Distribution Strategy Engineer I, II or Senior

Job Description

Job Specifications

Are you a new engineering graduate or new to Distribution Strategy/Planning work? If so, we have a great opportunity to complete an accelerated training program in Rapid City, SD for up to 12 months. This program focuses on the basic principles of electrical distribution planning, operations support, and provides core details on how utilities operate. Upon completion of the training, the engineer will relocate to Pueblo, CO and apply the concepts learned from school, prior internship/co-op experience, and our training program to a permanent Distribution Strategy Engineer role. 
Individuals with distribution strategy/planning and/or electrical engineering experience will be evaluated during the interview process and the training program length and/or focus may be altered, or the candidate may start working out of the Pueblo office immediately (day one of employment).
Once acclimated into the position, this individual will be responsible for short- and long-range planning studies; updating, validating, correcting, and developing distribution planning models; and supporting the electric operations teams with engineering field support.  

SALARY RANGE:  Determined by the knowledge, skills and abilities of the applicant.

• Level I: $60,350 - $90,600
• Level II:  $71,550 - $107,400
• Senior Level:  $78,200 - $117,300

REPORTING RELATIONSHIP:   Manager, Distribution Strategy 

LOCATION:   Pueblo, CO 

• A comprehensive relocation package is offered for this position! Details about this package will be shared during the interview or offer process.

ESSENTIAL JOB FUNCTIONS:

• Support reliability, operations, and future planning of our electric distribution systems (systems less than 25 kV). Investigating and analyzing system reliability performance data to report out to the organization.  
• Evaluate, analyze, coordinate, and implement short- and long-term planning for reliability and capacity expansion (proposing system improvements), as well as Smart Grid and renewable applications on the distribution system.  Develop supporting reports and present findings to leadership with corrective action plans to address deficiencies found within the studies completed.  
• Providing operational support for voltage issues, transformer overloads with root-cause investigation, in addition to supporting outage coordination and safety procedures.  
• Provide engineering responses for Operations support/questions and provide reasoning for the direction provided. 
• Performing circuit analysis reviews for loading, phase balancing, voltage concerns, reactive power, fault current, protection coordination, and contingency planning using Synergi Electric modeling software.
• Coordinating line protection devices including reclosers, line fuses, and interrupter switches, while working with the System Protection Engineer to recommend distribution feeder breaker settings.
• Supporting staff with Distributed Energy Resources (DER) analyses and proposals.
• Apply standard engineering practices and techniques, utilizing prescribed methods in carrying out a sequence of engineering tasks.  As needed, apply best practices for engineering related questions. 

ADDITIONAL RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Ensure compliance with federal, state, NERC and FERC regulations.
• Provide after-hours support to other BHE departments during outages and emergencies as needed.
• Other duties as assigned.  

QUALIFICATIONS:

• Bachelor’s degree in Engineering required.
• Level I: No experience required. 
• Level II:  Minimum one (1) year of experience related to electrical distribution planning and/or electrical operations support is required.
• Senior Level:  Minimum four (4) years of experience related to electrical distribution planning and/or electrical operations support is required.

KNOWLEDGE/SKILLS/ABILITIES:
Engineer I:

• Ability to become proficient in the Synergi software analysis tool.  
• Ability to prioritize workflow, establish schedule and monitor accomplishments.
• Ability to work independently as well as in cross-functional teams.
• Detail-oriented with a focus on documentation and organization.  
• Ability to understand questions/needs being presented from Operations and working with Manager, develop an engineering response and respond in a timely manner.  
• Strong verbal and written communication skills with the ability to effectively communicate with staff at all levels within the organization.  Be able to convey technical information to non-technical personnel.   
• Ability to learn and maintain proficiency with programming, using, and automation of new systems and software as technology evolves.
• Strong project management skills, ability to prioritize and complete multiple tasks in a timely manner with supervision and accurately record time spent on projects.
• Learn and apply fundamental concepts, practices and procedures of electrical engineering.
• Perform engineering analysis in close proximity to energized electrical facilities as required.  

