ENGINEERINGCOMPETENCIES

ENTRYLEVELENGINEER
Responsibleforperformingentrylevelengineeringanalysis,design,plan,reviewandinspectionfor
smalltomediumprojectsand/ordesignatedsegmentsoflargercomplexprojectsinaspecific
engineeringdisciplineforanassignedfunctionalarea.Jobrequiresapplicationofprofessional
engineeringconcepts,principles,practicesandmethodssufficienttoperformabroadrangeof
engineeringactivitiesinavarietyofworkenvironments.Guidancemaybeprovidedbyanexperienced
engineerwiththeentrylevelengineerbeingrequiredtoexercisesomejudgmentininterpreting,
analyzingandadaptingmethods,techniquesandprocedurestospecificcases.Initiallycompletedwork
isreviewedfortechnicalsoundness,appropriatenessandcompliancewithstandardengineering
practices.

OccupationSpecificTechnicalRequirements

Design

Assessesprojectneeds,overseesorconductsengineeringdesignandplantorsystem
performancereview,reviewsengineeringdocuments,andprovidesguidanceto
managementonprojectrequirements
Identifiestheproblemoropportunitythroughthecollectionandanalysisofdata
Appliesproblemsolvingapproaches,suchasbrainstorming,fishbonediagramming,and
engineeringtheorytoelectricsystemprojects
Determinesthespecificationsforthesolutionanddevelopsconceptualdesignfornew
facilities,collaborateswithotherstoreachconsensus,andissuesengineeringdocumentsto
initiatedesignandconstruction
Reviews,evaluatesandimplementsnewtechnologiesthatsupportbestpracticesinareas
thatinclude,butarenotlimitedtoworkmanagement,outagerestoration,andtheplanning
andschedulingofwork.
Useslogicalthoughtprocessestoanalyzeinformationanddrawconclusions
Identifiesinconsistentormissinginformation
Criticallyreviews,analyzes,synthesizes,comparesandinterpretsinformation
Testspossiblehypothesestoensuretheproblemiscorrectlydiagnosedandthebest
solutionisfound
IsabletoreadandinterpretProcessandInstrumentationDrawings
Isabletoprepare,readandinterpretblueprintsandonelinediagrams
Usesdraftinginstruments,engineeringandmathematicalreferencesandtables,charts,
computerequipment,accepteddocumentationprocessesrequiredtoperformprofessional
engineeringstudies,calculations,analysis,estimates,etc

Interpretsandcondensesfieldnotestoprepareand/oroverseethepreparationofplans,
mapsanddrawings
Maintainsaccuratefilingandrecordssystemforprojectsfrominitiationtoprojectcloseout
Conductspreliminaryengineeringstudies
Operatesvariouscomputeraidedengineeringdesign,analysisprogramsandtools
Understands,appliesandmaintainscompliancewithregulatoryandindustrystandardsand
requirements(e.g.,NERC,FERC,ANSI,IEEE,NEC,etc.)

ProjectPlanning

Determinesprojectrequirementsandestimatesresources
Conductseconomicanalysestodetermineoptimumplan
Createsaneffectiveprojectplan
Prioritizetasks
Createmilestones
Anticipatesprojectconstraintsandcreatesalternativeplans
Monitorsprojectstatusagainsttheplanandreportsontheresults
Providesinputforrequestsforproposal(RFPs)andassistsintheanalysisofresponses
Providesinputintothepreparationofcontractsandparticipatesinthenegotiationof
revisions,changesandadditionstocontractualagreementswitharchitects,consultants,
clients,suppliersandsubcontractors.
Performscontractadministrationandconstructioninspectionsforminorprojects
Preparesandsubmitsbudgetestimatesandprogressandcosttrackingreports.
Actsindependentlyontechnicalmattersintheassignedfieldofexpertiseandrecommends
approvalofprofessionalservices,materials&constructionprocurementcontracts.
Ensurescorrectmaterialisavailableandexpeditedfortheconstructionoftheproject
Conductsrepairversusreplaceanalysisonequipment
Conductsleaseversusbuyanalysisforprojectequipment
Conductslaboranalysestodeterminerun/dontrundecisionmaking

Construction

Interpretsandexplainsplansandcontracttermstoadministrativestaff,workers,andclients
Takesactionstodealwiththeresultsofdelays,badweather,oremergenciesat
constructionsite
Inspectsandreviewsprojectstomonitorcompliancewithbuildingandsafetycodes,and
otherregulations.
Studiesjobspecificationstodetermineappropriateconstructionmethods
Selects,contractsandoverseesworkerswhocompletespecificpiecesoftheproject
Ensuresallappropriatepermittingisobtained

SystemOperation,MaintenanceandRepair

Designstestsforandassistsintheinvestigationofrelayingandcontrolschemeproblems.

Developsandimplementsmanualandautomatedtestplansforequipment
Preparesloadanalysisfordistributionsubstationsanddevelopremediationplanfor
substationsthatwarrantcorrectiveaction
Developsoperatinginformationwhichservesasaknowledgebaseforrespondingtovarious
contingencyconditionsonthepowerdeliverysystem
Evaluates,preparesandrecommendsdistributionsystemprotectioncoordinationschemes
andconductfaultstudiesfortheproperapplicationoffuses,reclosersandsubstationrelay
settings
Conductsengineeringanalysisanddevelopsrecommendationstomaintainandimprove
plantandsystemefficiency,reliability,safety,environmentalcomplianceandcost
performance.
Implementsprogramstomaintainfacilityassetsinthemostefficientandeffectivemanner
inordertomeetorexceedassetlifeexpectancy.
PerformsengineeringstudiesandRootCauseAnalysistopredictplant/systemequipment
performance.
Identifiesdefectsandfailuremodes,assessescurrentoperatingpractices,determinescost
benefitanalysisonequipmentdeficienciesandthendevelopsmodificationstocurrent
configurationthatwillimproveoverallperformance.
Developsintegratedperformancesystemforeffectivemonitoringandoptimizationofunits
andsystems.
Recommendsequipment,newconceptsandtechniquestoimproveperformance,simplify
construction,reducecosts,correctdesignormaterialflaws,orcomplywithchangesin
codesorregulations.
Understandstherequirementsofotherdisciplines,electricalengineering,mechanical
engineering,civilengineering

