Operations Engineer - Johnson City, United States - BrightRidge

Description

Job Description

JOB SUMMARY:

Analyze and contribute to the work completed by the control room to ensure a safe working environment for service and construction crews, internal and contracted. Assist with developing processes and procedures that expand services offered by the control room to improve reliability, resiliency, real time monitoring, and safety for field personnel. Monitors the Outage Management System (OMS) for accuracy, possible upgrades, and error resolution. Assists in the control room providing engineering support for the transmission and distribution system.

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS:

• Write switching orders to transfer load for maintenance, system optimization, and emergency response to meet lockout/tagout procedures as defined by APPA.
• Analyze operations information to determine reliability indices. Compare BrightRidge system reliability with forecast estimates and national standards.
• Recommend and establish communications standards and best practices between the control room and other departments.
• Identify gaps in daily processes and leverage OMS software to improve daily functionality for BrightRidge.
• Interact with OMS vendor software staff to keep BrightRidge assets current.
• Establish and direct the use of OMS specifications and standards, ensuring integrity and efficient utilization of automation.
• Plan, develop, and conduct comprehensive training programs that include scenario, remedial, and on the job training with Mapwise, OMS, SCADA, Tantalus, and NexTraq.
• Develop test scenarios to be utilized in training and requalifying control room operators.
• Establish processes and procedures for operating equipment such as: breakers, reclosers, and IntelliRupters.
• Develop, present, and suggest new methods to operate the power system more effectively and economically.
• Prepare technical reports to summarize system disturbances, and economic cost benefit analysis while detailing more efficient operating methods.
• Coordinate with engineering department to develop and maintain alarm limit values in all systems for operational parameters that safely monitors the system.
• Coordinate with engineering department on system planning projects to meet system operating objectives of the control room through effective and safe implementation.
• Assist with developing, implementing, and maintaining programs that expand services offered by the control room. These programs will improve reliability, real time monitoring, and safety for field personnel. This list of suggestions will expand as the industry advances:
  • Real time monitoring of distribution and transmission system devices
  • Real time monitoring of power flow at delivery points and distribution substations
  • TALO and DERMS system events for demand response
  • Root cause analysis and sequence of events during outages
  • Load forecasting at system and sub-system level
  • Procedures during automation events
  • Continuous substation camera monitoring
  • Asset health/asset management
  • DMS/ADMS
• Read one-line diagrams for distribution and transmission system.
• Assist in the control room; dispatching field personnel and answering customer calls.
• Ability to maintain reliable, predictable, and reasonable attendance.

ADDITIONAL RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Must maintain a valid driver's license from the state of residence.
• Must be available for after-hours work which would include working fair share of all. necessary overtime.
• Assist in the Control Room during emergency situations.
• Perform other duties as requested or assigned by Administration.

KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS, AND ABILITIES:

• Ability to effectively manage change as the organization implements new procedures, processes, and programs.
• Ability to analyze problems and develop effective solutions at the functional level.
• Must maintain competency in the study, design, construction, and operation of all aspects concerning the electric utility industry.
• Working knowledge of transmission and distribution relaying, breaker and recloser functions, distribution automation protection schemes, and FLISR.
• Must be able to read, interpret, and convey details of schematic diagrams.
• Ability to distinguish full range of colors in order to be successful with completing duties involving the use of computer displays to monitor color-coded diagrams.
• Must be able to communicate effectively, both orally and in writing.
• Knowledge of modern training and safety practices.
• Willing to take additional training as needed.
• Demonstrate behavior consistent with BrightRidge's culture in the spirit and core values of technical competency, respect and dignity, accountability, integrity, trustworthiness, and servant leadership to empower or otherwise enable others to optimally perform their job responsibilities.
• Demonstrate and promote ethics and behaviors consistent with BrightRidge's culture, Board policies, and business practices. Understand and fulfill the role and responsibility for all compliance.

PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS:

The position requires constant vision and sitting. Frequent handling, talking, hearing, depth perception, and arm/hand machine control operation is required. Approximately 10% of this position's time is spent outside observing and studying operations of utility personnel to improve functions of the control center. Employee may be required to ambulate on uneven terrain.

WORKING CONDITIONS:

Generally, work is performed in an indoor temperature-controlled office environment with appropriate lighting.

QUALIFICATIONS:

• Four-year degree in engineering, electrical technology, electronics, and computer technology, or a similar field with at least three years of related, progressive experience in a distribution utility role, providing support and management for key operational systems.
• Significant background in electric utility distribution engineering that includes progressively responsible engineering, operations, planning, and design knowledge is preferred.
• Excellent oral and written communication, customer facing, people management skills.

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BrightRidge wishes to be in full compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act. In accordance with the Act, we will make reasonable accommodation to any person who needs such accommodation, whether a new hire or a current employee, assuming that the person is fully qualified for the position.

These essential job functions are not to be construed as a complete statement of all duties performed. Since jobs tend to change over time, Employees will be required to perform other job-related marginal duties as required without a formal update of the job description.

EEO/M/F/TNDFWP/VETS