Director Digital Substation (Substation Automation)

Summary

The Director Substation leads the Digital Substation Automation group which is focused on designing new IEC 61850 substations integrating a multitude of Intelligent Electronic Devices (IEDs) while ensuring maximum reliability for New York’s Bulk Electric System (BES) while maintain maximum cybersecurity protection. This includes system integration in development of digital substation automation standards and project deployments, and support.  

The group will apply state-of-the-art protective relaying design and analysis for Power Generation and Distribution Systems, HV and EHV Transmission System, and Digital Tele-protection Communication Systems.

The Director will lead efforts utilizing cross functional engineering lab work flow and priorities as well as deliver direct support to NYPA field testing crews, and project teams; and will lead engineering processes for IEC61850 projects.

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Responsibilities

• Lead the multidiscipline engineering design processes for digital substation.
• Leads group in development of digital designs and implementation of IED programming.
• Lead the development of standard test criteria, test templates and tools, working with the Protective Relay Committee members to drive the standardization of NYPA’s IED testing programs for digital substation deployments.
• Develop staff in key areas of expertise for digital substation such as IEC61850 standards, Ethernet networking, tools and field commissioning.  
• Manage employees including performance management, salary administration, succession planning and workload balancing.  
• Manage the engineering lab as a cross functional arena to establish standard testing and integration processes and methods for verifying the increasingly interdisciplinary digital substation.  
• Support procedures for testing of IEC618150 systems within all regulatory requirements.

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities

• Experience in protection & control system, OT networks, control system integration, communications, IEC61850 systems, testing and commissioning of such systems.  
• Experience in the application of NERC CIP and good utility cyber security practices to digital substations
• Broad understanding of power system design, operation, maintenance and testing methods. 
• Demonstrated ability to effectively manage engineering personnel as well as cross-functional teams.
• Ability to effectively develop staff in key technical areas supporting the digital substation.
• Ability to produce clear and concise written documents and verbal presentations on technical, business and social issues.
• Strong platform skills and ability to tailor presentations to the technical understanding of any audience.
• Ability to apply technical and theoretical knowledge with business drivers to develop optimal solutions for NYPA Digital Substation Strategy. 
• Capable of building teams and fostering teamwork amongst both management and bargaining unit personnel; strong collaborative and negotiation skills to influence senior management, peers, outside policy makers and other NYPA personnel.
   

Education, Experience and Certifications

• A Bachelor's degree in Electrical, Computer Engineering or equivalent discipline. A Master's degree in Electrical Engineering preferred.
• Minimum of 12 years applicable experience.
• Minimum 3 years’ experience in a leadership role, managing teams or projects.
• Licensed as a Professional Engineer in NYS.
• A working knowledge of industry codes, standards and regulations, such as IEEE, IEC, NEC, NERC and NPCC.
• An applicable cyber security certification such as CISSP preferred.

Physical Requirements

• Ability to access all areas of the plant including ability to climb and work at high elevations; ability to walk a significant distance, sometimes on uneven ground.
• A willingness to travel as much as 25% is required.