Principal Electrical Engineer / Senior Electrical Engineer

The City of Anaheim Public Utilities Department is seeking highly experienced professionals to work as a Principal or Senior Electrical Engineer in the Substation/Protection/Automation Division. Ideal Candidates must possess experience in the planning, design, and implementation of electric capital improvement projects, and fully understand the engineering, administration, and construction requirements of transmission and distribution systems.

Principal or Senior Electrical Engineer in the Substation/Protection/Automation Division: Ideal candidates must possess experience in performing a variety of advanced level professional duties and responsibilities involved in planning, engineering, design, research and implementation of various electric utility projects including electric substations, electric system protection, system automation, and communications systems.

DISTINGUISHING CHARACTERISTICS:
Principal Electrical Engineer

The Principal Electrical Engineer is distinguished from other classes within the series by the level of responsibility assumed, the complexity of duties assigned, and the responsibility for direct supervision of professional and technical engineering staff. Employees perform the most difficult and responsible types of duties assigned to classes within this series.

Senior Electrical Engineer

The Senior Electrical Engineer is the advanced journey level class in the Electrical Engineer series. Positions at this level are distinguished from other classes within the series by the level of responsibility assumed and the complexity of duties assigned. Employees perform the most difficult and responsible types of duties assigned to classes within this series. Employees at this level are required to be fully trained in all procedures related to the assigned section or area.

The City of Anaheim reserves the option to hire at the Principal Electrical Engineer or Senior Electrical Engineer level based on candidate qualification and knowledge/skills/abilities demonstrated during the selection process.

The following functions are typical for this classification. Incumbents may not perform all of the listed functions and/or may be required to perform additional or different functions from those set forth below to address business needs and changing business practices.

To view the complete job descriptions, please click below.

• Plan, prioritize, assign, supervise, review, and participate in the work of staff responsible for providing electrical engineering services for an assigned section including transmission and distribution systems, substations, system protection and automation.
• Establish schedules and methods for providing electrical engineering services; identify resource needs; review needs with appropriate management staff; allocate resources accordingly.
• Participate in the development and implementation of goals and objectives as well as policies and procedures; make recommendations for changes and improvements to existing standards, policies, and procedures; monitor work activities to ensure compliance with established policies and procedures.
• Participate in the selection of electrical engineering staff; provide or coordinate staff training; work with employees to correct deficiencies; implement discipline procedures.
• Prepares budget and cash flow projections and tracks progress and expenditures. Participate in the preparation and administration of an assigned program budget; submit budget recommendations; monitor expenditures.
• Perform the most technical and complex engineering tasks of the work unit.
• Answer questions, make presentations, and provide information and recommendations to the public, the City Council, the Public Utilities Board, and various committees; investigate customer complaints and recommend corrective action as necessary to resolve complaints.
• Manage the preparation of consultant services agreements, requests for proposals, construction bid packages, and related contract documents; evaluate and participate in the selection of outside consultants; negotiate contract agreements; manage the activities of selected consultants.
• Manage complex projects for planning, designing and construction; prepare construction contract bid proposals, specifications and related contract documents; evaluate and participate in the selection of contractors; provide technical consultation for selected contractors.
• Create, review, and approve electrical engineering and design standards for department projects and activities.
• Participate in the acquisition of electrical equipment and electrical systems; prepare specifications and purchase requisitions; evaluate proposals and prepare award recommendations; manage the development of construction standards.
• Develop and implement the multiyear plans; direct and participate in the planning of assigned capital improvement projects.
• Monitor and ensure compliance with regulatory standards and requirements.
• Maintain records concerning operations and programs; prepare technical reports and studies on operations and activities.
• Coordinate activities with those of other divisions and outside agencies and organizations; provide staff assistance to assigned higher management staff; prepare and present staff reports and other necessary correspondence.
• Attend and participate in professional group meetings; maintain awareness of new trends and developments in the field of electrical engineering; incorporate new developments as appropriate into programs.

• Lead and participate in the preparation of preliminary and final designs, cost estimates, schedules, specifications, and bill of materials for new electrical substation, upgrading existing substation, electric substation protection upgrade and system automation projects.
• Perform short circuit and complex fault studies for the protection coordination of distribution and transmission systems and substation equipment using distance, overcurrent, and differential relays.
• Lead and participate in the calculation of protection relay settings including complex programming for various digital and electromechanical relays residing on the distribution and transmission systems and within electric substations.
• Lead and assist staff on the calculation and preparation of protective device settings for the electric distribution system and large customers including fuse sizing and fault interrupter settings; create and implement electric system protection construction and design standards and provide training on these standards.
• Analyze fault event reports and provide detailed engineering reports and studies on these reports; Establish schedules, projects, and other tasks associated with electric protection issues discovered in the fault event reports.
• Perform NERC related reliability compliance activities, reports, and documents for required PRC standards.

• Perform related duties as required.

