Sr. Electrical Engineer - San Fran or Temecula

The Company

First Wind is an independent wind energy company exclusively focused on the development, financing, construction, ownership and operation of utility-scale wind energy projects in the United States. Based in Boston, First Wind has developed and currently operates wind energy projects in the Northeast, the West and Hawaii.

Job Purpose

Working in First Wind’s San Francisco or Temecula office, you’ll join an elite group of seasoned wind power development professionals in the critical “proof of concept” phase of the development/construction process in the US. As a Sr. Electrical Engineer in the power systems group, you’ll be responsible for technical leadership of the power systems portion of wind farm developments, construction and operations.  You’ll be the first line for resolving the engineering review and evaluation of multiple development and construction projects.  The day to day activities have a wide degree of variety involving multiple projects simultaneously.  This position requires 15% to 25% travel. 

Principal Responsibilities

Development Phase

Provide technical leadership and oversight of electrical engineering design work by third party engineering firms.

Project management including layout of detailed project plans, monitoring. progress and reporting to management of design and engineering review.

Ensure drawings and designs conform to First Wind standards and criteria.

Work with designated utility to finalize scope of work for interconnection requirements and agreements.

Assist in specifying and procuring electrical equipment for wind energy facilities.

Tour prospective wind farm sites to evaluate potential construction challenges.

Construction Phase

Provide project management assistance for substation, transmission line, and collection system construction. 

Coordinate plant SCADA system specifications, project design and installation.

Operate as resource for power system and FERC requirements for field and construction project management personnel.

Perform field audits of construction projects as required to ensure design plans and standards are upheld.

Operations Phase

Provide power systems technical support for operations department

Advise on controls, SCADA, facility metering, FERC requirements and wind turbine performance issues.

Provide root cause analysis of power systems related issues as requested.

Visit operating wind farms as required.

Qualifications

• BSEE in power systems from an accredited university,  MSEE preferred
• 5-10+ years of experience in electrical power systems engineering
• Demonstrated experience with standard construction documentation review and construction monitoring, inspection and commissioning of MV and/or HV plants
• Familiarity with substation and transmission line design.
• Understanding of overhead or underground collection systems.
• Knowledgeable of FERC requirements
• Experience with SCADA system requirements, design and implementation
• Candidates must be available and willing to travel up to 25% of the time for periods of up to a week at a time.

Highly Desired Qualifications

• Experience in wind farm power system design, construction and/or operations
• Advanced degree in electrical engineering with power systems emphasis
• Professional Engineer (PE) license, or ability to obtain same
• Utility scale power systems and/or substation design
• Utility scale generation interconnection experience including process, requirements and implementation
• Electric power systems analysis and simulations as applied in protection, transmission/distribution planning, and operations
• Experience with power purchase contracts, electric power system regulatory compliance, and market structures
• Demonstrated experience in power systems controls