Senior Engineer, ATS - Performance Testing and Analysis

Requisition ID # 171770 

Job Category: Engineering / Science 

Job Level: Individual Contributor

Business Unit: Strategy & Growth

Work Type: Onsite

Job Location: Danville; Santa Rosa

Department Overview

Applied Technology Services (ATS) has been providing technology-based, innovative, high-value services to the Company for over 40 years. ATS is a multidisciplinary team of over 120 engineers, scientists, and technicians. The ATS vision is to be a forward-thinking, technological leader providing high-value solutions and services needed across the Company. ATS high-value services also help proactively avoid future problems through solutions and methods that are standard processes in the industry.

Position Summary

The Applied Technology Services (ATS) Engineering staff provides engineering, testing and analysis services, and expertise across multiple subject areas to various company organizations to identify, diagnose, and address technical problems. The team provides consultation and advice to clients to proactively avoid future problems by specifying equipment, materials, and methods that are standard processes in the industry. Services include technology demonstrations, energy efficiency codes & standards advocacy, appliance performance testing and analysis, customer electrification & decarbonization evaluation, and grid edge smart load interoperability testing.  The incumbents maintain knowledge of and implement to all Company and regulatory safety and quality processes and procedures. This is an on-site position, based in our San Ramon Technology Center office.

The Senior Engineer, Performance Testing and Analysis will be at the groundbreaking edge of this through performing sophisticated energy modeling and analysis, equipment prototyping, and laboratory and potentially field testing across a broad spectrum of customer technologies. The position will involve partnership with a broader team of engineers and technicians with experience working with a variety of equipment control and data acquisition solutions as well as common industry software such as EnergyPro and LabVIEW. The successful candidate will support both field and laboratory projects and use ATS facilities to host a range of technology evaluations including airside technology testing of residential and commercial HVAC and refrigeration systems, waterside technology testing of residential and commercial heat pump water heaters and domestic hot water distribution systems, and other customer energy efficiency & energy conservation initiatives. Work may range from general technical consultation or comprehensive support from planning through production implementation.

The selected candidate must live within PG&E’s service territory.

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, 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 Base Salary (Bay Area)            $122,000.00

Mid Base Salary (Bay Area)        $158,000.00

Maximum Base Salary (Bay Area)           $194,000.00

The ATS Grid Technology Engineering & Evaluation staff provides:

• Customer technology testing of residential and commercial HVAC, refrigeration, and hot water systems as part of the PG&E energy efficiency codes & standards portfolio
• Representation of ATS & PG&E at ASHRAE, AHRI, and ACEEE forums through research publication, presentation, and conference participation
• Technical consultation for customer energy efficiency & energy conservation evaluation initiatives
• Independent engineering technical review of field thermal and fluid performance test data and analysis in support of power generation asset management and condition assessment programs
• Support for energy standards development, modification and advocacy
• Ongoing energy efficiency, demand response, and self-generation incentive project audits, calculation verification and technical subject matter expert support for PG&E customer incentive programs
• Travel required; frequency depends on the assignment and is typically less than 5%.

Job Responsibilities

• Supports project team’s performing tests to identify, define, solve problems, and prepare technical reports and specifications.
• Completes assignments of broad scope and complexity with few precedents or standards requiring integration of information from a variety of sources
• May partner with stakeholder organization to develop grid advancement and electrification strategies.
• Develop existing and new relationships with other PG&E functional areas to understand expectations, concerns and ensure strong customer satisfaction.
• Develops test protocols, models, technologies and analyzes data
• Evaluates the performance of parts, assemblies or systems under simulated operating conditions, and records results
• Compiles project test results and preparation of reports and recommendations for client and Leadership
• Performs engineering studies and prepares system models and analysis tools
• Expands knowledge in other areas of specialty or field, developing breadth or further develops expertise and specialization in one area
• Identifies innovations and the cost-reduction potential of new and existing technologies
• May assist higher-level peers on the most sophisticated and innovative tests
• Continually identifies testing or process improvements
• Provides some mentor and guidance to junior level peers

Qualifications

Minimum:

• Bachelor’s Degree in Engineering with emphasis in a discipline related to assignments. (i.e., mechanical, civil or electrical engineering, etc.)
• 5 years of related experience

Desired:

• Master’s degree in Mechanical Engineering (Thermodynamics or fluid dynamics emphasis desired)
• Professional Engineer’s License
• Ability to work safely around low voltage test equipment, in lab and power plant environments.
• Strong investigative and analytical problem-solving skills
• Broad understanding of engineering research and testing concepts, theories, practices, methods, techniques in the area of specialization, as well as a general knowledge of other engineering specialties
• Understanding of quality assurance and quality control concepts and practices
• Excellent interpersonal and project management skills
• Leadership skills
• Communication, presentation, and teamwork skills
• Project management skills
• Good customer service orientation
• Programming experience including National Instruments LabVIEW, Python, MATLAB