Senior Failure Analysis Engineer
Requisition ID # 144637
Job Category: Engineering / Science
Job Level: Individual Contributor
Business Unit: Electric Engineering
Work Type: Onsite
Job Location: San Ramon
Department Overview
PG&E’s 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 by specifying equipment, materials, and methods that are best practices in the industry.
ATS’s Materials Engineering & Failure Analysis group provides a range of services, which include failure analysis, material selection, and specification and procedure development.
Facility Description: ATS has a Metallurgical laboratory with an emphasis on Failure Analysis. The laboratory is equipped with a Scanning Electron Microscope (SEM), several light microscopes, an image analysis system, micro-hardness testers, and a mechanical testing lab.
Position Summary
A successful candidate will have demonstrated the ability to independently lead failure analysis projects with previous experience in planning, executing, and reporting. The ideal candidate will be capable of performing hands-on root cause failure analysis of electrical components rated above 60 Volts, mechanical assemblies, and related materials. An ideal candidate strong knowledge of failure modes including metallurgy, polymer, and electrical. Materials you will most likely encounter on the job are Steel (pipes, valves, vessels), Aluminum (wire, fittings, connectors), Copper (wire, valves), ceramics (insulators), and polymers (insulators, cables). A suitable candidate will have experience using scientific methods and work experience analyzing test results including in-depth knowledge of non-destructive (NDE), destructive examination techniques, and material/manufacturing processing techniques. A suitable candidate will have previous knowledge and experience reading and interpreting engineering drawings, product specifications, and other technical documents. A successful candidate will have experience troubleshooting mechanical and electrical components.
This role will occasionally assist in miscellaneous engineering/test projects as necessary
Strong oral and written communication skills with a customer focus and a can-do attitude are required.
Successful candidates should be able to communicate with client, other failure analysis engineers, and metallurgical technicians to develop test plans with effective test results in a fast-paced environment. This job requires developing and promoting strong client relationships, having a can-do attitude and being sensitive to client issues. The right candidate will participate and actively contribute in a team environment of brainstorming, troubleshooting, and problem-solving efforts.
Travel requirement: 5-15% of the time, throughout the PG&E 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, collective bargaining agreements, and internal equity.
A reasonable salary range is:
Bay Area Minimum: $122,000
Bay Area Maximum: $194,000
&/OR
California Minimum: $116,000
California Maximum: $184,000
This job is also eligible to participate in PG&E’s discretionary incentive compensation programs.
Responsibilities
- Safety: Demonstrate safe working practices at all times. Advocate focus on customer, general public and employee safety in all work practices.
- Client Management: Consulting experience is a plus, excellent communication skills (oral and written) are essential. Successful candidates should work well with others and have a client focus. Job requires developing and promoting strong client relationships, having a can do attitude and being sensitive to client issues.
- Job Management: Plan and direct laboratory projects and administer outside contract work effectively. Experience with job development - including scope definition, schedule and cost estimates are crucial.
- Written documentation of results, and conformance with established practices for generating and archiving reports. Adhere to sample logging and tracking procedures and comply with project tracking/management requirements.
Qualifications
Minimum:
- Possess a Bachelor of Science degree in Mechanical Engineering, Electrical Engineer, Materials Engineering, Metallography, Physics or equivalent
- 5 years of related experience in failure analysis
Desired:
- Experience performing root cause analysis on electrical and mechanical failure mechanisms of mechanical components and power electronics rated above 60 Volts
- Fully proficient with metallurgical laboratory assessment techniques (mechanical testing, optical microscopy, high mag photography, metallography, scanning electron microscope evaluation of fracture surfaces, etc.)
- Experience with managing projects including defining scope, creating a plan, and scheduling the work
- Project Management Professional (PMP) Certifications
- Demonstrated ability to work in a team environment, managing multiple tasks to achieve significant goals.
- Able to present complex data and technical information in a simple and easy-to-understand manner
- Outstanding communication, presentation, and interpersonal skills working within all levels of the organization
- Comfortable with computers: familiar with MS Outlook, Word, Excel, Access, and PowerPoint
- Experience with materials management (sample log-in, tracking, and following internal procedures for chain of custody)
- Experience working in the gas, electric or electric power generation industries