Principal Electrical Engineer

Principal Electrical Engineer & Senior Electrical Engineer Supplemental Questionnaire

Experience and Education: Four (4) years of responsible professional electrical engineering experience including one (1) year of administrative and/or lead supervisory experience supplemented by a Bachelors degree from an accredited college or university with major course work in electrical engineering or a related field. An equivalent combination of experience and education sufficient to perform the essential job functions and provide the required knowledge and abilities is qualifying.

Knowledge of: Operations, services, and activities of an assigned electrical engineering program; principles and practices of electrical engineering; procedures, methods and techniques of controls engineering, communication systems, load research, and systems operations; methods and techniques of transmission and distribution systems planning; electric system design and construction project administration and supervision; project management and administration principles and practices; construction standards, and City engineering policies and procedures; principles of supervision, training, and performance evaluation; computer hardware and software of electrical engineering and control systems such as SCADA and telecommunications equipment; basic principles and practices of budget preparation and administration; principles and procedures of record keeping; principles of business letter writing and report preparation; office procedures, methods, and equipment including computers and applicable software applications such as word processing, spreadsheets, and databases; pertinent federal, state, and local laws, codes, and regulations.

Ability to: Coordinate and direct an assigned electrical engineering program; supervise, organize, and review the work of assigned electrical engineering staff; select, train, and evaluate staff; recommend and implement goals, objectives, policies and procedures for providing engineering services; understand the organization and operation of the organization and of outside agencies as necessary to assume assigned responsibilities; understand, interpret, and apply general and specific administrative and departmental policies and procedures as well as applicable federal, state, and local policies, laws, and regulations; prepare clear and concise reports; participate in the preparation and administration of assigned budgets; interpret and explain City electrical engineering policies and procedures; prepare engineering computations; prepare and review engineering plans, specifications and estimates for electric utility projects; perform technical research and solve engineering problems; perform complex analysis and mathematical computations; conduct comprehensive engineering studies and prepare reports and recommendations; plan and organize work to meet changing priorities and deadlines; effectively represent the City to outside individuals and agencies to accomplish the goals and objectives of the unit; work cooperatively with other departments, City officials, and outside agencies; respond tactfully, clearly, concisely, and appropriately to inquiries from the public, City staff, or other agencies on sensitive issues in area of responsibility; operate office equipment including computers and supporting word processing, spreadsheet, and database applications; communicate clearly and concisely, both orally and in writing; and establish and maintain effective working relationships with those contacted in the course of work.

License/Certification Required: Possession of an appropriate, valid drivers license. Possession of State of California registration as a Professional Electrical Engineer.

Senior Electrical Engineer

Experience and Education: Three (3) years of increasingly responsible journey level professional electric engineering experience supplemented by a Bachelor's degree from an accredited college or university with major course work in electrical engineering or a related field. An equivalent combination of experience and education sufficient to perform the essential job functions and provide the required knowledge and abilities is qualifying.

Knowledge of: Principles and practices of electrical engineering and design; instrumentation and controls engineering, communications systems, load research, transmission and distribution planning; electrical utility distribution engineering construction and work methods; physical properties and strength of materials used in electrical engineering construction projects; principles of load research and forecasting; construction standards; City engineering policies and procedures; City and real property procedures regarding land and easement acquisition; office procedures, methods, and equipment including computers and applicable software applications such as word processing, spreadsheets, databases, and electrical engineering and control systems; principles of supervision and training; principles and procedures of financial record keeping and reporting; pertinent federal, state and local laws, codes and regulations.

Ability to: Perform engineering computations; prepare and review engineering plans, specifications and estimates for electric or water utility projects; perform highly complex technical research and solve engineering problems; conduct comprehensive engineering studies and prepare reports and recommendations; supervise and train assigned staff; deal tactfully and effectively with the general public; communicate clearly and concisely, both orally and in writing; and establish and maintain effective working relationships with those contacted in the course of work.

License/Certification Required: Possession of State of California registration as a Professional Electrical Engineer. Possession of an appropriate, valid driver's license.

**** IMPORTANT APPLICATION INFORMATION AND INSTRUCTION ****

Applications will be accepted on a continuous basis until a sufficient number of qualified applications have been received. The deadline for the first review of applications is on Thursday, July 3, 2025 at 5:00PM . Applicants are encouraged to apply early. Applicants that apply after the first review are not guaranteed to be considered for this recruitment. This recruitment may close at any time without notice after the first review date.

The selection process might consist of a minimum of skills examination and oral interview.

The eligibility list established from this recruitment may also be used to fill the current and/or additional vacancies throughout the City.

Candidates must be specific and complete in describing their qualifications for this position. Failure to state all pertinent information may lead to elimination from consideration. Stating "See Resume" is not an acceptable substitute for a completed application.

The successful candidate will be required to undergo a reference / background check (to include a conviction record) and pass a post-offer pre-employment medical examination (which will include a drug/alcohol screening). The City of Anaheim utilizes E-Verify and new employees must provide documentation to establish both identity and work authorization.

Communication regarding your application and/or status will be sent to the email address listed on your application. Please check your email regularly throughout the recruitment process as you will not receive communications by any other method.

Equal Opportunity Employer