Principal, Work Methods & Procedures Specialist

Requisition ID # 172160 

Job Category: Maintenance / Construction / Operations 

Job Level: Manager/Principal

Business Unit: Energy Delivery

Work Type: Hybrid

Job Location: Oakland

Position Summary

We are seeking a Principal System Specialist to provide Principal-level technical leadership and field support that improves safety, reliability, and efficiency across substation high voltage system maintenance and construction. Reporting to the Work Methods & Procedures Manager, this role serves as a thought leader and subject matter expert (SME), partnering with cross-functional engineering or operations stakeholders to resolve complex work method issues, steward critical technical documentation, review diagnostic data and lead enterprise-wide substation initiatives.

The Principal System Specialist may focus on one or more areas of expertise including Substation Work Methods & Procedures, technical support to substation field maintenance and construction crews, Quality Control/Quality Assurance (QC/QA), human performance and event investigation support, and/or training development and delivery. This role applies principal-level technical knowledge to field support sessions, audits, investigations, and continuous improvement work. The incumbent develops, designs, and maintains bulletins, manuals, job aids, and tailboards aligned with electric standards (IEEE, CIGRE, NETA) and work procedures, and may be assigned to storm/emergency response and special projects such as implementation of online equipment monitoring or software systems in the field.

This role is hybrid and based in the East Bay Area and requires travel approximately 30% of the time for field support and/or factory/vendor audits. The Principal System Specialist regularly partners with stakeholders across the assigned line of business and may be assigned to field support for construction and maintenance, special projects, and emergency response activities. Work may include developing and maintaining technical documentation, supporting audits and investigations, and contributing to changes to maintenance programs and/or field system implementations. Must be available to support system emergencies, including work in less favorable weather conditions.

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. This job is also eligible to participate in PG&E’s discretionary incentive compensation programs.

A reasonable salary range is:
Bay Area Minimum: $136,000
Bay Area Mid-Point: $184,000
Bay Area Maximum: $232,000
&/OR
CA Minimum: $129,000
CA Mid-Point: $175,000
CA Maximum: $220,000

Scope of work/focus areas

•    Substation high and medium voltage (4kV-525kV) equipment technical support to field maintenance and construction crews
•    Apparatus QC/QA program support, and procedural adherence verification (including factory/vendor audits as assigned)
•    Human performance / root cause analysis, investigation support, and reporting initiatives
•    Training material development and delivery (ad hoc and/or through the PG&E Academy)
•    Technical documentation stewardship (bulletins, manuals, job aids, tailboards, and control documents)
•    Equipment failure investigations and field support for changes to maintenance programs, process and procedures
•    Special projects, including implementation of online diagnostic monitoring or software systems in the field
•    Strong electrcial troubleshooting and diagnostic health review skills in performing health testing and interpretation and understanding of results

This position supports work associated with high-voltage equipment ranging from 208 VAC to 500kV and requires hands-on experience commissioning, testing, troubleshooting, or supporting primary and secondary substation equipment (e.g., breakers/switchgear, transformers, load tap changers, and gas-insulated switchgear).

Job Responsibilities

• Provides technical leadership within the department and guidance to employees and cross-functional teams; coaches and develops others.
• Serves as a thought leader involved in strategic planning and direction-setting; develops strategy and delivers innovative solutions based on industry best practices and benchmarking.
• Applies deep subject matter expertise and advanced knowledge of concepts, principles, and practices to resolve unique and complex problems; identifies opportunities to improve company performance.
• Leads enterprise-wide initiatives and manages multiple large, complex projects; serves as a project/team leader across departments.
• Provides senior technical support to field crews for complex maintenance, construction, commissioning, troubleshooting, and emergent equipment issues, as assigned.
• May support or lead response and repairs to large-scale emergencies; provides emergency technical support to field personnel as necessary.
• Supports compliance, audit, and data request responses (e.g., regulatory, internal audit) as a technical SME; may support legal proceedings as a witness/SME when needed.
• Leads and/or supports development and delivery of technical training (classroom and field/simulated environments); prepares lesson plans and coaches/mentors to build technical proficiency.
• Serves as document steward for assigned technical procedures and control documents; maintains and updates documents within established review cycles and governance.
• Supports and/or reviews investigations of equipment failures and human factor-related events; performs analysis, develops recommendations, and supports implementation of corrective actions.
• Participates in QC/QA activities to confirm programs exist and evaluate effectiveness of procedural adherence and training; may require travel to perform factory/vendor audits.
• Reviews asset health and supports interpretation and/or performance of electrical test results (e.g., Doble/power factor testing) and fluid diagnostics (e.g., SF6 sampling, dissolved gas analysis) as assigned.

Qualifications

Minimum:

•    High School Diploma or GED
•    A minimum of 10 years of relevant experience with 4 years in distribution planning or a related function with experience managing or sponsoring complex engineering projects and 2 years working with network systems
•    Technical Training Certification (COMPTIA), or equivalent, required, Journeyman certification

Desired:

•    Certified Journeyman Electrician, Electrical Technician/Tester, or equivalent.
•    5+ years testing, commissioning, troubleshooting, or supporting primary and secondary substation equipment (e.g., breakers, switchgear, transformers, load tap changers, GIS).
•    NETA certification (Level 2+ preferred; Level 3+ a plus) and/or demonstrated equivalent high-voltage testing competence.
•    Experience reviewing or performing Doble testing and interpreting results (e.g., power factor).
•    Experience with SF6 sampling and/or dissolved gas analysis (DGA) for oil-filled equipment.
•    Guidance Document Author Training (CORP-0521) or similar technical writing/document governance experience.
•    Advanced analysis and problem-solving skills; strong written and verbal communication.
•    Project management experience with strong prioritization and ability to lead cross-functional efforts.
•    Degree in Electrical Engineering or related field (preferred).