Substation Communication Project Engineer

At HDR, our employee-owners are fully engaged in creating a welcoming environment where each of us is valued and respected, a place where everyone is empowered to bring their authentic selves and novel ideas to work every day. As we foster a culture of inclusion throughout our company and within our communities, we constantly ask ourselves: What is our impact on the world?

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Each and every role throughout our organization makes a difference in our ability to change the world for the better. Read further to learn how you could help make great things possible not only in your community, but around the world. 

As a power delivery professional are you looking for a new "home" where your employer's values are aligned with yours?   Are you interested in a company that is diverse and inclusive and takes extraordinary efforts to create high performance teams?   Are you interested in a company that has a strong local presence supported by national experts in power delivery and provides you with opportunities to work on transformational projects throughout the US?   Are you interested in a firm that is a firm that is 100-percent employee owned with full transparency of financial results and a solid record of performance year-to-year? If you answered yes to any or all of these questions, HDR may be a new home for you.  

The primary duties of the Substation Communication Project Engineer include responsibility for knowledge and execution of the technical aspects and deliverables of substation communication projects.  This person should be an experienced, competent engineer who has a good understanding of all commonly used substation equipment, and the SCADA functions associated with that equipment.  It is required to have a working knowledge of substation protection and control schemes, RTU's, HMI's, PLC's, I/O devices, communication processors, Ethernet networks and equipment, serial communications, LAN/WAN devices and topology, fiber optics, radio communications, common communication protocols, and applicable device configuration software.  Familiarity with SCADA communication aspects of protective relay settings and associated software is also required.

• Complete all technical requirements of substation communication projects of basic to moderate complexity.
• Support substation project scoping efforts by reviewing existing communication infrastructure, current utility standards and best practices to provide a project communication recommendation to the design team.
• Complete technical reviews of substation protection and control schematic diagrams from a communication and/or SCADA perspective.
• Develop RTU and EMS points lists and documentation of RTU data.
• Develop configurations for RTU's, HMI's, I/O devices, meters, PLC's, communication processors, and network devices using proprietary software packages.
• Execute testing and troubleshooting of device configurations in a lab environment.
• Coordination of protective relay communication port parameters and data maps with system protection engineers.
• Coordination of EMS database changes with utilities.
• Provide technical and troubleshooting support for field technicians.  This will primarily be via telephone and email, although on-site support will also be required on an as-needed basis.
• Responsible for quality control reviews of communication projects from peers and/or other teams on an as needed basis.
• Works independently and may direct, mentor, train, and/or supervise efforts of less-experienced EIT's and/or Designers.
• Work with Business Class Leaders to identify and develop specific technical expertise and will attend training and seminars focused on further development and understanding of complex concepts related to their discipline.
• May also assist with developing technical papers and/or presentations that showcase HDR's technical capabilities at industry conferences or other events
   

Preferred Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Electrical Engineering
• 5 years of experience in substation communication and SCADA engineering is required.
• Specific experience performing aspects associated with substation communication and SCADA engineering including the following:
  • Novatech suite of Orion RTU's and associated NCD3 software.
  • SEL suite of automation controllers including SEL-2440/2411 DPAC's, SEL-3530/3555 RTAC's and SEL-2020/2030/2032 communication processors and associated AcSELerator Quickset/Architect/RTAC and SEL-5020 software.
  • GE/Harris D20 RTU's and associated ConfigPro and SG Config software.
  • ACS/NTX automation controllers and RTU retrofit kits including NTX Explorer software.
  • Novatech/Bitronics meter configuration.
  • Schneider Electric/Modicon suite of Compact, Quantum, and M340 PLC platforms and associated Concept, Unity, and FasTrack software.
  • Total Control/GE QuickPanels and associated QuickDesigner software.
  • Citect SCADA HMI software.
  • DNP, Modbus, Modbus Plus, IEC-61850/GOOSE, and Conitel protocols (TCP/IP and serial)
  • Basic familiarity with usage of relay test set equipment (Omicron, Manta, Doble, etc.)
• Previous experience with an electric utility or architectural/engineering or engineering consulting firm desired.
• Some travel may be required.
• Local candidates are preferred. 

• Bachelor's degree in Engineering
• Requires professional engineering license recognized by the licensing board for the location of the position offered. Example: Professional Engineer (PE or P.Eng) license.
• Previous experience in project execution within the Power Market Sector.
• Computer skills in Microsoft Office as well as standard Power Market Sector design software. (examples include PLS CAD, AutoCAD, Plant 3D, AutoPipe, and Revit)
• An attitude and commitment to being an active participant of our employee-owned culture

What We Believe
HDR is our company. Together, we build on each other's life experiences and perspectives to make great things possible every day. This shapes our collaborative culture, encourages organizational trust and connects us closer to the clients and communities we serve.

Our Commitment
As employee owners, we all have a role in creating an inclusive environment where each of us is welcomed, valued, respected and empowered to bring our authentic selves to work every day.

Our eight Employee Network Groups (Asian Pacific, Black, Hispanic/Latino(a), LGBTQ+, People with Disabilities, Veterans, Women, Young Professionals) help create a sense of belonging and foster a supportive environment where everyone is empowered to engage and contribute. Each group has an executive sponsor and is open to all employees.