Hydro Engineer Senior (Dam Safety)

Hydro Engineer Senior (Dam Safety)

Position Overview

The Grand River Dam Authority (GRDA), an agency of the State of Oklahoma, provides wholesale electricity to public power communities in Oklahoma. GRDA is seeking highly qualified candidates for the position of Civil/Structural Engineer with an emphasis on Dam Safety Compliance and Projects in association with its Generation Facilities in Mayes County, Oklahoma and ancillary locations; primary dam locations being the Pensacola Dam (Langley), Kerr Dam (Locust Grove) and Salina Pumped Storage (Salina). The Pensacola, Kerr and Salina facilities are hydroelectric generation facilities licensed by the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC). This position will also support civil and structural projects at the Grand River Energy Center (GREC)(Chouteau) and other facilities as determined necessary. The GREC is comprised of both coal fired and natural gas combined cycle generating units. The Civil Engineer provides leadership and engineering support for these generation facilities and FERC and North America Electric Reliability Corporation (NERC) compliance and Dam Safety.
Key objectives include support for and the performance of Dam Safety evaluations; perform and support compliance evaluations and reporting; perform project development, design and monitoring; provide support for steam and combustion turbines; provide support for hydroelectric generation units; gain and maintain intimate knowledge of long-term service agreements and other assigned contracts.
Essential job functions include, but are not limited to:
• Perform evaluations and reports for FERC related evaluation and improvement projects.
• Support FERC and other related generation compliance tasks and projects.
• Perform engineering analysis, calculations, design, studies, and other duties associated with maintaining, constructing, and operating civil and structural features of the generation facilities.
• Evaluate Dam Safety performance to ensure maximum safety, optimal availability, environmental compliance, and reliable operation. Communicate discrepancies and corrective action plans to the Chief Dam Safety Engineer, VP for Generation Engineering and plant staff, as necessary.
• Perform and/or coordinate assessments and inspections to recommend cost effective preventive maintenance strategies, design improvements, and major equipment component replacement.
• Conform with internal Management of Change (MOC) program, perform and/or coordinate engineering assessments for proposed system modifications, assign and oversee Project Steering Committees.
• Create specifications; prepare bid documents; evaluate bids received; prepare and present reports and recommendations as required for the purchase of materials, equipment, services, and miscellaneous items associated with thermal and/or hydroelectric generation facilities and other assigned projects.
• Develop and assist in implementation of training of and for hydroelectric and thermal generation plant technicians for Dam Safety and security awareness.
• Develop a thorough understanding of GRDA structural monitoring procedures and root condition analysis based in structural potential failure mode (PFM) assessments.
• Coordinate or verify work of outside contractors and/or engineering firms concerning thermal and hydroelectric generation design activities, monitor work orders, project progress, change orders, and contractor payments of assigned areas.
• Train and mentor engineers, interns, and technician team members.
• Odd shifts and after-hours work may be required under system emergency.
• Assist O&M staff in troubleshooting complex issues and may supervise repair activities as assigned.
• May represent GRDA in regional organizations concerning Dam Safety, hydroelectric generation, and thermal generation related topics.
• Create, organize, analyze and maintain records for assigned oversight areas of the department(s).
• Other duties as assigned.
Skills, Knowledge, Qualities:
• Demonstrated competency in structural and geotechnical design and analysis of hydraulic retention structures
• Excellent competency with personal computers and office related software; prefer experience with Excel, Access, and Word.
• Must be capable of methodical analysis of complex technical problems.
• Must possess and demonstrate excellent writing and composition skills.
• Must be comfortable giving verbal presentations before groups.
Education, Training, Experience:
• Bachelor's degree in civil engineering, architectural engineering or engineering geology or related degree program with a structural and geotechnical design emphasis from an accredited college or university, required. Master’s level emphasis in structural engineering or geologic engineering preferred. Additional courses or practical experience in thermal and hydroelectric generation design, systems analysis, computer programming, and project and facility management are desirable.
• The preferred applicant will have a minimum of six (6) years' experience as a civil/structural engineer with experience in dam design and construction.
• Additional preference given for experience involving generation turbines and equipment protection.
Certificates, Registrations, Licenses:
• Valid Oklahoma driver’s license, or the ability to convert within 90 days for those with an out of state driver’s license that are an Oklahoma resident.
• PE registration in Oklahoma preferred. If not registered, must have ability to acquire PE registration within two (2) years of employment. Although not available in Oklahoma, if the selected candidate comes with an engineering geology background, acquisition of registration within two (2) years in a state with a geology registration program will be necessary.
Physical/Mental Requirements & Working Conditions:
• Must be able to walk, climb stairs, crawl, work from ladders and elevated platforms. Must not have a fear of heights, confined spaces, or working around high voltage equipment.
• Ability to lift, move, and carry weights of up to 30 lb. on a regular basis.
• Must possess mental, visual, and auditory acuity for attention to visual and auditory detail. Manual dexterity is required for operation of test equipment, small tools, and the installation, adjustment, and repair of control devices.
• Work locations ranges from an office environment to outdoors and/or indoors in a high noise/high temperature environment with possible work in confined spaces.
• Emergency repair work may be required during system upsets.
Other information:
• Work is performed at other GRDA generation site locations as required. Office location for the engineer can be accommodated in several locations with a preference being for the successful candidate to office at the Engineering & Technology Center in Tulsa, Oklahoma.
• Minimal travel requirements.
• Emergency response to support system outages may require irregular hours.
• Compensation will be commensurate with experience and qualifications
• Highly competitive benefits package