Field Engineer Special Projects

Job Description

Summary:

Oversees and coordinates Old Dominion Electric Cooperative (ODEC) construction projects to ensure full compliance with applicable codes, regulations, and requirements issued by the North American Electric Reliability Corporation (NERC), PJM Interconnection (PJM), the Virginia State Corporation Commission (SCC), the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE), and Delmarva Power & Light (DPL). Serves as a key liaison between A&N Electric Cooperative’s engineering, construction, and operations departments and ODEC, balancing field engineering responsibilities with project coordination. Brings deep expertise in electric transmission and distribution design, Rural Utilities Service (RUS) construction standards, National Electrical Safety Code (NESC), and overall utility engineering practices.

Objectives:

• Coordinate and oversee field-level activities for the construction, maintenance, and inspection of high-voltage transmission facilities. Serve as the on-site representative for A&N Electric Cooperative, ensuring effective communication between internal A&N teams, Old Dominion Electric Cooperative (ODEC), contractors, vendors, and neighboring utilities like Delmarva Power & Light.
• Manage the full lifecycle of transmission projects, from planning and scheduling through construction, commissioning, and documentation. Ensure all work aligns with industry’s best practices in engineering, construction, and safety.
• Act as the technical liaison between A&N, ODEC, PJM Interconnection, and Delmarva. Facilitate project planning, outage coordination, and interconnection logistics to support safe, efficient operations.
• Administer field-based maintenance programs, including routine and emergency inspections by ground, aerial survey, or drone. Assess asset conditions, identify reliability risks, and coordinate corrective actions.
• Ensure compliance with applicable regulations and standards, including those from the North American Electric Reliability Corporation (NERC), PJM, the Virginia State Corporation Commission (SCC), the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE), and other authorities. Maintain required records and reporting.
• Provides direct oversight and coordination for all aspects of transmission project management, including communications and interface between operative (ODEC), A&N Electric Cooperative.

Duties and Responsibilities:

• Review new projects for constructability and provide recommendations on construction methods, locations, and material choices.
• Contact local landowners affected by new projects and discuss ODEC’s plans and schedules and additional permissions required to access job sites.
• Work with A & N Electric Cooperative on receiving materials, validating all materials that are received and obtaining replacements for missing materials.
• Determine locations and obtain permissions for lay down yards.
• Coordinate outages with A & N Electric Cooperative, Delmarva, and PJM.
• Review ODEC construction contracts for transmission projects and suggest revisions as needed..
• Enforce terms and conditions of contracts throughout project execution.
• Review ODEC Material and Construction standards for transmission and substations and suggest modifications as necessary.
• Coordinate Instrumentation and communication changes for ODEC transmission, substation and generation facilities.

(See Full Job Description PDF below)

Job Related Qualifications

Specifications and Requirements:

Education:

Four (4) year Engineering Degree or equivalent with a Bachelor of Science in engineering preferred. Registration as a Professional Engineer in the state of Virginia preferred. Must complete at least one (1) professional development activity annually. Preferred qualifications may be substituted with equivalent experience.

Experience:

Ten (10) years of progressively responsible utility experience including related experience in electric power and basic maintenance procedures, supervisory responsibility and project management. Experience should include substation and transmission design, project management, RUS design, contractual requirements, and relaying. A valid Professional Engineering (PE) license may be considered in combination with eight (8) years of relative experience.

Job Knowledge:

Must have a general knowledge of electricity, electrical circuits, electrical apparatus, metering, transformer banks and the operations of a rural electric transmission and distribution cooperative. Requires familiarity with mobile radio systems, which includes the installation and removal of mobile radios and other associated equipment. Must be well versed in all aspects of design, scheduling, construction management, and relaying of facilities needed to meet the demands of the electrical system. Must have working knowledge of the National Electrical Safety Code, National Electrical Code, apparatus, metering, SCADA and Load Management equipment and AMR equipment. Must be familiar with work orders and closeouts procedures. Must possess basic computer skills, including a working knowledge of Microsoft Office products, including, but not limited to: Outlook, Excel, Word and PowerPoint as required for job responsibilities.

Abilities and Skills:

Must be able to provide leadership and supervision to departmental staff. Must have the ability to communicate with membership, general public and other employees. Must be able to make design recommendations concerning the addition and upgrading of facilities to the cooperative's electric plant. Must be able to represent the Cooperative's interest in negotiations with equipment suppliers and interconnecting utilities. Must be able to supply technical advice on all related design matters to the Director, System Planning and Design. Ability to analyze and solve technical problems. Must support the Cooperative on all matters related to established Policies and Procedures. Perform other duties as assigned.

Working Conditions: 

Most of the work is performed in the A & N Electric Cooperative office. Occasional field trips for inspection of facilities or meetings with members, power and equipment suppliers and consultants. Attendance of seminars and conferences several times a year may be required.

Subject to call at any time for emergencies.