M&T strives to exceed our customer objectives through utilizing our agility, innovative technologies, and world class talent. M&T will solve the industries toughest challenges, building both our company and the world for the future.
Headquartered in the U.S. with employees in various states, M&T also has colleagues in the United Kingdom, India, and other locations while we actively pursue exciting opportunities in other parts of the world. We are looking for talented people to join our team that are passionate about making a difference and contributing to historical projects that will have a lasting impact on society.
Job Summary
The Utility/Energization Lead leads the safe energization of permanent power on a large data center campus, from the utility point of interconnection through the high-voltage substation and medium-voltage distribution into each data hall. On a data center, utility power availability, not construction, typically drives the schedule. This role plans and executes the energization work that turns a constructed electrical system into one that is energized, tested, and accepted.
You will coordinate day to day with the serving utility and transmission owner on interconnection boundaries, backfeed and in-service dates, protection and metering requirements, and witnessed testing. You will develop and maintain the campus energization plan, phasing energization substation by substation and building by building while construction continues in adjacent areas. You will also oversee the project’s LOTO, switching, and energized-area controls in the field.
Reporting to CSU leadership, you will lead energization events, direct electrical commissioning engineers and contractors during energization, and work closely with engineering, construction, and the client. A designated LOTO Authority will administer the day-to-day lockout program under your oversight.
The ideal candidate will possess the following leadership behaviors aligned with Bechtel’s Behavioral Framework:
Accountable: Takes accountability for making their own decisions linked to their own deliverables. Involves senior members to discuss their plan of actions and key decisions at the right time.
Collaborate: Actively seeks out others’ opinions and input and is open-minded to their views. Challenges others appropriately and is also open to being challenged on their own views.
Communicate: Is effective at adapting their communication style appropriately to their audience, providing context and using the right tone and level of information.
Customer Focus: Prioritizes customer needs and puts these at the forefront of all interactions. Ensures that others within their team maintain this same approach.
Deliver: Demonstrates making well-thought-out, timely decisions and prioritization that leads to successful outcomes. Includes the right people at the right time.
Problem Solve: Accurately assesses a situation to find the best solution or way of working in order to resolve issues. Is focused on creating a long-term fix rather than a short-term solution.
Role Model: Contributes to the Bechtel culture by inspiring and motivating others through their positive approach and attitude. Comes to work determined to do a good job for themselves and their team.
This position is designated as part-time telework per our global telework policy and will require at least three days of in-person attendance per week at the assigned office or project. Weekly in-person schedules will be determined by the individual and their supervisor, in consultation with functional or project leadership.
Major Responsibilities
Coordinate day to day with the serving utility and transmission owner on interconnection requirements, the point of interconnection and ownership boundary, protection and metering standards, outage and switching coordination, and utility witness and acceptance activities.
Track utility interconnection milestones, including backfeed, substation energization, metering, and permanent in-service dates, and report status, risks, and recovery actions to CSU leadership as the project’s critical power path.
Develop and maintain the campus energization plan and sequence, from the high-voltage substation through medium-voltage switchgear, unit substations, and data halls, including the transition from temporary construction power to permanent power.
Prepare energization methods of procedure (MOPs), switching orders, and pre-energization checklists for approval, and lead energization readiness reviews and energization events in the field.
Oversee the project’s hazardous energy control program in the field, including LOTO, energized-area boundaries, permit-to-work, and energized electrical work permits, in alignment with NFPA 70E and OSHA 1910.269 and 1926 Subpart V where applicable, working with the designated LOTO Authority.
Verify that short circuit, protective device coordination, and arc flash studies and arc flash labeling are complete and current before equipment is energized.
Coordinate and witness ANSI/NETA acceptance testing of high- and medium-voltage equipment, including power transformers, breakers, cables, ground grid, and protective relays, and confirm relay settings match the approved coordination study and utility requirements.
