Project Engineer II (EE)

Summary

The Project Engineer specialty supports the various NYPA Divisions in achieving the Business Unit's goals to improve implementation of design, engineering and energy efficiency in order to maintain facilities and stimulate new energy technologies in New York State. The Project Engineer works with internal and extenal customers to develop multiple end use projects incorporating existing and new technologies to maintain NYPA's facilities, support NYPA's customers, and implement NY State energy goals. 

Responsibilities

• Represent NYPA at local, city, state, and other official meetings and at customer, vendor and design meetings, contractor walks through, and make presentations to customers.
• Prepare engineering calculations, estimates, and cost analyses.
• Manage and implement multiple energy efficiency, commercial operations, utility operations and technology projects, including new projects and modifications concurrently.
• Project responsibility can range from 8-20 projects depending on scope. Projects are generally large and complex in nature, with the more complex projects requiring some supervision from Management.
• Prepare specifications and review design drawings as required.
• Develop customer installation commitment documents including agreements requiring the development of economic analyses and engineering specifications.
• Coordinate major projects across multiple engineering disciplines. Track and prepare status reports for all assigned projects.
• Evaluate project scope, review feasibility reports, make presentations and recommendations, develop design documents and specifications, evaluate bid results, and make recommendations for contract award.
• Develop and verify engineering, labor and material bid specifications provided by staff and implementation contractors.
• Ensure that all design, code, licensing and operating and maintenance requirements are met.
• Review project activities for technical content, accuracy, cost control and schedule.
• Review the work of vendors, contractors and consultants in the particular area of program focus and activity, and as needed, assist the Lead and Senior Engineers in reviewing the work of less senior engineers while developing and evaluating plans and criteria for a variety of projects and activities.
• Assesses the feasibility and soundness of proposed engineering evaluation tests or equipment. Develop and implement new and creative ways to move project forward to successful implementation. Solve problems related to customer bill savings, design and construction issues. Negotiate change orders to construction and services contracts.
• Develop and verify all financial and billing documentation relating to savings calculations supporting the cost-effective direct install projects.
• Full understanding of and ability to manage all project-related finances.
• Coordinate activities between contractors / consultants / equipment vendors / customers to provide project construction quality assurance in adherence to project specifications and compliance to state and local codes.
• Comply with and enforce the compliance of hazardous material handling, safety and environmental procedures as well as other construction requirements.
• Keep abreast of the latest technological developments, products and revisions to the NYPA project input parameters.

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities

• Ability to acquire an understanding of NYPA’s policies, operations, procedures and business objectives as well as those of the customers.
• Ability to further develop an understanding of the electric utility and energy services industries. Technical knowledge across multiple engineering disciplines.
• Understanding of the Authority’s interaction with other utilities, regulatory agencies and customers. Background experience with engineering consultants and labor contractors. Project management skills are essential.
• Able to independently handle projects from start to finish with only significant and policy decisions brought to the supervisor. The ability to analyze existing conditions in a facility, complex issues related to contracts, equipment design and operation, and environmental concerns as they relate to customer requirements, and develop cost effective, innovative engineering solutions to non-routine problems. Must be able to develop multiple recommendations to problems allowing customers a choice of solutions.
• Must have excellent interpersonal and verbal communication skills; possess the ability to organize information and effectively present ideas to the intended audience. Must also have good negotiation skills with contractors and consultants. Must have good writing skills and the ability to prepare reports, research papers, analytical studies and equipment reviews suitable for final submission.
• Knowledge of basic financial management procedures and principles.
• Knowledge of building mechanical and electrical systems as well as chillers, boilers, HVAC and building envelope.
• Proficient with local/state code requirements.
• Personal computing skills, including familiarity with spreadsheets, word processing, databases, and project management software.
• Ability to further develop technical knowledge in electric transformer vaults, utility service rate analyses (gas & electric), energy analysis, utility interconnections, life cycle cost analysis, NYPA contracts, project financing strategies, and energy systems and controls is required.
• Ability to proactively identify problems that arise during analysis procedures or in analysis results and provide potential alternatives to supervisors or senior engineers.

Education, Experience and Certifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Mechanical, Electrical Engineering or related engineering discipline.
• Minimum 6 years of related Engineering experience.
• Project Management multi-discipline Engineering experience.
• Professional certifications such as Project Management Professional Certification (PMPC) or Certified Energy Manager (CEM), or an advanced degree in an engineering, scientific or business discipline, preferred.
• Qualifications to sit for Part I and/or Part II of the PE exam preferred.

Physical Requirements

• Approximately 40% - 60% travel as responsibility increases, primarily within NY State.
• Ability to access all areas of the site and conduct physical evaluations of grounds and equipment including ability to climb and work at high elevations, walk a significant distance, sometimes on uneven ground, and occasional minor lifting.
• Availability to work outside of normal business hours (including weekends) when project demands.