Automation Engineering Manager

Purpose: This position is responsible for leading and managing the personnel and activities of all aspects of the transmission system automation, and integration with large loads and generation. Ensure proper and safe operation, enhancement of control schemes and automation/integration. Provide expertise and oversight of new project design and function and look for ways to improve current systems.

KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS AND ABILITIES:

• BS degree in Electrical Engineering or related field.
• 10 years experience in the electric utility industry, to include 5 years of experience in controls, automation or integration of electric power delivery systems.
• Knowledge of AEPCO's EHV and HV transmission and communication systems.
• Knowledge of transmission system operations including power flows, system controls and dispatching, outage coordination
• Expert in developing automation solutions for various energy projects.
• Knowledge of AEPCO's budgeting and cost tracking processes.
• Knowledge of RUS, NESC, NEC, and OSHA regulations as they apply to the areas of responsibility.
• Knowledge of Members and other interconnecting utilities systems
• General knowledge of microwave, multiplex, network management, telephone PBX, two-way radio and fiber optic/cabling systems.
• Knowledge of revenue metering systems and the Cooperative revenue billing system.
• Extensive knowledge of SCADA, remote terminal units (RTU) such as SEL RTAC and NovaTech Orion, and Substation automation and control.
• Knowledge of microgrid design and automation schemes.
• Knowledge of Battery Energy Storage Systems (BESS).
• Able to provide data analytics to prove problems and implement changes to resolve them.
• Knowledge of Inverter Based Resources (IBR) and control systems.
• General understanding of substation engineering design and construction.
• General understanding of all types of substation apparatus operations.
• General knowledge of contracts related to areas of responsibility.
• Any equivalent combination of related education, training, and/or experience can be substituted for requirements listed above.

ESSENTIAL AND MARGINAL FUNCTIONS:

• Provide leadership and direction to a group of engineering professionals who are responsible for configuration and operation of automation and controls equipment.
• Management of personnel, including hiring/termination decisions, performance appraisals, salary review, overtime maintenance, disciplinary review, and budgeting.
• Ensure quality and timeliness of engineering integration services for large load and new generation projects.
• Coordinate and manage vendors and contractors to help provide automation solutions.
• Review and approve all electrical automation and control designs.
• Develop automation and control standards for various energy and load projects such as microgrid, solar, battery and large load interconnectors.
• Outlines how interconnecting resources will interface with AEPCO SCADA.
• Daily operations and maintenance of AEPCO's power delivery monitoring & control systems.
• Oversees design and configuration of RTU's and associated SCADA equipment related to automation.
• Authors internal controls narrative and operating procedures for new resources.
• Analyze control system performance and ensure optimization.
• Serve as Standard Owner (SO) and Subject Matter Expert (SME) on various NERC and WECC regulations.
• Manages changes and evidence related to NERC procedures and controls for delegates requirements
• Manages changes and evidence related to NERC RSAWs including the narrative and evidence of the compliance for delegated requirements.
• Performs primary interview functions related to NERC compliance audits for delegated requirements.