Reliability Engineer/Engineer Associate

This posting will fill 3 positions: one supporting the Northwest Region, one supporting the Northeast Region, and one supporting the Coastal Region. Relocation assistance is available for qualified candidates if needed.

About the role

The Area Reliability Engineer’s primary responsibilities are to support distribution reliability needs in their assigned area(s) and to support GPC distribution reliability initiatives by assisting with corporate reliability projects throughout the state. The successful candidate must be a champion of Safety Excellence. Safety and attention to detail are paramount in this position.

The Area Reliability Engineer will perform field investigations, analyze outage management system data, SCADA data, and metering data to determine root causes impacting distribution reliability and then engineer solutions to optimize system performance. This position will perform circuit studies within their assigned area(s) and in other areas around the state based on priority of corporate reliability objectives. All reliability projects must be thoroughly evaluated to ensure maximized effectiveness.

Responsibilities include working with the Distribution Automation team on commissioning, testing, and maintaining distribution automation equipment, protective relays, controls, and communication equipment. The Area Reliability Engineer will perform, in conjunction with the Distribution Automation group, all work needed to program and commission electronic devices installed on the distribution system. The successful candidate will be considered the subject matter expert on protection and coordination in their assigned area(s).

This position requires interaction with multiple work groups including P&C Applications, Operations Support, and P&C Field Services &/or Distribution Automation. The Area Reliability Engineer will provide technical expertise, breaker relay settings, and protective device relay settings as needed, working closely with area engineering, Distribution Planning, Area Planning, Renewables, and the TMC organization.

The Area Reliability Engineer must ensure proper implementation of Company reliability strategies and coordination of protective schemes. When system upgrades occur, they must ensure that protective equipment is sized appropriately, both in terms of continuous load carrying capacity and fault interrupting capability. This position will review outage data regularly for quality assurance, monitor trends in performance, and investigate device operations to ensure proper coordination, taking corrective action(s) if necessary.

The successful candidate must maintain visibility, communicate effectively, promptly respond to concerns, and provide SERP & Supervisor On-Call support for their assigned area(s). They must be capable of building rapport and establishing professional working relationships with all GPC stakeholders.

Responsibilities

• Support distribution reliability needs in assigned area(s) and corporate reliability projects.
• Perform field investigations and analyze outage management system data, SCADA data, and metering data to determine root causes impacting distribution reliability.
• Engineer solutions to optimize system performance and perform circuit studies.
• Work with the Distribution Automation team on commissioning, testing, and maintaining distribution automation equipment, protective relays, controls, and communication equipment.
• Program and commission electronic devices installed on the distribution system.
• Serve as subject matter expert on protection and coordination in assigned area(s).
• Provide technical expertise, breaker relay settings, and protective device relay settings to various work groups.
• Ensure proper implementation of Company reliability strategies and coordination of protective schemes.
• Ensure protective equipment is sized appropriately during system upgrades.
• Review outage data for quality assurance and monitor performance trends.
• Investigate device operations to ensure proper coordination and take corrective actions if necessary.
• Maintain visibility, communicate effectively, and provide SERP & Supervisor On-Call support.
• Build rapport and establish professional working relationships with all GPC stakeholders.
• Provide guidance on customer-related inquiries and distributed generation interconnection evaluations.
• Demonstrate skills obtained in GPC Level II Distribution Certification courses.
• Write and execute switching orders.
• Support restoration efforts in-state and out-of-state, including overnight travel and remote location work.

Requirements

• Bachelor of Science in Engineering, Engineering Technology, or a related field (e.g., Mathematics, Science); 4-year ABET accredited degree is required.
• Engineer in Training (EIT) certification is a plus.
• Professional Engineer (PE) license is preferred.
• Minimum of 3 years of operations experience in one or more of the following areas: Electric Power Distribution Operations, Electric Power Transmission Operations, Protection & Control (P&C) Field Services, P&C Applications.
• Knowledge of Section 0 and demonstration of Safety Excellence at all times.
• Knowledge of Southern Company engineering and construction best practices, distribution operating procedures, and the NESC.
• Self-starter, able to work independently and prioritize multiple work assignments.
• Knowledge of electric utility distribution system operations, overhead and underground distribution design, distribution automation, and coordination of protective devices is preferred.
• Capable of producing designs that enhance system reliability performance.
• Ability to articulate and enforce applicable Company policies while providing excellent service for internal & external customers.
• Capable of creating quality distribution work orders, estimates, and construction prints.
• Knowledge of Microsoft Office products and related engineering software systems is preferred.
• Working knowledge of CymTCC and CymDist is preferred.
• Effective project management and organizational skills.
• Ability to manage multiple tasks and meet strict deadlines.
• Effective communication skills and ability to work well with internal and external customers.
• Capable of working in a team environment supporting multiple organizations such as Sales, Customer Service, Area & Distribution Planning, and Renewables.
• Knowledge of Georgia Power Company Distribution Bulletins, the Engineering Handbook, and other relevant Company guidelines is preferred.
• Capable of meeting the Official Transmission and Distribution Switching & Clearance List criteria.

Other Requirements

• Ability to work outdoors in all weather conditions.
• Position requires walking through rough and uneven terrain.
• Ability to lift or move approximately 25 pounds of equipment and materials.
• Familiarity with hand tools and test equipment to repair mechanical and/or electrical equipment is desired.
• Willingness to serve in the supervisor on-call rotation at the assigned work location.
• Availability for local area emergency assistance after hours, nights, weekends, and holidays.
• Ability to support restoration efforts in-state and out-of-state.
• Must be available to travel overnight and provide statewide support while working alone and driving to remote locations.
• Must currently hold a valid Driver's License.
• Strong technical aptitude and problem-solving skills.

Behavioral Attributes

• Committed to Safety Excellence as a core value.
• Demonstrates “Our Values”: Safety First, Intentional Inclusion, Act with Integrity, and Superior Performance.
• Maintains a “Questioning Attitude” continuously seeking opportunities for improvement.
• Demonstrates a genuine interest to understand and respect different perspectives.
• Supports continual learning and Human Performance principles.
• Takes full ownership and proactively takes the initiative to resolve issues in a timely manner.
• Ability to function and contribute in an inclusive team environment.
• Self-motivated with the ability to work independently.
• Looks for opportunities to develop themselves and others.

Benefits

Southern Company invests in the well-being of its employees and their families through a comprehensive total rewards strategy that includes competitive base salary, annual incentive awards for eligible employees, and health, welfare, and retirement benefits designed to support physical, financial, and emotional/social well-being. This position may also be eligible for additional compensation, such as an incentive program. A summary of the benefits offered for this position can be found here.