At Midwest Energy & Communications (MEC), we embrace innovation and are on a mission to create vibrant, relevant, sustainable rural communities by delivering first-in-class innovations and solutions where others won’t. We bring comfort and convenience in the form of electric solutions to more than 35,000 homes and businesses across 12 counties in rural southwest and southeast Michigan, and portions of northern Indiana and Ohio. But we’re more than an electric utility. We also offer propane solutions, delivered with the same level of reliability and customer care. And we’re deploying fiber internet across our electric service territory and beyond, bringing the gold standard of broadband solutions to members who were previously unserved and underserved, and opening up great opportunities for home automation using smart grid applications.
The Opportunity
In this role, you will be responsible for various distribution system planning and design activities to ensure adequate and reliable power supply. Your work includes long term planning, load forecasting, voltage analysis, sectionalizing and alternate feed determination.
Key responsibilities include:
Supervising technicians responsible for AMI, DG interconnections, power quality, SCADA, key accounts, reliability standards, substation construction and maintenance, and electronic controls (IEDs).
Providing engineering advice on methods of electrical system design, construction, maintenance and operations.
Directing corrections to voltage, power factor and load factor problems.
Preparation of contracts for line construction, maintenance and system improvements and assist in supervision of contractors.
Preparation of documentation according to RUS guidelines, such as load forecasts, long term plans and construction work plans.
Designing and developing plans and schedules for electric & communication distribution system improvement requirements.
Regular review and analysis to determine methods for improving safety, productivity and continuity of electrical and communication services.
To be Successful
As our Engineering Manager you must have a Bachelor of Science in Electrical Engineering and at least 5 years of experience in the electric utility industry, preferably in roles related to a rural electric distribution system. You have or can obtain a Professional Engineers License from the State of Michigan.
Additionally, you:
Possess strong listening, critical thinking and problem solving skills
Are familiar with engineering standards such as RUS, IEEE, ANSI and NESC
Are capable of providing leadership and oversite to field engineers, technicians, consultants and contractors
Are effective at dealing with complexity and ambiguity
Have a broad understanding of power systems, particularly rural distribution systems and practices
In the 1930s, Midwest Energy & Communications (MEC) began to bring power and light to the rural space when the large utility providers wouldn’t. Today’s MEC embraces that same spirit, transforming the rural space by delivering first-in-class innovations and solutions where others won’t. We bring comfort and convenience in the form of electric, propane and Internet solutions across our service territory in southwest and southeast Michigan. But there’s a constant energy at MEC and it’s much bigger than the services we provide. It’s a buzz felt wherever our employees gather, whether in the office or in the field. Because we genuinely like each other. We help each other solve problems. We boost each other up. And at the end of the day, we gather for fun and share stories about our work and home lives. We’ve worked hard to build a culture we’re proud of, a culture that values taking care of each other, collaborating on new ideas and standing up for our rural community. We’re excited about the work we do and who we get to do that work with. We’re MEC. With us, it’s all about the energy.
