Substation Engineer - Multiple Levels

Opportunities exist within MidAmerican Energy's Substation Engineering team for engineers interested in project estimating, cost development, utility infrastructure and substation engineering.   This position serves as the primary estimating resource within Substation Engineering and is responsible for developing conceptual, budgetary and detailed estimates for new substations, substation expansions, equipment replacements, transmission interconnections, renewable energy interconnections and grid modernization projects.  

The successful candidate will collaborate with project managers, engineers, supply chain personnel, construction resources, contractors, consultants and equipment vendors to support project scopes and associated labor, material, equipment and construction cost estimates. The position will maintain and update labor unit costs, update estimating tools and databases and support continuous improvement of estimating practices.

In addition to estimating responsibilities, this position may perform substation engineering and design work including development of design packages, engineering calculations, equipment specifications, contractor coordination, construction support and technical reviews. 

The successful candidate will support a diverse portfolio of substation related projects associated with system reliability, load growth, renewable energy integration and emerging customer demands.

This is a multi-level posting.

Candidates may be considered for any of the posted levels, depending on their level of experience and depth of expertise.

Position is located in Davenport, Iowa or Des Moines, Iowa

No remote work is offered for this role

Key Competencies:

• Understanding of utility substation construction methods and practices 
• Ability to develop labor, material and equipment estimates 
• Ability to source and evaluate vendor and contractor pricing 
• Strong analytical and quantitative skills 
• Attention to detail and estimate accuracy 
• Strong knowledge of substation equipment and construction practices 
• Ability to interpret engineering drawings and specifications
• Proficiency with estimating tools, databases and spreadsheet applications
• Demonstrated technical leadership
• Effective written and verbal communication for liaising with contractors, consultants, other MEC and BHE departments and executives
• Effective at problem solving and conflict resolution
• Effective risk assessment and mitigation capabilities
• Possess strong organizational and time management skills
• Ability to manage and adapt to changing priorities, requirements, project objectives and project goals 
• Ability to prioritize and execute multiple tasks concurrently as well as competing deadlines

This is a multi-level posting:

Advancement opportunities are available based on demonstrated technical expertise, leadership capability, performance and business needs

Qualifications 

Engineer I 

• Requires a bachelor’s degree in electrical engineering from an accredited institution
  • Entry-level position requiring minimal or no prior electric engineering experience
  • Successful completion of internships, co-op programs or related utility experience preferred

Engineer II 

• Requires one to three years of industry experience as a practicing electrical engineer
• Some experience with utility estimating, project scoping, construction cost development, contractor cost evaluation, substation engineering, project engineering, construction management, utility operations or related electric utility experience preferred

Senior Engineer

• Five years of industry experience as a practicing electrical engineer. Professional Engineer (PE) licensure preferred. 
• Experience with utility estimating, project scoping, construction cost development, contractor cost evaluation, substation engineering, project engineering, construction management, utility operations or related electric utility experience preferred.

Senior Engineer II 

• Eight years of industry experience as a practicing electrical engineer and Professional Engineer (PE) licensure required; 

OR

• Ten years of relevant engineering experience in lieu of Professional Engineer (PE) licensure
  • Leads complex substation projects
  • Provides technical guidance to junior engineers
  • Performs engineering reviews of design packages
  • Demonstrated proficiency with utility estimating, project scoping, construction cost development, contractor cost evaluation, substation engineering, project engineering, construction management, utility operations or related electric utility experience preferred

Principal Engineer 

• Twelve years of industry experience as a practicing electrical engineer, including experience performing highly technical work of specialized nature and Professional Engineer (PE) licensure required; 

OR

• Fifteen years of industry experience as a practicing electrical engineer, including experience performing highly technical work of specialized nature in lieu of Professional Engineer (PE) licensure
  • Develops engineering standards and best practices
  • Provides technical leadership across multiple business units
  • Supports strategic engineering initiatives
  • Complex problem solving
  • Demonstrated proficiency with utility estimating, project scoping, construction cost development, contractor cost evaluation, substation engineering, project engineering, construction management, utility operations or related electric utility experience preferred

Employees must be able to perform the essential functions of the position, with or without an accommodation. 

All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion or religious creed, age, national origin, ancestry, citizenship status (except as required by law), gender (including gender identity and expression), sex (including pregnancy), sexual orientation, genetic information, physical or mental disability, veteran or military status, familial or parental status, marital status or any other category protected by applicable local, state or U.S. federal law. 

Position descriptions are developed as guides for the employees of Berkshire Hathaway Energy. The management team of Berkshire Hathaway Energy reserves the right to modify job responsibilities and position requirements to meet the corporate business goals and needs.

Primary Responsibilities and Job Duties (Essential Job Function): 45%

• Develop conceptual, preliminary and detailed cost estimates for electric utility capital projects
• Develop labor, equipment, material, contractor and construction cost estimates for substation projects ranging from 15 kV through 345 kV
• Work with project managers to develop and maintain project labor cost assumptions and labor unit rates used in project estimates
• Obtain and evaluate equipment, material, contractor and construction pricing from suppliers, contractors, consultants and internal resources
• Perform quantity takeoffs and develop cost assumptions based on engineering requirements, construction methods and project risks
• Scope and review contractor and consultant engineering deliverables
• Develop and maintain estimating tools, templates, unit-cost databases and estimating best practices
• Evaluate design alternatives and provide cost comparisons to support project development and decision making 
• Support project scoping activities for new facilities, expansions, equipment replacements, customer-driven projects, renewable interconnections and grid modernization initiatives
• Review of contractor and consultant estimates, proposals and bids for alignment with project scope and company standards 
• Provide technical engineering support for substation facilities 
• Perform utility engineering and design work as assigned to support departmental workload and business needs
• Develop and review electrical substation physical, protection and control design packages
• Perform engineering calculations related to substation design

Provide engineering and estimating services for utility capital projects: (20%)

• Project scoping involvement and estimate development
• Quantity takeoffs
• Labor cost development and maintenance 
• Material and equipment cost sourcing
• Construction cost development
• Contractor and consultant cost evaluations
• Development of estimating tools and databases
• Technical reviews of estimate assumptions
• Continuous improvement initiatives
• Speculative customer and developer projects 

Provide engineering assistance and perform any additional responsibilities as requested or assigned such as: (15%)

• Physical design coordination
• Protection and control design coordination 
• Equipment specifications 
• Engineering calculations 
• Drawing reviews 
• Quality assurance reviews
• Supporting other departments if/as needed

Provide technical input to assist with engineering studies and investigations along with preparing oral and written reports: (10%) 

Provide engineering assistance during critical equipment failures and emergencies: (10%)

Travel is typically less than 10% and consists primarily of site visits, field inspections and project support activities

Pay Range: 77,200-146,700