Power Generation Engineer, Senior

Requisition ID # 145469 

Job Category: Power Generation; Engineering / Science 

Job Level: Individual Contributor

Business Unit: Electric Operations

Work Type: Hybrid

Job Location: Auburn

Department Overview

PG&E’s Power Generation Department manages and operates the largest privately-owned hydroelectric system in the nation. The system is comprised of68 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). The facilities are located mostly at high elevation in California mountain ranges including the Sierra Nevada and southern Cascade mountains.

The Water Management department is comprised of a total staff of 19 employees who provide hydrologic, hydrographic, and water rights support to the larger Power Generation Department.

Position Summary

This is a senior-level project engineer job that requires mastery of the Journey Project Engineer job duties and will be primarily responsible for water rights management, and technical support to Water Management, O&M and other departments for a wide range tasks. . The position requires an extensive knowledge of hydro power generation and/or watershed level operations and management;  project management skills; 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 is an ESC represented exempt classification currently subject to collective bargaining.

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:​

Minimum: $​142,908

Maximum: $​183,600

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.

The primary job duties of the Senior Water Management Engineer for PG&E’s Power Generation Department include, but may not be limited to the following:

• Preparation (including data collection) and submittal of annual and monthly (when required) water use reports with the State Water Resources Control Board.
• Processing of annual water right permit and license fees, and the processing of annual water quality certification fees for PG&E’s FERC-licensed hydro projects.
• Assisting with contract negotiations and project divestiture activities related to water rights and water contracts (e.g. water right transfers).
• Serving as PG&E’s internal Subject Matter Expert (SME) on water rights, water for power contracts, and related CPUC Energy Resource Recovery Account (ERRA) filings.
• Assisting PG&E’s Water Management group, Hydro Operations and Maintenance teams, and other departments on various water rights issues.
• Coordinating with PG&E’s Law Department on sensitive water rights and water contract issues.
• Participating in industry and regulatory meetings related to California water rights issues.

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

• 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:

• 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.

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