Principal Electrical Engineer

Principal Electrical Engineer at PG&E is a leadership role within ATS Electrical Engineering, overseeing testing, analysis, and consulting including high voltage/current testing, equipment evaluation, and grounding/arc-flash program development; travel is typically 10-25%.

Responsibilities

• Demonstrates independent judgment to lead and resolve high-impact, complex problems using diverse information sources and few precedents.
• Guides a cross-functional team in defining project scope, schedule, budget, and in preparing client bid proposals.
• Serves as a subject matter expert across multiple disciplines, delivering broad analyses and leading projects across domains.
• Performs substation switchyard grounding analysis.
• Develops temporary protective grounding procedures to ensure safe operations.
• Conducts arc-flash hazard analyses and builds corresponding safety programs.
• Supports engineering efforts for live-line work procedure development.
• Executes special studies addressing interference from proximity to high voltage lines and equipment.
• Identifies practical solutions to highly complex engineering challenges.
• Assesses business conditions, spots opportunities, and develops multidisciplinary projects and solutions.
• Leads project teams in testing activities to identify, define, and solve problems and to prepare technical reports and specifications.
• Prepares and presents client-facing recommendations based on results and findings.
• Oversees assembly of technical systems and prototypes following engineering standards and related principles.
• Modifies prototypes, components, assemblies, and systems to correct functional deviations.
• Continuously seeks testing and process improvements to enhance performance and efficiency.
• Develops, evaluates, and deploys new technologies while identifying innovation opportunities and cost reductions.
• May provide expert opinion or information to external customers, agencies, or other stakeholders as needed.
• Interfaces with clients to understand expectations and concerns, ensuring strong customer satisfaction.
• Contributes to industry publications and participates in programs on grounding, arc-flash, substation design, live-line work, and regulatory compliance.
• Actively engages with the broader engineering community through industry organizations and technical committees, including ASTM, IEEE, EPRI, CIGRE, and CEATI.

Requirements

• Education: Bachelor’s degree in Engineering with emphasis in a related discipline (electrical, mechanical, civil, etc.).
• Experience: Minimum of 10 years of related engineering experience.

Compensation and Location

• Location: Danville, CA (onsite)
• Salary: USD 151,000 - 257,000 per year
• Travel: Typically 10-25% travel

Position Summary

Applied Technology Services (ATS) engineering staff provide engineering, testing, and analysis across multiple disciplines to PG&E and other company groups to identify, diagnose, and resolve technical problems. They offer consultation to internal departments to proactively avoid future problems by specifying equipment, materials, and methods that reflect industry best practices. Services include technology demonstrations, inspections, failure analysis, performance assessments, and evaluations across transmission, distribution, and distributed generation. The team collaborates with management to develop bid proposals for requested project work, and all members maintain knowledge of and adherence to safety and quality processes and procedures.

About ATS

Applied Technology Services is a multidisciplinary engineering organization within PG&E, comprised of more than 120 engineers, scientists, and technicians. For over four decades, ATS delivers technology-based, high-value solutions aimed at proactively preventing issues and supporting the company with best-practice methods and innovative approaches across the enterprise.