Project Engineer

About Us

Potelco, Inc., a subsidiary of Quanta Services, Inc. (NYSE: PWR), was founded in 1965. We specialize in engineering, procurement, and construction (EPC) services, including designing, estimating, material acquisition, project management, construction, emergency power restoration, system maintenance, and related services. Our expertise spans power, transmission, distribution, and substation projects. We are a leading full‑service provider of power infrastructure, construction, and support services for utility and energy contracting throughout the Pacific Northwest and neighboring states, working with the region’s largest energy companies to modernize electric systems, advance de‑carbonization, and maintain thousands of miles of overhead and underground lines serving millions of residential and commercial customers. We uphold high safety, productivity, and reliability standards while delivering current and forward‑thinking energy infrastructure solutions.

About This Role

The Engineering Department is seeking a Project Engineer to join the Transmission Team in Sumner, WA, supporting the Puget Sound Energy (PSE) contract and evaluating Joint Use applications for pole attachment and other PSE projects. The role requires at least one year of directly applicable experience within an electric utility or telecommunications environment, preferably using PLS‑CADD. Candidates without prior industry experience may be hired at the Associate Project Engineer level.

Responsibilities

• Review communications customer applications within the PSE service region.
• Utilize FEA in 3‑D modeling software to analyze electrical transmission support structures for strength capacity and clearance distance requirements, including additional loading from fiber optic cables, cellular arrays, and other equipment.
• Verify that project scope meets requirements of the National Electrical Safety Code (NESC), Washington Administrative Code (WAC), and other local and state codes.
• Recommend and design solutions to mitigate structural and clearance non‑conformances based on PSE design standards.
• Collaborate with customers to resolve inconsistencies in application documents, notifications, and scopes of work.
• Perform field site visits to gather and verify project and existing equipment information.
• Read and interpret utility standards, NESC, WAC, and jurisdictional requirements to analyze transmission structures, evaluate clearances, and design replacements.
• Use field notes, LiDAR, mapping software, records, photos, and other resources to complete 3‑D modeling for analysis and reporting.
• Apply critical thinking and deductive reasoning to solve complex problems where limited standardization exists.
• Communicate project status, concerns, obstacles, and make‑ready work clearly and tactfully with technical and non‑technical stakeholders, both verbally and in writing.
• Manage numerous concurrent projects with flexibility to shifting priorities.
• Perform other duties as assigned or requested.

Minimum Qualifications

• Bachelor’s Degree in Engineering or related field from an ABET‑accredited university; or three plus years related experience and/or training in lieu of education, or an equivalent combination of education and experience.
• Experience utilizing AutoCAD or other CAD/3‑D modeling programs.
• Ability to apply basic principles of mathematics and physics to solve simple problems by hand.
• Highly organized with a strong orientation to detail and quality work.
• Ability to read, analyze, and interpret technical information, procedures, and data in written, oral, diagram, or schedule form.
• Ability to write business correspondence and communicate effectively.

Desired Qualifications

• Familiarity with PLS‑CADD, O‑Calc, or other power‑industry‑specific CAD software.
• Experience in electric utility, telecommunications, or a related field.
• Understanding of the electric grid, including the basic purpose of common transmission and distribution system equipment.
• Knowledge of or experience using the NESC.

Benefits

• 401(k) with matching contributions
• Dental insurance
• Flexible Spending Account
• Health insurance
• Life insurance
• Paid Time Off
• Vision insurance

Compensation

The anticipated compensation for this position is $32.00–$48.00 per hour, depending on qualifications and experience.