Manager, Engineering and Substation Operations

Purpose

Manage and direct all substation operations, maintenance, protection and control engineering, and field personnel activities. Responsible for planning, organizing, budgeting, directing, and leading all aspects of substation field operations (inspections, switching, maintenance, emergency response), relay and protection engineering for substations and the distribution/transmission line system (including reclosers, fuses, and sectionalizing devices), and capital planning activities associated with expansion and refurbishment of substation facilities. Serves as the single point of contact for all substation-related activities. Leads the development of manpower, man-hour, and labor cost requirements for projects and monitors actuals-to-estimate comparisons. Responsible for performance management, mentoring, and training of field personnel and engineers. Creates and maintains productive relationships with organizations both within and external to Operations and Engineering. Must be able to balance priorities, handle multiple assignments, and take decisive action.

Accountabilities

• Direct and supervise substation engineers and field personnel including technicians, electricians, and inspection staff to ensure safe, reliable, and compliant operations of all substation facilities.
• Establish and manage substation inspection programs, preventive maintenance schedules, and condition-based monitoring to maintain equipment health and regulatory compliance.
• Serve as the single point of contact for all substation operations issues, coordinating across engineering, system operations, construction, and field crews.
• Lead, oversee, review, and approve the work of the protection and control engineering function, including short circuit studies, relay settings, coordination studies, substation control drawings, and other necessary deliverables for substations and the line system. 
• Own relay and protection coordination for the entire system, including substation relaying, line reclosers, sectionalizing fuses, and associated protective devices, ensuring proper coordination from source to load. 
• Develop and manage switching procedures, outage coordination, and emergency response protocols for substation operations.
• Provide technical guidance to internal and external project teams for adherence to organizational design standards, protection coordination philosophy, and industry best practices.
• Improve overall department performance through continuous training, detailed instruction, professional development, and purposeful motivation of field operations and protection engineering personnel.
• Organize and prioritize the work of the department and assigned resources to align with projected capital project construction and in-service milestones.
• Develop and manage department O&M and capital budgets to approved levels.
• Collaborate with NERC Compliance department and monitor regulatory and standardizing bodies to maintain familiarity with applicable protection, operations, and maintenance requirements.
• Lead and oversee root cause analysis, corrective action planning, and submission of any applicable NERC data reporting for system events, relay misoperations, and equipment failures.
• Support the development and execution of asset management strategies for substation equipment, including transformers, breakers, switches, batteries, and protection systems.
• Manage contractor and vendor relationships for specialized substation maintenance, testing, and commissioning activities.

Education and Experience

• Bachelor's degree in Electrical Engineering or related field
• 8+ years of electric utility substation engineering, operations, or related experience
• Demonstrated experience with relay protection and coordination for substation and distribution/transmission line systems
• Experience supervising field personnel preferred
• Professional Engineer (P.E.) license preferred

What We Offer

As a valued member of our team, you will enjoy competitive pay that reflects your skills and experience. You will also have access to a comprehensive benefits package that includes:

• • Medical, Dental, and Vision coverage & a 401K plan with a 5% match, effective day one
  • Annual bonus and merit increase eligibility
  • Life insurance, and short-term & long-term disability
  • Employee Stock Purchase Program 
  • Free Employee Assistance Program & Headspace account
  • 3 weeks of vacation, 5 sick days, 12 paid company holidays, & 3 paid volunteer days 
  • Tuition reimbursement, professional development opportunities, & reimbursement for certification costs
  • Reward & recognition programs, service awards, a great company culture, and a collaborative & flexible work environment

Compensation

Full salary range: $133,018 - 199,526 per year

*Liberty considers several factors when extending an offer, including but not limited to, the role and responsibilities, a candidate's work experience, education, training and skills, and geographic location.