Senior R&TD Engineer II - (Mechanical Engineer)

Summary

Mechanical Engineer performs research, design, and development activities to improve NYPA’s energy services.  Designs, selects, tests, evaluates and implements new technology. Ensures that standards of quality, cost, safety, reliability, timeliness and performance are met throughout all engineering activities. 

Responsible for developing new, highly technical, and innovative ideas, tools, and techniques that have the potential to reduce NYPA’s operation and maintenance costs and increase NYPA’s power systems’ efficiency, reliability, and safety. This includes working with NYPA’s internal constituencies as well as external research and development organizations to develop, implement, test, and evaluate the efficacy of new technologies, tools, and techniques. #LI-VB1

Responsibilities

• Mechanical - Initiate, design, and implement advanced generation and transmission technologies at NYPA facilities including, but not limited to,  energy systems , power plant systems, materials, structural analysis, transmission line inspection and monitoring devices, and unmanned aerial vehicles and robotics
• Provide original research on technical solutions to resolve generation and transmission problems at NYPA’s facilities.
• Obtain significant levels of project co-funding by forming multidisciplinary teams to solicit, prepare and manage grant and cost share agreements to reduce program costs and build stakeholder support.
• Carry out work to implement innovative technology projects at NYPA sites and customer locations by specifying technical request for proposals to procure and install equipment and demonstrate new technology solutions
• Review and rank contractor and consultant proposals as well as recommendations from colleagues and recommend project contract awards.
• Supervise the activities of contractors, including design and implementation, and procurement service contractors, prepare and monitor contractor performance and evaluation plans.
• Represent NYPA to develop, install, test, and evaluate new technologies. This may require the development and delivery of presentations outlining the technologies and innovations. .
• Represent NYPA as a technical expert on industry committees and industry groups by preparing reports and presentations and coordinating project collaboration to leverage industry knowledge for NYPA and customer benefits.
• Manage the implementation of new technologies by leveraging in house technical expertise with industry knowledge and experience to provide technology solutions to NYPA’s core business and its customers.  Coordinate major projects across multiple engineering disciplines. Track and prepare status reports for all assigned projects.  Project responsibility can be up to 10 or more projects, depending on the size and complexity of the projects and whether done in house or by implementation contractors.  This will require project management as well as contract management expertise.
• Coordinate the work of less senior engineers and contractors and consultants in a particular area of program focus and activity.  He/she will develop and evaluate plans and criteria for a variety of projects and activities.  Assesses the feasibility and soundness of the proposed engineering evaluation tests or equipment.    Incumbent must be able to solve problems related to customer billing savings, design and construction issues. 
• Develop and verify all financial and billing documentation relating to savings calculations supporting the cost-effective direct install projects. 
• Prepare budget proposals, project scheduling and project reporting.  Keep abreast of the latest technological developments, products and revisions in the electric utility industry. Must be able to provide technical leadership across NYPA in the areas of expertise:  project management, power generation and transmission, energy storage, energy analysis, utility interconnections, life cycle cost analysis, project financing strategies, and energy systems and controls  
   

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities

• Proficiency with state-of-the-art engineering and analytical techniques and renewable energy and electric transportation and power conversion technologies is required. Incumbent must be proficient with basic accounting procedures and principles.  must be proficient in local/state code requirements.
• A solid understanding of the electric utility and energy services industries is required.  Incumbent must have broad technical knowledge across multiple engineering disciplines. Background experience with engineering consultants and labor contractors is required.  A thorough understanding of NYPA’s policies, operations, procedures and business objectives as well as those of the customers and understanding of the Authority’s interaction with other utilities regulatory agencies and customers is desirable.
• Excellent interpersonal skills and good verbal communication skills are required. Incumbent must possess the ability to organize information and effectively present ideas to the intended audience.  Must be able to receive verbal direction and follow-up for/with supervisor. Incumbent must have strong negotiation skills in order to lead negotiations with contractors and consultants.  Incumbent must have superior writing skills and the ability to prepare reports, research papers, analytical studies and equipment reviews suitable for final submission.
• Incumbent must be able to handle projects from start to finish with only major or policy decisions being brought to his/her supervisor.  Incumbent must have the ability to analyze existing conditions in a facility. Incumbent must be proficient in managing 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.  Incumbent must be able to develop multiple recommendations to problems to allow customers a choice of solutions.
• Strong project management skills are required.  Incumbent must be able to develop project plans, timelines and work schedules as well as coordinate among customers, contractors, permitting agencies, etc..  A team oriented approach to project management is required to plan, execute and complete multiple projects on time and within budgeted allowance.  
• The ability to provide guidance/direction to less senior engineers is required.  Incumbent must demonstrate a high level of personal motivation, creativity, foresight and good judgment.  Incumbent must have motivational skills that inspire less senior engineers to succeed.  Excellent negotiating skills are also required. Incumbent must have the ability to professionally and respectfully resolve disputes with contactors and customers with outcomes that are in the best interest in the Power Authority and its customers.
• Supervisory/Managerial: Management skills are essential to providing direction to and motivating less senior engineers, labor contractors and equipment manufacturers and vendors. Incumbent may be called upon to assist the Director of Renewable Energy Resources and Technology in managerial tasks or to assume the their role in his/her absence.
• Proven track record that reflects his/her in-depth knowledge and experience in Project Management multi discipline engineering.
• In-depth knowledge of NYPA policies and business resource management is desirable.

Education, Experience and Certifications

• Bachelor’s degree in mechanical, electrical engineering or related engineering discipline is required, advanced degree in engineering, scientific or business discipline preferred
• Minimum of 12 plus years of similar experience, with a proven track record that reflects his/her in-depth knowledge and experience in Project Management multi discipline engineering preferred.
• In-depth knowledge of NYPA policies and business resource management is desirable.
• A NYS Professional Engineering (PE) is required. 
• An advanced degree in engineering, scientific or business discipline are desirable

Physical Requirements

• Approximately 10% travel primarily within NY State
• Ability to observe and direct work in the field at customer facilities, power plants, under transmission lines, and in transmission substations.
• Valid driver’s license