Meter Engineer

GridSME's Vision

GridSME empowers the world's energy future by hiring the industry's best SMEs to solve the grid's most complex problems. Our company fosters an environment that enables industry experts to advance their careers and deliver valuable services to our clients. In doing so, we help our clients successfully adapt to the grid's evolution. We aim to be the platform where our people can discover the intersection between their passions, their strengths, and what brings value to our clients and our company. We encourage you to participate in and contribute to this core objective of the company.

Meter Engineer

We measure GridSME's success by the caliber of people on our team, the quality of work they produce, and the growth of our fan base over time. Our company fosters initiative, open and candid communication, ownership, and teamwork – all necessary for our team to achieve its objectives. You will be expected to drive teamwork and collaboration with the entire GridSME team. This position reports to Casey James, Senior Meter Engineer, but has responsibilities to all GridSME team members, managers, Directors, Practice Leads, and CEOs. GridSME is a growing company, and you may be asked to assist with additional projects beyond your regular job responsibilities. The Meter Engineer plays a critical role in supporting Grid Integration by designing metering systems and certifying poly-phase electric meters at industrial resources. This position ensures high-accuracy metering for billing and load monitoring through skilled calibration testing, troubleshooting, and compliance with CAISO and utility standards and regulations.

JOB RESPONSIBILITIES

• Metering Services

o Design and review complex schemes for metering industrial-scale sites for revenue metering.

o Develop methodologies and test plans for metering under a variety of regulatory conditions.

o Conduct field calibration testing using portable test equipment to verify the accuracy of meters in accordance with utility and regulatory standard ANSI C12.20.

o Inspect and troubleshoot metering installations, wiring errors, demand configurations, and meter communication systems.

o Maintain accurate records of meter calibrations, field tests, installations, and service orders in utility databases and reporting systems.

o Identify and report instances of meter tampering and assist in investigations.

o Review electrical SLD, 3LD, wiring schematics, and meter wiring configurations.

o Operate and maintain test boards, calibration standards, and other job-related tools.

o Adhere to all utility safety protocols and electrical codes during field operations and when working near energized equipment.

o Provide technical support to customers and field operations teams regarding metering accuracy and installation issues.

• Overall Teamwork:

o Help us build and improve GridSME's culture by living out our Guiding Principles.

o Demonstrate flexibility in learning and growing into any of our current and future services depending on client and team needs.

o Work and collaborate with the entire GridSME team. We focus on each other's success.

• Challenge the Status Quo:

o Continuously work on areas of the company in need of focus and improvement.

o Assist the Leadership Team with our strategic direction and always offer input and feedback.

DESIRED BUSINESS SKILLS

• Strong leadership, people, and problem-solving skills.

• A penchant for identifying and remediating inefficiencies in processes.

• Critical thinking and prioritization of resources to provide the most value to our people and clients.

• Ability to adapt to a changing environment and make timely decisions.

• Ability to bring professionalism and a cool head to tense, emotionally charged situations.

• Entrepreneurial spirit.

• Work collaboratively within a team environment.

• Excellent written and oral communication skills.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS

• B.S. in Engineering – Electrical and Electronics preferred

• Proficiency in meter calibration testing procedures and use of related test equipment (e.g., portable meter test sets, phantom loads).

• Strong knowledge of three-phase power systems and current/voltage transformer configurations and computations.

• Ability to use Microsoft Office and utility software (e.g., meter reading systems, work order management tools).

• Valid driver’s license and ability to operate utility vehicles safely.

• Ability to work outdoors in varying weather conditions and lift equipment weighing up to 50 lbs.

• Ability to drive for extended periods. This work will be 25% travel based.

PREFERED QUALIFICATIONS

• 3+ years experience with solid-state power meters (e.g., Itron, Landis+Gyr, Ion)

• OSHA 10 certification

• Experience with meter-related networking

• Authorized CAISO Inspector

• Experience working at substations

• Extensive experience working with clients, project managers, and technical staff

Benefits & Compensation

COMPENSATION

The base salary range for this position is $140,000 -$180,000 per year, depending on qualifications and experience.