If hired at an Engineer II level, below are the additional responsibilities from an Engineer I: 

• Good understanding of the tools and how to perform various types of analysis studies in the Synergi software analysis tool.  
• Ability to understand questions/needs being presented from Operations, develop a response for said question/need, present to Manager for final approval, and respond in a timely manner.  
• Good working knowledge of utility electrical system design philosophy and equipment operation.
• Good understanding of electrical circuits, drawings, and engineering analysis. 
• Ability to read/understand electrical one-lines, control drawings and schematics.
• Working knowledge of applicable technical and regulatory compliance standards.
• Strong project management skills, ability to prioritize and complete multiple tasks in a timely manner with some supervision and accurately record time spent on projects.
• Familiarity with the National Electrical Safety Code and electric utility industry safety work practices. 

If hired at a Senior level, below are the additional responsibilities from an Engineer II: 

• Proficient with the use of the tools and how to perform various types of analysis studies in the Synergi software analysis tool.  
• Ability to understand questions/needs being presented from Operations, develop a response for said question/need, and present in a timely manner to Operations with little to no guidance from Manager.  
• Expert working knowledge of utility electrical system design philosophy and equipment operation.
• Proficient in reading/understanding electrical one-lines, control drawings and schematics.
• Strong project management skills, ability to prioritize and complete multiple tasks in a timely manner with little supervision and accurately record time spent on projects.

MENTAL/PHYSICAL DESCRIPTIONS AND WORKING CONDITIONS:
The mental and physical descriptions are representative of the activities an employee in an office job performs. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.
Mental description: Understand, remember, apply oral and/or written instructions or other information, and communicate routine factual information. Apply common sense in performing job functions, usually within a set of rules or guidelines.
While performing the duties of this job, the employee continuously accesses, inputs, and retrieves electronic information and communicates regarding the information.  Employee frequently moves about the office space. Employee must be able to operate routine office equipment including computers and similar equipment. Must be able to routinely perform this work for an average of 6-8 hours per day and occasional extended hours as necessary. Must be capable of regular, reliable, and timely attendance.
Specific lifting abilities required by this job include sedentary work. Exerting up to 10 pounds of force occasionally and/or negligible amount of force frequently or continuously to lift, carry, push, pull or sitting most of the time. Jobs are sedentary if moving about is only occasionally and all other sedentary criteria are met.
Work environment: Routinely perform work indoors in climate-controlled shared work area with moderate noise level and occasionally outdoors in sometimes inclement weather. Worker may be subject to hazards including a variety of physical conditions such as proximity to moving mechanical parts, moving vehicles, electrical current, working in places of height or close quarters. Willing to travel up to 10% (e.g., 2 days/month) by automobile (as driver and passenger), commercial airlines, rental vehicles and public transportation and be able to lodge in public facilities. Travel will be necessary to conduct the duties of this job and the employee must have proper licensing to operate a motor vehicle.

This description is not intended to be an all-inclusive list of responsibilities, duties, and requirements for employees in this position. Job descriptions may and do change periodically. Where positions are covered by a collective bargaining unit agreement, the terms and conditions of the agreement will apply.

About our Company: We are a customer, growth and safety focused utility company that is dedicated to our communities. We improve life with energy as an energy partner of choice. Our diverse culture fuels unique perspectives, opening doors to new insights and possibilities. Based in Rapid City, South Dakota, we have over 3000 employees and serve 1.3 million natural gas and electric utility customers across eight states (South Dakota, Montana, Wyoming, Colorado, Nebraska, Iowa, Kansas, and Arkansas).

Enjoy our Comprehensive Benefits Package!  Annual incentive program, 401(k) (6% company match and up to 9% company retirement contribution), tuition reimbursement, paid time off, additional Veteran PTO, paid holidays and annual floating holidays, company paid short term and long term disability, paid maternity and paternity benefits, health and wellness program, and competitive medical, dental and vision insurance.

Candidates must successfully pass a pre-employment drug screen and background check. 

Black Hills Energy does not sponsor applicants for work visas. All applicants must be legally authorized to work in the US.

We are an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, age, or status as a protected veteran.