Power Quality Engineer

The Power Quality Engineer supports power quality programs and customer end-use technology initiatives through investigation, engineering analysis, and field-based work across customer systems. The Senior Power Quality Engineer additionally serves as a technical resource and project engineer/construction manager for customer power quality and optimization efforts.

Work Location and Role Details

• Location: Honolulu, HI (onsite)
• Number of Vacancies: 1
• Employment Type: Professional

Compensation

• Power Quality Engineer: USD 79,600 - 142,600 per yearly (hiring ranges listed below)
• Hiring range for Power Quality Engineer [Req ID 10693]: $79,600.00 to $101,600.00
• Hiring range for Senior Power Quality Engineer: $109,900.00 to $142,600.00
• Placement: The person selected will be placed according to skills and qualifications.

Responsibilities

• Investigate, troubleshoot, and document customer power quality issues and resolutions, supporting customer power quality concerns under the guidance of higher-level engineers.
• Support, develop, implement, and plan Power Quality programs and services for commercial and residential customers, including onsite monitoring and educational outreach through scheduling and presenting customer workshops on power quality and end-use technologies.
• Conduct field surveys and site inspections to investigate customer equipment, systems, and operations. Design and install power quality and data acquisition instrumentation systems and software as necessary.
• Participate in team projects focused on efficient customer end-use technologies, including equipment selection and sizing, economic feasibility, maintenance, operational issue identification, and resolution; demand reduction and power factor optimization; and demand response integration opportunities.
• Perform project design and cost alternative studies, field inspections, and prepare related reports. Prepare plans, layouts, design calculations, and engineering design work in accordance with applicable codes, ordinances, and regulations.
• Conduct research into electro-technologies such as HVAC&R, lighting, energy storage systems, power factor correction, voltage dip ride-through devices, harmonic filtering, transient voltage surge protection, and advanced data acquisition and control systems, including Internet-based data collection, archiving, analytics, and visualization. Review findings with higher-level engineers for potential application.
• Stay current on power quality, customer technologies, clean energy, and energy storage technologies that may impact customer energy bills and operations, strengthening the company’s role as a trusted energy partner to key customer accounts.
• Provide consultation services to major commercial, industrial, and residential customers with a focus on power quality issues and customer optimization strategies involving efficient end-use technologies, demand reduction, power factor optimization, and demand response integration opportunities.
• Continue active co-development with EPRI and the Grid Power Alliance of the Open PQ Dashboard to improve customer power quality and support grid modernization efforts.
• Work closely with System Operations, Engineering, and other internal departments to integrate and optimize the function, utility, and application of Power Quality within the company, including investigating, troubleshooting, documenting, and diagnosing customer power quality claim issues.
• Actively pursue and apply electro-technologies, including energy storage and renewable technologies, power factor correction, voltage dip ride-through devices, harmonic filtering, transient voltage surge protection, advanced data acquisition and control systems, and Internet-based data collection and visualization, as well as HVAC&R and lighting.
• Advocate and plan the use of new clean energy technologies and electro-technologies that can reduce customer bills and/or improve customer operations. Coordinate with internal partners including engineers, account managers, Risk Management, Customer Service, Legal, and Demand Response Departments to identify, develop, and critique opportunities for customer technology applications, projects, and services.
• For the Senior scope, serve as project engineer and construction manager for research, demonstration and development (RD&D), and above-the-line (ATL) and/or below-the-line (BTL) customer systems optimization and power quality projects. Responsibilities include project scheduling, budget preparation, tracking and maintenance, supervision of outside consultants and contractors, and front-line customer interface.
• Participate in company emergency response activities as assigned, including activities required to prepare for emergency response, and perform other projects and duties as assigned.

Required Qualifications

• Electrical or Mechanical engineering degree (Bachelor of Science or Master of Science) from an ABET-accredited college or university is required.
• Thorough knowledge of engineering theories and principles acquired through advanced coursework or equivalent experience.
• Working knowledge of engineering design practices, project engineering, project management, and construction methods associated with electric utility facilities.
• Working knowledge of personal computers and related software applications such as spreadsheets and word processing, with ability to learn additional tools.
• Good leadership skills, including effective written, oral, listening, and interpersonal communication with all levels of the company and with outside contractors, consultants, governmental agencies, community groups, and customers.
• Ability to remain flexible in a demanding work environment and adapt to rapidly changing priorities.
• Effective interpersonal skills to handle confrontational, difficult, and/or sensitive issues with professionalism, tact, courtesy, and discretion.
• Analytical, organizational, planning, and conceptual skills to manage multiple projects and priorities.
• Valid driver’s license issued by the State of Hawaii or another U.S. state, and ability to meet the standards for required driving positions stated in the Hiring Standards for Driving positions policy.
• Desirable: State of Hawaii Professional Engineer (PE) License.
• Demonstrated detailed knowledge of engineering theories and principles relevant to the role, including electrical power systems (utility and in-building), distributed renewable energy generation and energy storage, emergency generator systems, power quality, HVAC&R equipment and systems, control systems, data acquisition, and remote communications.
• Working knowledge of marketing and project management principles and concepts related to services provided by Energy Services Companies.
• Detailed knowledge of personal computers and standard software applications such as Microsoft Office; knowledge of Autocad trade, Visio trade, Microstation trade, or other CAD software is highly desirable.
• Ability to research, plan, organize, execute, and report on work with little supervision as a self-starter.
• Ability to perform independent research and work in a creative, innovative, and motivated fashion.
• Ability to perform detailed financial analysis.

Technologies and Tools

• EPRI
• Open PQ Dashboard
• Grid Power Alliance
• Internet based data collection, archiving, analytics, visualization
• HVAC&R
• Power factor correction
• Voltage dip ride-through devices
• Harmonic filtering
• Transient voltage surge protection
• Advanced data acquisition and control systems
• Data acquisition instrumentation systems
• Control systems
• Microsoft Office
• Autocad trade, Visio trade, Microstation trade

Education

Bachelor of Science or Master of Science in Electrical or Mechanical Engineering from an ABET-accredited program.

Experience

• Relevant experience desired: 1-3 years of relevant engineering work experience or project team experience.
• Extensive experience: 7 or more years of experience in engineering or a related technical field.
• Additional desirables: Job experience and course work in marketing and/or economic analysis.

Application Timeline

• Posting end date: This position will remain open until filled. Early applications are highly encouraged.