GRIDSME PROFIT SHARING BONUS PLAN

In this position, your base salary will be augmented by GridSME’s Profit-Sharing Bonus Program, which is a Monthly Cash Profit-Sharing Bonus (the “third monthly owners’ dividend check”). As a full-time employee, you will fully participate in GridSME's Profit-Sharing Bonus Plan after a 90-day waiting period for new hires. Our Profit-Sharing Plan is our incentive compensation system.

401K PLAN AND COMPANY MATCH

GridSME offers a 401(k) retirement savings program. GridSME will match all employee 401(k) contributions up to 6% of your gross cash compensation (salary and bonuses). Employee and employer contributions begin on the first calendar day of the employee's second calendar month of service. Employer 401(k) match contributions vest immediately. For example, if the employee starts on June 15th, the employee will be eligible to participate in the 401k program and receive a company match effective the payroll period beginning August 1st.

HEALTH, DENTAL, VISION, AND LIFE INSURANCE BENEFITS

GridSME offers a group medical, dental, vision, and life insurance plan that you and your family are eligible to join. GridSME will pay 75% of the cost of the base medical and dental plan premiums and 100% of the base vision plan premium for you and your family. GridSME will only pay its share of the premiums for the healthcare plan that GridSME provides as the designated base plan for your area. You are eligible for health benefits on the first day of the first calendar month after your start date. GridSME has a tenure-based contribution scale that increases by 5% each full year of service, as of January 1st of the benefits calendar year, up to 95% of the base medical and dental plan premiums being paid by GridSME. For example, if you start on June 15th, your health benefits will begin on July 1st. Also, if you start on June 15th, 2024, your employer contribution will increase to 80% of the base medical and dental plan on January 1, 2026. GridSME also offers a $75,000 Supplemental Life Insurance policy for all full-time employees with premiums covered 100% by GridSME. GridSME also offers employees the opportunity to participate in a Flexible Spending Account (FSA) and a Dependent Care Flexible Spending Account as part of our employee benefits package. In addition, if you are on a high-deductible plan, which is our base medical insurance plan, you will also have the opportunity to participate in a Health Savings Account (HSA). FSA and HSA plans allow employees to set aside money pre-tax to pay for certain healthcare and dependent daycare expenses.

PAID TIME OFF

This position accrues three (3) weeks (120 hrs.) of vacation per calendar year. This increases to four (4) weeks (160 hrs.) on your three-year anniversary date. In addition to vacation, this position accrues an additional five (5) days (40 hrs.) of Sick Pay per year, with the ability to roll and bank up to ten (10) days (80 hrs.) total.

ANNUAL HOLIDAYS

GridSME observes the following holidays for a total of 12 paid holidays:

1. New Year's Day

2. Martin Luther King, Jr.'s Birthday

3. President's Day

4. Memorial Day

5. Independence Day

6. Juneteenth

7. Labor Day

8. Columbus Day / Indigenous People Day

9. Veterans Day

10. Thanksgiving Day

11. Day after Thanksgiving

12. Christmas Day

13. …plus, your birthday is always a day off – whether on a weekday, holiday, or weekend, you should not have to work on your birthday (your birthday off cannot be rolled or banked)

FLEXIBLE WORK LOCATION

This is a California-based hybrid or remote role, with flexibility in work location within the state. The position requires a California presence due to proximity to job sites and project needs. You are welcome to work from your home office or GridSME’s Folsom office, depending on your needs and preference. Travel to client sites is required for this role and may also involve occasional trips for internal or external meetings at our Folsom office or other locations, training sessions, industry events, and other business-related functions.

FLEXIBLE WORK SCHEDULE

This position has the flexibility to work a standard schedule or an alternative 9/80 schedule. A 9/80 work schedule is a compressed work schedule consisting of eight 9-hour days, one 8-hour day, and one day off each two-week period. This alternative schedule provides our employees with an additional 26 days off per year, built into their schedule to help them unplug and maintain a healthy work-life balance. Simply put, an employee can have every other Friday off on a 9/80 schedule.