Electrical Engineer II (Substations)

The City of Naperville’s Department of Public Utilities - Electric seeks an Electrical Engineer II for its Substations Engineering group. Naperville is the 4th largest City in Illinois. The city-owned electric utility maintains 16 substations and 1000 miles of transmission and distribution lines (of which 93% are underground), and a 400 MW peak demand / 1,500,000 MWH annually. Naperville modernized its electric grid with the installation of 57,000 smart-meters and a wireless & fiber-optic backbone.

We now search for an Electrical Engineer experienced in Substations projects to develop & design electric utility system improvements. You will provide professional electrical engineering consultation on construction in progress, and review plans & specifications for utility system construction. Project assignments typically include electric utility infrastructure design & development, the preparation of equipment specifications, and responsibilities for meeting completion dates, bidding specifications and contracts, design reviews & cost constraints.

The Electrical Engineer II - Substations is responsible for designing electrical substation projects including SCADA and Advanced Relaying (12, 34 and 138kV), as well as completing event analysis.

The EE II will prepare engineering plans and specifications, direct drafting work, and coordinate designs with other electrical or City projects; Coordinate the activities of contractors in the design and construction of projects, and prepare correspondence and communicate with contractors, developers, electric operations and other departments; Prepare and maintain planning drawings and documentation; Verify construction in progress in the field; prepare cost estimates and review invoices; Direct the procurement of equipment; Draw plans when required, and coordinate with various contractors and vendors in the substation environment.

The EE II also supervises, and reviews projects prepared by substation and distribution engineers, coordinating their workloads; develops specifications for electrical system construction; reports project status to management; attends and/or schedules preconstruction, coordination and conceptual design meetings; and provides information and answers questions for the general public. She/he may prepare and evaluate bidding documents, department standards, and specifications.

The EE II provides computerized load flow analysis and maintains the computerized model of the distribution system.

Preferred candidates may possess previous supervisory experience and/or a P.E. license. Ideally, their substations construction, design & repair experience will be supplemented by knowledge of utility communication protocols, familiarity with programming & computer networking, proficiency with AutoCAD, and experience with protective relay packages, SCADA, and Automation & Control.

Experience resolving emergency conditions and/or making decisions critical to power restoration is a plus, as are skills in supervision, leadership, and experience coordinating contractors and coordinating & prioritizing multiple projects. Knowledge of cyber security best practices is necessary for success in this role, as are skills to communicate effectively. Knowledge of electrical engineering theory, National Electric Code, National Electric Safety Code, applicable laws and regulations, and knowledge of civil engineering and surveying required.

The City of Naperville, Illinois is a dynamic community of 148,000 residents, conveniently located 28 miles west of Chicago. Various publications have named Naperville as one of the best cities in the United States in which to live. The City has gained national recognition for our family-friendly environment, excellent schools and library system, low crime rate, and vibrant downtown area. It’s also a great place to work! Our municipal government employs over 900 dedicated individuals in a wide range of job categories and provides a dynamic & collaborative working environment, a forward-looking leadership team, and a competitive benefits package.