Longmont, CO (pop. 100,758) Longmont Power and Communications (LPC) is conducting a national search for both a professional Electrical Engineer and a Senior Electrical Engineer with pay commensurate with experience. Longmont Power & Communications (LPC) is the City’s not-for-profit electric since 1912 and is also now the internet service provider using Power For Life™ along with NextLight™ internet speeds that are among the fastest in the nation. LPC is seeking both a full-time Electrical Engineer and/or Senior Electrical Engineer as Longmont makes the transition to 100% renewable energy by 2030. This is a combined advertisement for both positions. The current vacancy may be filled at either level, dependent on the selected candidate’s qualifications.
Longmont is a home rule municipality located in Boulder and Weld counties. Longmont is located northeast of the county seat of Boulder and 33 miles north-northwest of the Colorado State Capitol in Denver and only thirty miles from Rocky Mountain National Park. Longmont is home to multiple high-tech companies and boasts a vibrant restaurant scene.
The Electrical Engineer/Senior Electrical Engineer will be working on a wide variety of projects and initiatives, including GIS, outage management systems, possible community solar and storage projects, and new distributed energy resources. The successful candidate will also be supporting Longmont’s substations and SCADA system, retrofitting and upgrading our substation control system equipment, and taking the lead in bringing new power transformers onto the system. Finally, as part of Longmont’s larger team, the Engineer will be working with various City departments and Longmont’s wholesale energy provider, Platte River Power Authority.
If you are proactive and motivated by a high public service opportunity, accomplishment, and reward, with persistence, dedication, and drive to work diligently with a team, you are an ideal choice.
Position Responsibilities
Electrical Engineer:
Review and develop electric system configuration recommendations for efficiency and improved operating conditions.
Design and implement Smart Grid and microgrid configurations and systems.
Create, review changes, validate, and update underlying data for system models.
Research, evaluate, and determine best options to integrate and propagate Distributed Energy Resources (DER’s).
Make recommendations for substation and distribution equipment upgrades.
Create associated wiring schematics and wiring diagrams appropriate for substation technical staff and distribution crews to make the recommended upgrades.
Calculate reliability indices, participate in APPA’s benchmarking program, and make recommendations for improved system reliability indices.
Serve as project engineer on major Capital Improvement, complex, and high-profile projects.
Attend and participate in professional group meetings; and stay abreast of new trends and innovations in the field of Electric Utility Engineering.
Serve as a City representative on City, PRPA, and other industry committees.
Provide support for integration between various CIS, GIS, OMS, Electric System Modeling, Project Tracking, Financial, Asset Management, AMI, and HR systems
Performs essential duties and additional tasks in a manner which enhances accomplishment of the City’s Attributes.
Both Electrical Engineer and Senior Electrical Engineer:
Provide technical or supervisory support for various electric outage restoration functions including reconnaissance, dispatching, OMS operation, SCADA, and GIS program support.
Perform voltage drop, flicker, fault current, and arc flash calculations.
Perform system feeder analysis, contingency studies, coordination studies, and load forecasting using engineering analysis and modeling software.
Review, update, and create substation electrical schematics, wiring diagrams, one-line diagrams, and three-line diagrams.
Provide AMI support.
Review and maintain LPC standards and specifications.
Assist substation technical staff with the testing of and/or troubleshooting of substation breakers, relays, controls, and protective devices.
Develop, review, and implement electric system switching procedures.
Assist with document development and audit materials preparation for NERC reliability and FERC compliance efforts.
Act as technical resource expert in engineering matters. Assist in the development of the Capital Improvement Plan (CIP) and budget. Analyze material or system failures; consult with manufacturers and other utilities regarding failures; and report results.
Analyze distribution and substation system behavior to identify and correct abnormal operations.
Assist in the implementation and use of the Department’s Outage Management, Field Staking, and Mapping systems.
SCADA (Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition): Including performing regular technical programming of the SCADA system and programming and troubleshooting assistance as needed during special testing and operations. Confer with dispatch operators, project engineers and supervisors regarding SCADA and relay issues. Provide general and technical support to staff. Develop, implement, and maintain procedures for documenting activities in instrumentation and control areas related to programming of RTU’s, relays, and HMI software, field implementation and testing of programming changes, and process control improvements.
Senior Electrical Engineer Only (in addition to Electrical Engineer capabilities):
Serve as project engineer or project manager on major Capital Improvement, complex, and high-profile projects.
Responsible for project quality, scheduling, project finances, and providing first-level supervision to project staff.
Serve as a City representative, or supervise participation by other City staff, on City, PRPA, and other industry committees.
Provide in-depth database and systems architecture expertise for integration between various CIS, GIS, OMS, Electric System Modeling, Project Tracking, Financial, Asset Management, AMI, and HR systems.
Qualifications Required
Bachelor’s Degree from an ABET-accredited (or international equivalent) college or university with major coursework in Electrical Engineering or a related field or any combination of education and experience equivalent to a Bachelor’s Degree
Three or more years of experience performing professional electrical engineering work
Electric utility experience, preferably in a public utility
Possession of a valid State of Colorado Driver’s License or have the ability to obtain within 30 days of hire for out of state candidates
Candidate Preferences:
Demonstrated mastery of the electrical engineering responsibilities
Possession of an Engineer-In-Training certificate or registration as a Professional Engineer in the State of Colorado
Advanced college course work, advanced degree, or specialized certification in the electric utility field
Supervisory experience
Compensation
$109,956 to $134,892 per year depending on qualifications and experience. Excellent fringe benefits, including Medical, Dental, Vision, Flex Spending, Defined Benefit Pension Plan, 401(a) Money Purchase Plan, Life & Survivor, Term Life & AD&D, Long Term Disability, Bereavement, Jury & Witness Duty, FMLA, Military Leave, Sick, Vacation, Holiday pay, EAP, Tuition Assistance, along with optional employee-selected voluntary benefits. Flexible schedule and remote/hybrid work location available with supervisor approval.
Selection
The selection process includes two interviews, computer testing, a background investigation, a criminal background check, and substance screening. Some information in your application may be public information under the Colorado law.
Apply
To www.GovHRjobs.com with résumé, cover letter, and contact information for three professional references by Thursday, June 15, 2023. Position open until filled and may be closed without advance notice. Questions may be addressed to Ryan Cotton, Vice President, GovHR USA at 847-380-3240, Ext. 114.
The City of Longmont offers Equal Opportunity for employment to all qualified applicants. It is the policy of the City of Longmont not to discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, creed, national origin, sex, sexual orientation, age, ancestry, veteran status, or disability unless related to a bona fide occupational requirement. If you need special assistance in the selection process, please contact the Human Resources Department in advance to make arrangements. AN EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER ALL CITY OF LONGMONT FACILITIES ARE SMOKE FREE.
GovHRUSA is a certified woman-owned business that provides comprehensive executive recruitment, interim staffing, human resources consulting and organizational analysis consulting services for local governments, intergovernmental organizations, school districts as well as other governmental and non-profit entities. GovHRUSA consultants have worked in all areas of local government leadership including city/county management, human resources, public safety, finance, public works, parks and recreation, and utilities. This combined hands-on knowledge and experience have made GovHRUSA a proven leader in public sector consulting.