Lead Commissioning Engineer

About the role

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. When you join WM, you become part of a company that is: 100% employee-owned with 40+ years of industry historyENR (Engineering News Record) Top 500 firmRated as a top System Integrator Giant

Responsibilities

• Review specifications and engineering drawings to understand the purpose and functionality of substation.
• Identify and resolve design errors.
• Manage and schedule the installation and commissioning with subcontractors, personnel and customer in accordance with project requirements.
• Provide safety analysis and proper equipment isolation procedure.
• Provide a day-to-day outage plan for customers.
• Develop detailed test procedures and sign-off sheet for each piece of equipment.
• Monitor the construction and be available to address technical questions as they arise during construction, installation and testing.
• Demonstrate ability to service newly designed and experimental equipment, which has not been seen before, and instill confidence in the customer.
• Assist field crews and dispatch in developing switching to properly sequence in equipment, making sure 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.
• Acknowledge substation modification is complete and functional and formally turns it over to Dispatch to be operated within its design limits.
• Lead Commissioning Engineer is expected to support several capital projects occurring at the same time. As required, they rotate amongst the jobs, keeping abreast of the construction activities, reviewing test results and monitoring the work to anticipate any problems and gauge their level of involvement from a technical support perspective.
• Near project completion, as the equipment is ready to have its control schemes functionally tested and the equipment energized, commissioning engineer will likely be required to work extended hours/days in a row at a particular job site.
• Developing and maintaining strong working relationships with customers, demonstrates an awareness of customer needs, preferences, and time and financial constraints.
• Supports the development of estimates for client proposals and further business development.
• Ability to understand AC and DC elementary diagrams, wiring diagrams and one-line drawings for the purpose of understanding system operation and developing testing requirements and procedures.
• Develop standard testing documentation, training procedures and maintain all project documentation including certifications and calibration records.
• Candidate should be able to obtain NICET certification or equivalent.
• Knowledge of programming and testing protection relays from GE, SEL, ALSTOM, SCHNEIDER, SIEMENS, and ABB. Ability to develop programming macros for use in automated relay testing.
• Ideal Candidate Qualifications: Proven ability to motivate, mentor, and optimize in a collaborative, team-oriented environmentGoal oriented and focusedStrong drive, energy, enthusiasm, and proactive styleExperience managing technical projects of various sizesExcellent communication (written and oral) & interpersonal skillsExcellent negotiation, influence, mediation & conflict management skillsProven ability with problem solving and decision makingStrong organizational, multi-tasking, & time-management skillsStrong budget management skillsDiverse skill set with the ability to work independently. Will act as technical lead on projects and guide less experienced engineers/technicians. May also act as Commissioning Engineer on projects.

Qualifications

• A Bachelor’s degree in engineering (electrical, mechanical or engineering technology) from an accredited institution is preferred.
• A minimum of 8-20+ years testing & commissioning experience should include:
• In-depth understanding of three-phase power systems
• In-depth understating of protection and control schemes and implementation
• In-depth experience utilizing relay test sets with various relay vendors including SEL, GE, Beckwith, ABB, Basler, etc. and various manufacturers of 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.
• In-depth experience executing in-service power measurements (load checks)
• In-depth experience leading crews to test and commission new and modified substations including equipment isolation/restoration and complex circuit cutovers being mindful to mitigate inadvertent operations
• In-depth 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

Requirements

• Travel Ability to travel a minimum of 50%
• Driver’s License Must possess and maintain a valid and unrestricted driver’s license
• Physical Demands of Position Seeing, color perception, hearing, listening, clear speech, dexterity in hands, driving, lifting, climbing, ability to mount and dismount equipment, pushing, and pulling, warm and cold temperature conditions, sun exposure, moisture, potential exposure to hazardous materials and electrical voltages.
• Working Conditions Standard office work, work-from-home, and in the field leadership: On site environment could require work in various temperature conditions; in and/or around moisture, on slippery and/or uneven surfaces, in confined spaces, and at heights; will require frequent standing, driving a 4-wheel drive vehicle, and occasional bending, squatting, climbing, twisting, balancing, and reaching; will have exposure to noise, vibrations and chemicals. May require irregular or extended hours, subject to being on call and travel for project completion.