Lead Commissioning Engineer

About the Company

Wunderlich-Malec Engineering (WM) is a 100% employee-owned ESOP and one of the largest and most well-established engineering companies in the United States. As part of WM, you join a company that is:

• 100% employee-owned with 40+ years of industry history
• ENR (Engineering News Record) Top 500 firm
• Rated as a top System Integrator Giant

Responsibilities

• Review specifications and engineering drawings to understand the purpose and functionality of substations.
• Identify and resolve design errors.
• Manage and schedule the installation and commissioning with subcontractors, personnel, and customers in accordance with project requirements.
• Provide safety analysis and proper equipment isolation procedures.
• Develop a day-to-day outage plan for customers.
• Create detailed test procedures and sign-off sheets for each piece of equipment.
• Monitor construction and address technical questions during construction, installation, and testing.
• Service newly designed and experimental equipment, instilling confidence in the customer.
• Assist field crews and dispatch in developing switching sequences, ensuring proper hold points for testing are incorporated.
• Directly witness or perform critical tests such as DC Functional Trip Testing prior to energization and in-service.
• Direct crews during critical work junctures, typically during final commissioning and initial energization.
• Acknowledge substation modification completion and formally turn it over to Dispatch for operation within design limits.
• Support multiple capital projects simultaneously, rotating among jobs to monitor construction activities and review test results.
• Work extended hours/days near project completion for functional testing and equipment energization.
• Develop and maintain strong customer relationships, demonstrating awareness of customer needs and constraints.
• Handle customer service, sales, and difficult customer interactions to meet satisfaction.
• Support the development of estimates for client proposals and business development.
• Understand AC and DC elementary diagrams, wiring diagrams, and one-line drawings to develop testing requirements.
• Develop standard testing documentation, training procedures, and maintain project documentation including certifications and calibration records.
• Obtain NICET certification or equivalent.
• Program and test protection relays from GE, SEL, ALSTOM, SCHNEIDER, SIEMENS, and ABB, including developing programming macros for automated relay testing.

Requirements

• A Bachelor’s degree in engineering (electrical, mechanical, or engineering technology) from an accredited institution is preferred.
• Minimum of 8-20+ years of testing and commissioning experience, including:
  • In-depth understanding of three-phase power systems.
  • In-depth understanding of protection and control schemes and implementation.
  • Experience utilizing relay test sets with various relay vendors (SEL, GE, Beckwith, ABB, Basler, etc.) and electromechanical relays.
  • In-depth understanding of equipment testing (circuit breakers, transformers, circuit switchers, MOABS, CTs, PTs, batteries & chargers, transfer switches, line tuners, wave traps, carrier relays, etc.).
  • Experience executing in-service power measurements (load checks).
  • Experience leading crews to test and commission new and modified substations, including equipment isolation/restoration and complex circuit cutovers.
  • Experience with rotating machinery, including generators and excitation systems.
  • Experience testing previously programmed RTUs locally and remotely to system operators.
  • Experience with SCADA, RTU, and DFR systems.
• Ability to travel a minimum of 50%.
• Must possess and maintain a valid and unrestricted driver’s license.

Skills

• Proven ability to motivate, mentor, and optimize in a collaborative, team-oriented environment.
• Goal-oriented and focused with a strong drive, energy, enthusiasm, and proactive style.
• Experience managing technical projects of various sizes.
• Excellent communication (written and oral) and interpersonal skills.
• Excellent negotiation, influence, mediation, and conflict management skills.
• Proven ability with problem-solving and decision-making.
• Strong organizational, multi-tasking, and time-management skills.
• Strong budget management skills.
• Diverse skill set with the ability to work independently and act as a technical lead on projects.

Physical Demands

• Seeing, color perception, hearing, listening, clear speech, dexterity in hands.
• Driving, lifting, climbing, ability to mount and dismount equipment, pushing, and pulling.
• Exposure to warm and cold temperature conditions, sun exposure, moisture, and potential exposure to hazardous materials and electrical voltages.

Working Conditions

• Standard office work, work-from-home, and field leadership.
• On-site environment may require work in various temperature conditions, around moisture, on slippery or uneven surfaces, in confined spaces, and at heights.
• Frequent standing, driving a 4-wheel drive vehicle, and occasional bending, squatting, climbing, twisting, balancing, and reaching.
• Exposure to noise, vibrations, and chemicals.
• May require irregular or extended hours, subject to being on call and travel for project completion.

Benefits

• Medical, Dental, and Vision coverage.
• Basic and Supplemental Life and AD&D insurance.
• Long Term Disability and Voluntary Short Term Disability.
• Healthcare & Dependent Care Flexible Spending Accounts.
• Health Savings Account.
• Paid Time Off (PTO) and Paid Holidays.
• Tuition Reimbursement.
• Referral Bonus Program.
• 401(k)/Profit Sharing.
• 100% ESOP (Employee Stock Ownership Plan).
• Employee Assistance Program.
• Will Preparation Resources.
• Worldwide Travel Assistance.

Pay

The expected salary range is $140,000 - $185,000 annually, depending on qualifications, plus a discretionary bonus and employee stock program.