC-RAS (1D & 2D), HEC-LifeSim, Flow3D
• Hydrology development and analysis, flood frequency analysis
• Probable maximum precipitation and flood
• Inflow design flood assessment
• Dam breach modeling and inundation mapping
• Dam safety consequence analysis
• Spillway hydraulics
• Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) modeling
• Spillway rock scour analysis
• Engineering evaluation, assessment, maintenance, and repair of water storage, conveyance, and control structures including dams, spillways, canals, tunnels, pipelines, and associated gates and valves
• Analysis and design of dams, hydraulic control, and water conveyance structures
• Analysis, design, and assessment of penstocks, including dynamic/transient loading
• Alternatives analysis, design, permitting, construction, and quality control for large civil infrastructure projects
• Surveillance and monitoring of water storage and conveyance infrastructure and associated mechanical equipment
• Potential failure modes analysis, risk assessment and mitigation, and probabilistic methods
• Demonstrated competency in:
• Leading, mentoring, and developing people to meet their career goals and organizational objectives
• Providing direction, delegating, and removing obstacles to get work done
• Working independently, with limited oversight
• Consistently achieving results, even under difficult circumstances
• Holding self and others accountable to meet commitments
• Relating openly and comfortably with diverse groups of people
• Making sense of complex and sometimes contradictory information to effectively solve problems
• Knowing and applying effective and efficient processes to accomplish tasks, with a focus on continuous improvement
• Maneuvering comfortably through complex policy, process, and people-related organizational dynamics
• Planning and prioritizing work to meet commitments aligned with organizational goals
• Securing and deploying resources effectively and efficiently
• Advocating on behalf of an organization to achieve positive outcomes
• Seeing ahead to future possibilities and translating them into breakthrough strategies
• Facilitating discussions and meetings
• Negotiating between stakeholders to reach an agreement
• Knowledge of the generation industry, including extensive understanding, as applicable, of analysis, design, construction, and/or operation of rotating machines, dams, and water conveyance and experience interpreting applicable codes, standards, regulations, and practices
• Knowledge of relevant federal, state, and local laws, regulations, and guidelines for dam safety and power generation, including those administered by the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC), California Department of Water Resources Division of Safety of Dams (DSOD), and California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC)
• Knowledge of risk and compliance assessment and management theories, concepts, methods, techniques, and industry practices
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills; ability to use a variety of styles to connect with the intended audience; ability to present complex information to upper management on a variety of topics
• • Track record of ensuring high quality work by self and others on project team and overseeing work of less experienced team members
  • Experience integrating industry knowledge and best practices into everyday business practices and decision making; and providing others with interpretation and guidance on industry standards and regulations
  • 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