General Purpose of Job   

This position is responsible for Substation Engineering including the engineering of the structural and electrical portions of the Cooperative’s substations.  The Engineer will provide designs for water retention areas, foundations, and steel structural analysis; will be the engineer of record and project manager for new substations, modification of existing substations, and maintenance projects; will complete the necessary specifications, designs, and construction, and operation and maintenance support of substation and transmission facilities. 

Minimum Required Qualifications and Competencies  

The following includes the minimum job requirements and essential duties for this position. Reasonable accommodation may be made to enable qualified individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions. Some job requirements may exclude individuals that cannot be reasonably accommodated or who pose a direct threat or significant risk to the health and safety of themselves or other employees. 

Education 

• Bachelor’s degree in Civil Engineering with a concentration in structural engineering. 

• Registration as Professional Engineer in Florida is required within one year of employment. 

• Job-related experience may be substituted for the required education on a year-for-year basis. 

Experience 

• Five (5) years progressively responsible experience in electric utility substation and/or transmission construction with emphasis on design, construction and operations. 

• Familiarity with Structural and Water run off analysis software or systems. 

• Preferred: Experience within an electric utility or related industry. 

Core Competencies 

• Safety: Follows safety procedures diligently, identifies potential hazards, and takes appropriate action to maintain a safe working environment.  

• Member Commitment: Provides exceptional service to members, actively listening to their needs and ensuring their satisfaction. 

• Honesty & Integrity: Acts with honesty and integrity in all tasks, maintaining transparency and ethical standards. 

• Work Ethic: Demonstrates a strong work ethic by consistently meeting deadlines and achieving high performance in all tasks. 

• Inclusive Culture: Contributes to an inclusive culture by respecting and valuing diverse perspectives and collaborating effectively with all team members. 

• Accountability: Takes responsibility for their actions and decisions, ensuring they meet commitments and deliver high-quality work. 

• Teamwork: Works collaboratively with team members, sharing information and supporting collective goals. 

Job Specific Competencies 

• Structural & Electrical Engineering Expertise: Extensive knowledge of structural analysis and high-voltage system design, including utility substation and transmission facilities. Proficient in transmission and structural engineering software, construction methods, and diagnostic tools. Well-versed in ASTM, ACI, NESC, and RUS standards and regulations. 

• Multidisciplinary Engineering Knowledge: Strong understanding of electrical, civil, and structural engineering principles as they relate to substation and transmission design. Experienced in substation and switching design, foundation engineering, steel structure analysis, and water retention systems. 

• Technical & Analytical Skills: Demonstrated ability to analyze complex system issues, support field testing, and develop feasibility studies and technical solutions. Adept at collaborating with cross-functional teams and field personnel. 

• Software Proficiency: Skilled in Microsoft Office Suite (Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Access, Project) and capable of quickly learning corporate database systems. Preferred experience with AutoCAD, PLS-CADD, and other CAD/design tools. 

• Project Management & Organization: Excellent planning and organizational abilities with a strong attention to detail. Capable of managing multiple priorities, meeting tight deadlines, and working both independently and collaboratively. 

• Communication & Documentation: Exceptional verbal and written communication skills. Able to interact effectively with clients, technical teams, and management. Proficient in interpreting technical literature and producing accurate, detailed reports and business correspondence. 

• Professional Judgment & Adaptability: Exercises sound judgment and discretion in decision-making. Maintains confidentiality, manages stress effectively, and adapts to dynamic environments while multitasking with composure. 

Verification 

The above qualifications and competencies for this position may be verified through a combination of education, experience, interview questions, and technical skills exercise(s). 

Essential Duties and Responsibilities 

This description is intended to indicate the kinds of tasks and levels of work difficulty required of the position given this title and shall not be construed as declaring what the specific duties and responsibilities of any position shall be. It is not intended to limit or in any way modify the right of management to assign, direct and control the work of employees under supervision. The listing of essential duties and responsibilities shall not be held to exclude other duties that may be assigned based on the needs of the cooperative. 

Site Evaluation & Field Verification 

• Conduct site evaluations to assess substation constructability and feasibility. 

• Perform field visits to verify the accuracy of file drawings and ensure alignment with design specifications. 

• Ensure all drawings, cable, and conduit schedules are updated and maintained as-built after each project. 

Substation Design & Engineering Oversight 

• Direct the development of substation design layouts, general arrangements, and as-built drawings (electrical, SCADA, etc.) based on engineer sketches and verified connection points. 

• Lead material selection for substations, including switches, regulator platforms, and other key components. 

• Prepare and implement modifications to general arrangement drawings as needed. 

Civil Coordination & Permitting 

• Coordinate substation design requirements with consulting civil engineering firms, including drainage, layout, and structural integration. 

• Collaborate with civil engineers and landscape designers to prepare documentation for County and State permitting processes. 

• Coordinate with various outside resources for surveys, soil borings, and environmental needs as projects needs require. 

Construction Documentation & Detailing 

• Supervise the creation of detailed construction drawings, including steel arrangements, bus layouts, equipment locations, schematics, grounding, conduit and cable routing, and control house layouts. 

• Direct the preparation of cable schedules, conduit schedules, and bills of materials for each project. 

Contractor & Stakeholder Collaboration 

• Review contractor submittals (e.g., steel, equipment, materials) in coordination with design engineers and operations/maintenance personnel. 

• Provide technical guidance to construction contractors, addressing specification questions and offering design clarification. 

• Interface with transmission providers and distribution designers to define termination points, cable/conduit routing, and pull box locations. 

• Collaborate with substation inspectors and SECO personnel to resolve design and construction issues. 

Physical Demands and Work Environment 

The physical demands and work environment described here are representative of those that must be met by or those an employee encounters to successfully perform the essential functions of this position. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions. Some requirements may exclude individuals that cannot be reasonably accommodated or who pose a direct threat or significant risk to the health and safety of themselves or other employees.

While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to sit and talk or hear.  The employee is occasionally required to walk; stand; use hands to finger, handle, or feel; reach with hands and arms; climb or balance; stoop, kneel, crouch, or crawl.  The employee must regularly lift and/or move up to 10 pounds. Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, distance vision, color vision, and the ability to adjust focus. 

This position has a general office environment with limited field work. The noise level in the work environment is usually quiet to moderate. 

Other Requirements  

• Ability to operate a variety of office equipment, including a personal computer, printers, copy machines, telephone, and fax machine. 

• Ability to work irregular hours for assignment completion and flexibility to change scheduling and report to work on short notice during emergency situations.  

• A valid Florida driver’s license for regular driving privileges of a company vehicle; must have and maintain an acceptable driving record as determined by SECO Energy. 

• Frequent business travel to all areas of service territory required. 

• Normal work hours will be eight (8) hours Monday through Friday, between 8:00 am to 5:00 pm.  

• Successful completion of pre-employment background check, physical and drug screen. 

Driving Requirements     Yes  - Valid Florida Driver's License

About Seco Energy

SECO Energy is a not-for-profit electric cooperative serving over 230,000 homes and businesses across seven counties in Central Florida, making SECO the third-largest electric co-op in Florida and the seventh largest in the nation. One of the most important distinctions between other types of utilities and SECO is that we are member owned. Our members have a voice in the co-op’s decision-making process. They elect a nine-member Board of Trustees, who meet monthly to monitor the financial status of the Cooperative and make policy decisions in the best interest of the membership. SECO’s wholesale power provider is Seminole Electric Cooperative, Inc., one of the largest generation and transmission cooperatives in the nation, serving 1.9 million consumers in Florida. Seminole is owned by nine electric distribution cooperatives, and SECO Energy is one of those nine member-owners.

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