Principal Specialist, PAC Commissioning

Job Summary:

Serves as LUMA’s senior technical authority for commissioning, testing, validating, and energizing protection, automation, and control systems across Puerto Rico’s transmission, generation, and distribution network, leading the full lifecycle of PAC, SCADA, communications, and substation automation systems—from design review through final energization—to ensure the safe, reliable integration of critical electrical infrastructure.

Job Description:

• Leads complex commissioning activities from engineering design review through final energization to ensure new and modified infrastructure is safely integrated and fully operational before being placed into service.
• Provides technical leadership for PAC, communications, SCADA, and station automation commissioning to guarantee consistent technical standards across all critical grid systems.
• Reviews engineering packages for constructability and standards compliance, providing Engineering with recommendations that help prevent design or execution gaps prior to commissioning.
• Leads technical investigations into commissioning deficiencies, protection system performance issues, relay misoperations, and equipment failures, and recommends the corrective actions required to achieve full commissioning acceptance.
• Serves as technical authority during critical outages, protection cutovers, and energization activities to safeguard personnel, equipment, and system reliability in high-risk moments.
• Develops commissioning plans, testing procedures, energization strategies, and switching sequences to minimize operational risk during energization and cutover events.
• Recommends commissioning acceptance or rejection, supports final energization and operational readiness decisions, and identifies opportunities to improve commissioning standards, testing methodologies, best industry practices, and operational procedures.
• Coordinates commissioning activities across Engineering, Construction, Project Management, System Operations, contractors, manufacturers, and regulators to ensure aligned, on-schedule project delivery.
• Mentors commissioning technicians and contractors to build long‑term technical capability and succession depth within the commissioning function, while also providing subject‑matter expertise to cross‑departmental stakeholders involved in commissioning processes.
• Applies and reinforces all applicable safety standards, regulations, and company policies, actively promoting LUMA’s safety culture, and suspends activities whenever identified risks threaten personnel safety, equipment integrity, or system reliability.
• Interprets and applies utility standards, labor agreements and regulatory requirements; and reinforces company policies, procedures, and standards, ensuring robust compliance with all applicable laws, industry regulations, and internal governance requirements.
• Participates in storm restoration tasks and assigned drills to contribute to the safe and reliable recovery of services.
• Performs additional tasks aligned with role expectations and qualifications to support team goals and operational flexibility.

 Supervisory responsibilities: No

Additional Job Description:

Education

• Bachelor’s degree in electrical engineering from an ABET-accredited university.

Experience

• 6 to 8 years' progressive engineering experience performing functional role responsibilities along with the required licenses and certifications.
• 3 years' experience working in electrical utility industry.
• Demonstrated success leading commissioning activities for energized transmission and distribution substations.
• Extensive experience with high-voltage electrical systems, protection and control schemes, digital substations, communications networks, and SCADA integration.
• Proven experience leading complex commissioning, system energization, outage coordination, operational acceptance, and restoration activities.
• Demonstrated ability to independently diagnose and resolve highly complex technical issues while balancing safety, reliability, operational risk, and project objectives.
• Experience leading multidisciplinary technical teams in a utility, engineering consulting, EPC, OEM, or comparable environment.
• Advanced knowledge of utility commissioning standards, electrical safety practices, and applicable industry regulations.

Additional experience may substitute for required education when it aligns with the competencies and knowledge necessary for the role:

• Master’s degree in engineering or bachelor’s degree in engineering accompanied of Professional Engineering license may substitute when accompanied by a minimum of 4 years of progressive experience in commissioning, PAC, substations or related field in electrical utility industry.

Competencies (Skills)

• Technical Commissioning Leadership: Demonstrates expert ability to lead complex commissioning activities from design review through final energization, ensuring safe, reliable integration of new and modified grid infrastructure.
• Protection & Automation Expertise: Applies advanced knowledge of PAC, SCADA, communications, and station automation systems to establish consistent technical standards and provide authoritative guidance across critical grid operations.
• Analytical Problem‑Solving: Conducts thorough investigations into commissioning deficiencies and protection system performance issues, diagnosing root causes and recommending targeted corrective actions to achieve commissioning acceptance.
• Operational Risk & Safety Management: Exercises sound judgment during outages, cutovers, and energization events by developing risk‑mitigation strategies, enforcing safety standards, and protecting personnel, equipment, and system reliability.
• Cross‑Functional Collaboration & Capability Building: Coordinates commissioning activities across internal teams and external partners while mentoring technicians, contractors, and cross‑departmental stakeholders to strengthen organizational technical capability and commissioning competency.

Licenses/Certifications

Required: 

• Valid driver’s license

Preferred:

• Professional Engineer License issued by the Examining Board for Engineers, Architects, Surveyors and Landscape Architects of Puerto Rico.
• Be a member of the Puerto Rico College of Engineers and Land Surveyors (CIAPR).

Travel Requirements

• 60%

Physical Demands:

• Stationary Position:     Occasionally
• Pushing/ Pulling/ Reaching:     Occasionally
• Kneel    Occasionally
• Grab    Occasionally
• Bend:    Occasionally
• Lift/Carry over:    36 to 50 pounds
• Vision     
• Hearing    
   

Working Conditions

• Wet or humid    Seldom
• Working near or on moving mechanical parts    Frequently
• Working near or on heavy machinery    Frequently
• Working in high places    Seldom
• Exposed to fumes or airborne particles    Occasionally
• Frequency of working in outdoor weather conditions    Occasionally
• Work with electricity    Never
• Loud noise conditions    Occasionally
   

LUMA Energy is an Equal Employment Opportunity Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, pregnancy, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, age, protected veteran status, military status, disability, or any other characteristic protected by federal or local laws.