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Principal Protection Engineer
- Grant PUD (Ephrata, WA)
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Description
**Closing Date to Apply:** Open Until Filled
**Number of Positions:** 1
**Salary** :
**Principal Engineer:** $122,844.80- $214,988.80
Typically, selected candidates are hired at a salary rate between the minimum and midpoint of the range.
**Benefits** : This link below will provide you with Grant PUD’s benefit that may be available if hired, different employee types are eligible for different benefits.
Grant PUD — Unified Insurance Program (uip-wa.org)
_Grant County PUD will administer a background check and reference check as part of the hiring process, if selected for this position._
Position Summary
As a Principal Engineer at Grand PUD, you will provide expert-level engineering leadership for transmission and distribution systems that are critical to power reliability across our service area. This role combines deep technical expertise with strategic influence: you will serve as a recognized Subject Matter Expert (SME), a mentor to other engineers, and trusted advisor on system reliability, protection, automation and compliance.
You will be expected to set technical directions, establish standards, guide high risk projects, and represent Grant PUD as thought leader in the utility industry. This role is not only about solving today’s complex engineering challenges, it is about shaping how Grant PUD’s transmission and distribution systems evolve to meet tomorrow’s needs.
Essential Functions
Essential functions, as defined under the Americans with Disabilities Act, may include any of the following representative duties, knowledge, and skills. This is not a comprehensive listing of all functions and duties performed by incumbents of this class; employees may be assigned duties which are not listed below; reasonable accommodations will be made as required. The job description does not constitute an employment agreement and is subject to change at any time by the employer. Essential duties and responsibilities may include, but are not limited to, the following:
+ Serve as the designated Subject Matter Expert (SME) for transmission, distribution, transformers, automation controls, and protection systems. Provide expert recommendations on operations, risk mitigation, and long-term reliability.
+ Develop, approve, and enforce Grant PUD engineering standards, ensuring alignment with best practices, evolving technologies, and industry codes (NEC, IEEE, NFPA, NERC, FERC).
+ Mentor Engineers I–V, coach cross-functional teams, and model the technical excellence expected across Power Delivery.
+ Perform and oversee system studies, advanced modeling, and data analysis for high-risk equipment and operational scenarios. Lead troubleshooting and provide recommendations during outages, failures, and compliance-sensitive events.
+ Contribute to capital planning, asset management, and long-term system design. Drive adoption of emerging technologies like digital substations, advanced SCADA automation, and distributed energy integration.
+ Actively participate in industry committees, peer utility collaborations, and regulatory forums. Share knowledge, influence policy, and ensure Grant PUD’s practices are respected at the regional and national level.
+ Provide leadership in ensuring engineering practices meet or exceed requirements for FERC, NERC, CIP, and other compliance standards.
+ Author and approve technical reports, specifications, and project deliverables. Review vendor and consultant work for quality, accuracy, and compliance with Grant PUD standards.
+ Perform related duties as required or assigned.
+ Demonstrated commitment to Grant PUD’s mission, vision, values, strategic plan, and Grant PUD / IBEW Local 77 Code of Excellence. The incumbent should be familiar with these organizational priorities and behave in a way that aligns with these expectations.
+ Understand and adhere to compliance requirements for this position that may include laws, regulations, security guidelines, Grant PUD policies & Procedures.
+ In this position, if needed to operate a GPUD vehicle for business purposes, please refer to the Vehicle/Asset Usage Policy, IS-TA-POL-001.
+ Actively participate in all aspects of our safety program, including but not limited to:
+ Following all safety policies and procedures.
+ Alerting supervisors and coworkers to unsafe or hazardous working conditions.
+ Reporting any safety incidents or close calls within 24 hours to your supervisor.
+ Accepting feedback from supervisors and coworkers regarding your own safety performance.
Education and Experience
Required Qualifications:
+ Bachelor’s Degree in Electrical Engineering or Engineering Technology
+ 10 + years of progressively responsibility utility power engineering experience to include transmission, protection, automation, or substation focus
+ Engineer-in-training (EIT)
Preferred Qualifications:
+ Professional Engineer (PE)
+ 15 + years of utility experience including leadership of standards, compliance, or enterprise-critical projects.
Other Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities
+ Expert-level knowledge of concepts, principles, theories, and methods surrounding engineering industry standards and best practices (NEC, IEEE, NFPA)
+ Ability to perform work in the field and work in construction environments
+ Ability to serve as final technical authority on high-risk and enterprise-impacting decisions.
+ Demonstrated leadership in mentoring, influencing and building organizational capacity.
+ Strong problem-solving and thinking critically
+ Excellent written and oral interpersonal communication; workflow and time management
+ Utilizing MS office products; design and modeling software, tools, and
Physical Requirements
+ Position may be eligible for partial hybrid work arrangement: ☒Yes ☐No
+ Majority of work is performed in a standard office setting.
+ Some field work that may require operation of a vehicle.
+ Typical shift of employees in this position: ☒8 hours ☒9 hours ☒10 hours ☐12 hours
_*applicant/incumbent should refer to the Physical Capacity Evaluation (PCE)_
_The statements contained herein reflect general details as necessary to describe the principal functions for this job, the level of knowledge and skill typically required, and the scope of responsibility, but should not be considered an all-inclusive listing of work requirements. Individuals may perform other duties as assigned, including work in other functional areas._
Equal Opportunity Employer
This employer is required to notify all applicants of their rights pursuant to federal employment laws.
For further information, please review the Know Your Rights (https://www.eeoc.gov/poster) notice from the Department of Labor.
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