Transmission Engineering Design Advisor (Hybrid Schedule)

SDG&E is not just an energy company, we are the architects of a brighter, cleaner future. Our employees power everyday life for 3.7 million people - bringing the energy to support their passions, ambitions, and the heartbeat of our community.

We call Southern California our home. It's where we chase our dreams and raise our families. That's why the people who live here deserve an energy company unlike any other, and that's why every day, SDG&E employees strive to be at the forefront of innovations to reduce emissions, modernize the electric grid, and enable our customers to make the transition to clean technologies. We're redefining sustainability, advancing zero-emissions solutions, and driving the electric vehicle revolution.

It takes the best to build the best - join us!

Primary Purpose:

Independently designs and manages large scale and complex projects for additions and modifications to company electric facilities as assigned. Negotiates and secures complex contracts and agreements that specify work, cost and scheduling responsibilities with assigned customers. Ensures customer satisfaction. Meets with key customers, customer representatives, government agencies, and other utilities in planning and coordinating additions and modifications to gas and electric facilities.

Duties and Responsibilities:

• DESIGN WORK-Independently research, analyze, evaluate and determine the technical and structural feasibility of new electric transmission line additions and modifications to existing electric transmission lines.Develop and design large scale and complex new overhead and underground transmission lines or electrical and/or structural modifications for Company electric transmission lines, which maintain system integrity and allow for future growth and aesthetic considerations. Prepare drawings and large scale complex construction packages and ensure that design requirements are accurate and conform to Company standards, GO-95 and GO-128, safety orders, government regulations, IEEE guidelines, and FERC and NESC guidelines. Independently works with customers to design solutions that meet design standards and the customer's needs. Independently create complex PLS-CADD transmission line models. Independently perform detailed pole loading analysis utilizing calculated ground line moments from the PLS-CADD program with appropriate transverse wind loading, manufacturer structure ratings, and pole deterioration inspection logs. Will also build pole models in the PLS-POLE program to utilize the P-delta factor where appropriate. Monitor, review and ensure that designs prepared by outside contractors conform to Company standards and Transmission Engineering Standards. Independently reviews and improves upon outside contractor designs. Develop necessary drawings required to support filing documentation for licensing and permitting electric transmission line facilities. Ensure designs meet all operating and safety rules covering voltage levels from communications up to and including 500,000V AC. Conduct field investigations to verify the accuracy of survey data, potential access issues, traffic control requirements, significant environmental issues, regulatory issues, customer issues, and aesthetic concerns. Actively seeks to optimize designs, minimizing pole heights, number of poles, reducing impact, meeting exemptions etc. Maintain system integrity and safety by ensuring the most constructible and maintainable design is obtained. Handles a significant design work load, independently managing multiple high profile designs with quality and care, and an emphasis on customer satisfaction.
• TRAINING RESPONSIBILITY-Mentors or provides training and coaching for Transmission Designers. Conducts meetings or presentations at department, team or project meetings. Assist in training of design personnel and outside consultants in electric transmission line designs. Reviews work orders, Construction Budget Documents and Cover Letters completed by Designers prior to submittal for approvals. Oversees or prepares construction orders with safe, reliable, and cost-effective designs that conform to company standards, safety orders, and governmental regulations.
• CONSTRUCTION SUPPORT-Provide technical assistance and guidance to transmission line construction crews performing design work and attends construction meetings if required. Attend pre-bid meetings to emphasize potential challenging aspects of the job and help to ensure accurate job scope and bids. Work with transmission line construction and maintenance personnel to develop optimum designs and equipment guidelines. Monitor, review and ensure that field changes conform to established design considerations and customer concerns.
• DEVELOPMENT-In a lead capacity, completes special assignments related to ongoing process improvements, training or special projects. Actively seeks to develop design standards that optimize design time and ensure construction and maintenance integrity. Analyze available equipment and technology that may provide a significant benefit to safety, reliability, constructability, schedule, or cost. Utilize understanding of GO131D requirements create preliminary designs that meet exemption requirements where feasible. Utilize understanding of environmental requirements to create preliminary designs that avoid impacts, reducing cost and schedule impacts. Attend bi-weekly PLS-CADD classes to share expertise and experiences with less experienced designers. Create presentations for the class on new standards and procedures. Attend joint utility and electric transmission technology conferences to ensure the company incorporates the latest equipment and techniques in transmission design. Acts as an ambassador for the company at these events. Incorporate findings into new standards and procedures.
• MATERIAL COORDINATION-Research and evaluate manufacturer equipment drawings to ensure required equipment can be constructed in accordance with the transmission line design. Negotiates and secures complex contracts and agreements that specify work, cost and scheduling responsibilities. Applies complex design and rule applications and explains them along with associated costs and contracts to the customer. Order and track material for all phases of transmission line construction.
• PROJECT COORDINATION-Work with distribution and substation designers/engineers to discuss and reach agreement on design details of distribution and transmission systems.Assist in coordinating system design details with departments throughout the Company; prepare graphs and other design aids for engineering applications.Attend project team meetings to coordinate the interests of land, legal, environmental, regulatory, public relations, project management, and construction. Utilize information gained from these meetings to modify preliminary designs to avoid potential schedule impacts. Meet with customers and ensure a thorough understanding of their design, schedule, and cost consideration needs. Perform design review and quality assurance checks on the designs developed by lower-level Transmission Designers and outside consultants.
• Performs other duties as assigned (no more than 5% of duties).

Hybrid Schedule:

• Although the schedule may vary, typically this will allow the employee to work onsite three days per week and remotely on the remaining workdays.
• Must reside in Southern California or be willing to relocate upon hire.

Required Qualifications:

• Bachelor's Degree - A bachelor's degree in a related field.
• A minimum of seven years related experience is required, of which three years must have been in a Senior level Designer position designing transmission overhead.
• Requires a proficiency in designing, planning and Senior Designer activities normally acquired in company training courses; and in computer systems which include, but are not limited to: DPSS, CICSO, GFMS, PLS-CADD, LSGIS, BSE, AutoCAD, and Outlook.

Preferred Qualifications:

• PLS- CADD is highly desirable.

All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, citizenship, disability or protected veteran status.

Note: SDG&E strives to ensure that employees are paid equitably and competitively. Starting salaries may vary based on factors such as relevant experience, qualifications, and education.

SDG&E offers a competitive total rewards package that goes beyond base salary. This position is eligible for an annual performance-based incentive (bonus) as well as other merit-based recognition. Company benefits include health and welfare (medical, dental, vision), employer contributions to retirement benefits, life insurance, paid time off, as well as other company offerings such as tuition reimbursement, paid parental leave, and employee assistance programs.