Coordinate SCADA, EPMS, and utility telemetry checkout, and support the protection, metering, and communications testing the utility requires before in-service.
Support large-load and grid-compliance requirements with the utility and regional grid operator, such as ride-through verification, power quality (IEEE 519) measurements, and witnessed testing at defined load conditions.
Major Responsibilities (Contd.)
Where on-site generation or battery energy storage is included, support interconnection protection, paralleling, and transfer testing with the utility and the commissioning team.
Support Level 3 through Level 5 commissioning of the electrical system, including load bank testing and integrated systems testing of utility failure, generator transfer, and UPS response scenarios.
Review electrical drawings, equipment submittals, and installed work for energization readiness, operability, and personnel safety, and raise issues to engineering and construction for resolution.
Direct electrical commissioning engineers and contractor personnel during energization activities, providing technical guidance and on-the-job mentoring.
Maintain a Zero Incident ES&H commitment throughout all energization activities, and capture lessons learned for subsequent buildings and phases.
Education and Experience Requirements
Requires bachelor's degree (or international equivalent) and 10-13 years of relevant experience or 14-17 years of relevant work experience in lieu of degree.
Required Knowledge and Skills
Experience must include energization and commissioning of medium-voltage distribution systems, with high-voltage substation (69 kV and above) energization and utility interface experience on large utility, industrial, or mission critical projects. Data center experience strongly preferred.
Professional Engineer (PE) license and/or NETA Level III certification preferred.
Strong knowledge of high-voltage substation and medium-voltage distribution systems, including power transformers, gas- and air-insulated switchgear, breakers, protective relaying, metering, and grounding.
Working knowledge of utility interconnection processes, including backfeed, utility protection and metering standards, and utility witness requirements.
Strong knowledge of NFPA 70E, LOTO, switching procedures, and OSHA 1910.269 and 1926 Subpart V.
Working knowledge of ANSI/NETA acceptance testing, relay testing, and applicable IEEE standards, including IEEE 81 for ground testing and IEEE 519 for power quality.
Understanding of short circuit, protective device coordination, and arc flash studies and their application to energization.
Awareness of large-load grid requirements, such as ride-through criteria, and how they affect commissioning.
Required Knowledge and Skills (Contd.)
Experience with SCADA, EPMS, and utility telemetry checkout.
Understanding of data center critical power architecture, including UPS, generators, paralleling switchgear, and PDUs, and of commissioning Levels 1 through 5.
Proven ability to lead energization events safely with multiple contractors, the utility, and the client.
Excellent communication and coordination skills with utilities, contractors, clients, and project teams.
Ability to direct and mentor electrical commissioning engineers in the field.
Demonstrated time management and organization skills to meet deadlines and quality objectives.
Total Rewards/Benefits
For decades, Bechtel has worked to inspire the next generation of employees and beyond! Because our teams face some of the world's toughest challenges, we offer robust benefits to ensure our people thrive. Whether it is advancing careers, delivering programs to enhance our culture, or providing time to recharge, Bechtel has the benefits to build a legacy of sustainable growth. Learn more at Bechtel Total Rewards
Diverse teams build the extraordinary
As a global company, Bechtel has long been home to a vibrant multitude of nationalities, cultures, ethnicities, and life experiences. This diversity has made us a more trusted partner, more effective problem solvers and innovators, and a more attractive destination for leading talent.
We are committed to being a company where every colleague feels that they belong-where colleagues feel part of "One Team," respected and rewarded for what they bring, supported in pursuing their goals, invested in our values and purpose, and treated equitably. Click here to learn more about the people who power our legacy.
Bechtel is an Equal Opportunity Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity and expression, age, national origin, disability, citizenship status (except as authorized by law), protected veteran status, genetic information, and any other characteristic protected by federal, state or local law. Applicants with a disability, who require a reasonable accommodation for any part of the application or hiring process, may e-mail their request to acesstmt@bechtel.com