Other
Understandsandappliestheinformationtechnologyrequiredfordistributedcontrol,
communicationsandautomationcomponentsofSmartGrid
Isabletoseamlesslyintegratenewtechnologieswithlegacytechnologieswithout
compromisingsafetyorreliability
Understandslegislativeandregulatoryfunctionsandtheirimpactonthedesignand
constructionofnewplantorrebuildofexistingplant
CollaboratesinthedevelopmentofindustrystandardssuchasNERCreliability,compliance
developmentstrategies,etc
Appliesabasicunderstandingoffinanceandengineeringeconomics
Isabletoclearlyandeffectivelycommunicatewithcorporatemanagers,endcustomersand
engineersfromotherdepartments
Understandsthebasicsofsystemsengineering,ITfundamentals,communicationssystems
basicstohelpbridgethegapsacrossdisciplinestoavoidengineeringredesigns.

OccupationSpecificLicense,EducationandCertificationRequirements

BachelorofSciencedegreeinEngineeringfromanaccreditedfouryearuniversity
MustbeabletoattainaProfessionalEngineerlicensewithin5yearsofemployment
MustbeabletoattainaStateBoilerlicense(whereapplicable)
Mustbeabletoattainprojectmanagercertification

3+YEAREXPERIENCEDENGINEER

Performsand/orleadsothersinperformingengineeringanalysis,design,plan,reviewandinspection
moderatelycomplex/majorprojectsinaspecificengineeringdisciplineforanassignedfunctionalarea.
Jobrequiresapplicationofadvancedengineeringconcepts,principles,practices,methodsand
standards,sufficienttoperformabroadrangeofcomplexengineeringactivitiesinavarietyofwork
environments.Guidelinesarelimited,requiringinitiativeandresourcefulnessinresearching
precedents,trendsandpatternstoselectordevelopnewmethodsandtechniques.Resolvesnewand
unusualproblemsandrecommendssolutionstouniquecircumstancesandsituations.Completedwork
isevaluatedperiodicallyforeffectivenessinmeetingrequirementsorspecifiedresults.Regularcontact
withindividualsininternalandexternalleadershippositionsisrequiredtoinfluenceandmotivate
otherstoachieveprojectobjectives.

OccupationSpecificTechnicalRequirements

Design

Performsengineeringcalculationsandestimates
Collects,organizesandinterpretsavarietyofprojectrelatedinformationtoincorporateinto
newprojectdesign
Identifies,analyzesandrecommendengineeringalternatives
Conductspreliminaryengineeringstudies
Performsoriginaldesignwork,plans,specificationsandcostestimates
Performsfieldinspections

ProjectPlanning

Plans,schedulesandleadsallphasesofmoderatelycomplexutilityprojectsinaspecific
disciplineinanassignedfunctionalarea
Preparesandinterpretsengineeringplansandspecificationsandcommunicatingtechnical
requirementstocontractors
Assigns,schedules,monitorsandreviewstheworkofothers,includingcontractors
Conductspreliminaryengineeringstudies,includinggatheringpertinentdata,analyzing
alternativesandperformingrelatedcalculations
Servesasprojectmanageronmoderatelycomplexprojects

Construction

Researches,developsandpreparesrecommendationsforalternativeengineeringsolutions
andselects,modifiesoradaptsstandards,techniquesandproceduresinassignedfunctional
area
Performscontractadministrationandconstructioninspectionsformoderatelycomplex
projects,includingreviewingfinalplans,specifications,specialconditionsandagreements
Providesdetailedinterpretationofplanspecifications,conditionsandagreementswith
others

Coordinatestheworkofcontractors
Maintainsworkrecorddata
Writeschangeorders
Monitorssafetyandlaborcomplianceactivities

.SystemOperation,MaintenanceandRepair
Ensuresproperoperationsofsubstationand/ordistributionequipment,voltmetersand
voltagerecorders
Assistsindaytodayoperationsonoutagerestorationwithcrews
Isabletoperformoperationsduringlargeoutagerestorations,includinginvestigationof
voltageorequipmentproblemswithcustomersandthesystem
Performs,analyzesandreviewsshortandlongtermplanningstudiesandmakes
recommendationsforoperationalandplanningsolutions
Developsdailyoperationalandlongtermplansforutilityprojectsthatcomplywith
company,governmentandregulatorycriteria
Reviewsplansforconformitywithlaws,ordinancesandacceptedprofessionalstandards
thatpertaintoengineeringdisciplineandareaofspecialty

OccupationSpecificLicense,EducationandCertificationRequirements

BachelorsdegreefromanAccreditationBoardforEngineeringandTechnology(ABET)
accreditedcollegeoruniversityplusaminimumofthree(3)yearsengineeringwork
experience,whichmustincludeworkexperienceinthespecialtyarearequired
Or,MastersdegreefromanABETaccreditedcollegeoruniversityplusatleasttwo(2)years
ofengineeringworkexperience
ProfessionalEngineerlicense