Distribution Protection Intern

Requisition ID # 163506

Job Category: Administrative / Clerical

Job Level: Individual Contributor

Business Unit: Electric Engineering

Work Type: Hybrid

Job Location: West Sacramento

Distribution Protection Intern

Electric Asset Management (EAM) Distribution Protection Engineering (DPE) team ensures safe, reliable, and efficient operation of the electric distribution system by providing timely and innovative engineering and technical support associated with the protection, design, programming of our distribution protective devices. EAM DPE is one of the lead engineering groups behind PG&E’s Enhanced Powerline Safety Settings (EPSS) and has overall responsibility for the protection of mainline distribution protection devices throughout PG&E’s territory.

Position Summary

The Electric Distribution Planning team is looking for an intern to support the critical electric distribution engineering functions that PG&E performs every day. Routine tasks that the intern may support include:

Developing long-term and short-term capacity plan recommendations

Monitoring area substation and circuit capabilities and track corresponding loads. Performing planning studies to correctly model the electric distribution system.

Analyzing historical loads and projecting future growth.

Preparing and initiating switching plans to alleviate normal and minimize emergency deficiencies.

Preparing settings for protection and voltage regulation equipment.

Reviewing requests for large new load additions.

Reviewing outages and developing plans to improve reliability.

PG&E is providing the hourly rate range that the company in good faith believes it might pay for this position at the time of the job posting. This compensation range is specific to the locality of the job. The actual hourly rate paid to an individual will be based on multiple factors, including, but not limited to, specific skills, education, licenses or certifications, experience, market value, geographic location, and internal equity. Although we estimate the successful candidate hired into this role will be placed towards the middle or entry point of the range, the decision will be made on a case-by-case basis related to these factors. ​

The hourly rate for this position ranges from $24.52 to $35.37

Job Responsibilities:

The Distribution Protection Engineer will provide power systems engineering expertise in protection and coordination analyses on the distribution system. Designing to our Enhanced Powerline Safety Settings (EPSS) guidelines to mitigate wildfire risk throughout the EPSS territory within PG&E (over +1000 circuits & 4500 protective devices). Beyond this territory, design & program circuit specific settings for any/all protective devices on PG&E’s Distribution System.

Investigate outages that have resulted in ignitions throughout our EPSS territory. Analyzing oscillography and different data sets to understand/explain electrical phenomenon’s during a fault/outage.

Perform short-circuit and symmetrical analysis, time-overcurrent coordination, relay settings, system modeling and fault analysis for relay device coordination studies.

Communicate and work with different stakeholders to implement new technologies in the field to alleviate any potential risks.

Supporting EPSS enablement with database cleanup efforts and querying of the databases to ensure consistency and accuracy for all stakeholders.

Qualifications

Minimum Qualifications:

Earning a Bachelor’s or Master of Science degree in Electrical Engineering (students MUST be continuing education towards degree during and/or after internship)

Desired:

3.0 GPA or greater in both cumulative GPA and major GPA

Planning on pursuing a concentration or has taken coursework in power systems engineering

Expertise in Microsoft Excel and Microsoft Word

Familiarity with python and SQL scripts

Ability to work in a team environment and support fellow team members

Strong problem solving and analytical skills

Strong communication skills, both oral and written

PG&E is unable to provide VISA sponsorship to students on an F-1, J-1 or other student visa for this position. Pacific Gas and Electric Company is an AA/EEO employer that actively pursues and hires a diverse workforce.