Power Quality Engineer

FirstEnergy · Akron

About the Opportunity

This is an open position with FirstEnergy Service Co., a subsidiary of FirstEnergy Corp.

The selected candidate may be offered a position within the same job family, at a level that is lower than what was posted. This will be determined based upon the results of the interview process which considers the candidate's skills, work history, experience level, and other relevant qualifications.

Responsibilities include:

Researching and evaluating emerging power quality monitoring technologies, software applications, and industry best practices, and developing recommendations for implementation and support.
Managing diverse projects, processes, and programs affecting transmission system power quality performance with minimal supervision.
Coordinating power quality investigations, mitigation efforts, and corrective actions with internal stakeholders, customers, consultants, equipment manufacturers, and regulatory organizations.
Performing engineering studies and analyses to identify, evaluate, and resolve transmission system power quality issues, customer complaints, system disturbances, and emerging power quality concerns including voltage flicker, harmonics, voltage unbalance, oscillations, sags, swells, transients, and interruptions.
Developing and maintaining power quality procedures, standards, and practices while ensuring compliance with applicable IEEE, NERC, FERC, PJM, and state regulatory requirements.
Providing technical leadership for the deployment, configuration, testing, commissioning, and maintenance of power quality monitoring systems and associated infrastructure.
Analyzing data from power quality monitors, synchrophasor (PMU) systems, digital fault recorders, and other utility data sources to identify trends, quantify system performance, and support root-cause investigations.
Serving as the company's subject matter expert on power quality standards, monitoring methodologies, and system performance assessments while maintaining active engagement with industry organizations, standards committees, utilities, and customers.
Reviewing transmission interconnections, customer load additions, generation projects, transmission project scopes, and system modifications to evaluate potential power quality impacts and recommend mitigation solutions where necessary.
Preparing technical reports, engineering studies, presentations, customer communications, and mitigation recommendations.
Meeting customer needs by providing professional, timely, and technically sound support.
Demonstrating a solid commitment to all aspects of safety.

An employee hired at the Engineer IV level will be expected to perform all the above responsibilities with greater proficiency and independence. Additionally, the Engineer IV will assume technical leadership responsibilities, mentor junior engineers, and lead complex company-wide power quality initiatives.

Qualifications at the Engineer III Level include:

Bachelor of Science degree in Electrical Engineering from an ABET accredited school is required.
Minimum of 3 years of professional engineering experience required.
Strong analytical, troubleshooting, and problem-solving skills.
Excellent verbal and written communication skills.
Ability to work independently on assignments involving technical studies, investigations, reports, and projects.
Ability to analyze electrical system performance and evaluate complex engineering problems.
Demonstrated ability to manage diverse projects and effectively prioritize competing responsibilities.
Strong interpersonal skills and the ability to collaborate across multiple organizations and locations.
Proficiency with Microsoft Office applications including Excel, Word, PowerPoint, and Access.
Ability to deliver quality work within established schedules and deadlines.
Self-motivated, customer-focused, and results-oriented.
Desire to continue learning, expand technical expertise, and drive continuous improvement.

Preferred Qualifications:

Previous electric utility experience.
Familiarity with IEEE power quality standards including IEEE 519, IEEE 1453, IEEE 1159, IEEE 2800, and related standards.
Experience with power quality monitoring equipment, digital fault recorders, PMUs, disturbance analyzers, or power system monitoring devices.
Familiarity with harmonics, flicker, voltage unbalance, oscillations, electromagnetic transients, and power system disturbance analysis.
Experience with SynchroPhasor applications, oscillation analysis, and wide-area monitoring systems (WAMS) is a plus.
Experience evaluating customer, generation, inverter-based resource (IBR), or large load interconnections is a plus.
Knowledge of transmission and distribution system operations.
Experience using power system modeling and analysis software such as PSLF, PSSE, PSCAD, EMTP, CYME, ETAP, or similar applications.
Familiarity with utility SCADA, EMS, historian systems, and data analytics platforms.
Understanding of instrument transformers, substation equipment, protection systems, and communications technologies.
Familiarity with communications protocols such as DNP3, Modbus, IEC 61850, TCP/IP, and related technologies.
Knowledge of NERC, PJM, ANSI, IEEE, and other utility industry standards and practices.
Experience performing root-cause investigations and preparing technical reports for customers and regulators.

Qualifications at the Engineer IV Level include:

Minimum of 5 years of engineering experience required.
Demonstrated expertise in power quality analysis, monitoring systems, and mitigation techniques.
Professional Engineer (PE) License preferred.
Ability to lead large multi-disciplinary technical initiatives and cross-functional teams.
Ability to work with minimal supervision while managing multiple complex assignments.
Advanced technical understanding of power system performance and customer power quality concerns.
Proven experience providing technical leadership, customer consultation, and mentoring engineers.
Ability to influence company standards, practices, and strategic direction related to power quality programs.

The engineer position will be part of the Transmission Operations organization, supporting FirstEnergy's transmission system through the analysis, monitoring, and mitigation of power quality performance. The position is responsible for analyzing, monitoring, and developing mitigation strategies for voltage quality, harmonics, flicker, transients, oscillations, and other power quality phenomena impacting customers, transmission operations, and grid reliability. The group serves as the company's technical lead for power quality practices, standards, monitoring technology, and customer support activities across all FirstEnergy operating companies.

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