Electric Distribution Designer

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By joining us, you become part of a community that values its people and is committed to making Austin the most thriving and resilient city in the country.

This position is responsible for delivering reliable electric service to Austin Energy customers by planning and designing the Austin Energy electric distribution system with a focus on safety, grid reliability, cost-effectiveness, and customer satisfaction. This position works with a broad range of work groups and professional disciplines and requires an individual with both technical knowledge, understanding of engineering principals, and personal skills to comprehensively serve the purpose of this department.

An Electric Distribution Designer ensures customers receive safe and reliable electric service from Austin Energy by:
• Gathering the customer’s electric service requirements and being the technical lead of the project
• Communicating cost estimates and timelines
• Ensuring all criterion is met for the design (from AE, COA, TXDOT, etc.)
• Managing and tracking project deliverables and statuses for projects
• Serving as the single point of contact for the customer when they have questions about their project (via phone call, email, site visits, etc.)

Job Description:

Electric Distribution Designer

Purpose:

Under moderate supervision, this position is responsible for the design of residential, commercial, industrial, and illumination overhead and underground electric distribution facilities.

Duties, Functions and Responsibilities:

Essential duties and functions, pursuant to the Americans with Disabilities Act, may include the following. Other related duties may be assigned.

• Assesses load requirements, evaluates environmental constraints, and identifies project requirements (permits, easements, aesthetics, fees, etc.)
  
• Performs cost estimates, plans material needs, and follows up on progress of distribution projects from inception to completion.
  
• Performs power system calculations: voltage drop, equipment sizing, etc.
  
• Interprets survey data, plan, and deed information. Interprets engineered construction drawings.
  
• Interfaces regularly with contractors, engineers, developers, customers, and consultants.
  
• Coordinates the installation of distribution facilities.
  

Responsibilities - Supervisor and/or Leadership Exercised:

None.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities:

Must possess required knowledge, skills, abilities, and experience and be able to explain and demonstrate, with or without reasonable accommodations, that the essential functions of the job can be performed.

• Knowledge of the National Electrical Code and the National Electric Safety Code requirements relevant to distribution design issues.
  
• Knowledge of high school-level math (algebra, geometry, and trigonometry), physics, etc. relevant to electric utility distribution design.
  
• Knowledge of distribution design and construction practices, including Austin Energy (AE) Distribution Designer Guidelines and Distribution Construction Standards.
  
• Knowledge of utility service guidelines and policies.
  
• Knowledge of power system components, functions, ratings, and limitations.
  
• Knowledge of roadway, security, and other lighting design practices.
  
• Ability to apply AE Design Criteria to various customer situations.
  
• Ability to use AutoCAD or equivalent computer-assisted tools.
  
• Ability to use word processing and spreadsheet applications.
  
• Ability to learn how to perform advanced power system calculations.
  
• Ability to learn how to analyze power distribution systems and components.
  

Minimum Qualifications:

• Graduation from an accredited high school or equivalent, plus five (5) years of relevant work experience related to electric utility distribution construction/design capacity.
  
• Education from an accredited college or university in a related field may substittue for experience up to four (4) years for the minimum qualifications.
  

Licenses and Certifications Required:

None.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Experience with medium voltage utility design.
  
• Experience leading projects from planning to completion with little to no outside guidance.
  
• Experience designing for residential, commercial, streetlight and industrial electric utility customers.
  
• Experience in customer service focusing on problem solving and resolutions for a diverse set of key stakeholders, such as City Council, neighborhood groups, and other utility customers.
  
• AutoCAD experience.
  

Notes to Candidate:

Location:

4815 Mueller Blvd, Austin, TX 78723

Days and Hours:

Monday through Friday. 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.
40 Hour Work Week (Hybrid Available, 2 days in-office, 3 days remote)

Additional work hours may be required to support the 24-hour Utility operations, which may include evenings, weekends, holidays, inclement weather and emergency closures.

Salary:

$34.46 - $43.41/hr., depending on qualifications and experience.

Working with Austin Energy provides a number of health and welfare benefits such as low-cost medical, dental, vision, paid leave time, a highly competitive retirement plan, career development opportunities and more. Please click HERE for more information.

Employment Application:

• The City of Austin employment application is an official document; incomplete applications will not be considered.
  
• Please be sure to detail on the application all current and previous employment that you wish to be considered as part of your qualifications.
  
• The Employment Record should be complete with job titles, employment dates, job duties, functions, and responsibilities for each position held. Starting salary will be based on overall relevant experience from your application.
  
• Résumés will not be accepted and statements such as “see résumé” will not be accepted. You may use “N/A” for fields that are not applicable.
  
• Please note that Austin Energy may close the job posting at any time after 7 days from the date of the initial advertisement. Once the job posting has closed, applications cannot be changed.
  

If you are selected as a top candidate:

• Verification of your education (which may include high school graduation or GED, undergraduate and/or graduate degrees) will be required. You must provide proof of education from an accredited organization/institution.
  
• If you are identified as a top candidate and are in the military or a veteran, you will need to provide a copy of your DD-214 prior to confirming a start date.
  
• This position requires a criminal background investigation.
  

Fair Labor Standards Act:

This position is classified as NON-EXEMPT.

Critical:

This position has been designated as a Critical Employee position. Critical Employees are considered necessary and vital and supports activities that impact City or department operations. This work can be done while at a designated work site or while working at an alternate work location. Critical employees who are able to work at an alternative work location are required to do so. Schedules may be modified, and employees may be reassigned to another area during extraordinary situations or emergency conditions to provide essential services.

Travel:
If you are selected for this position and meet the Driver Safety Standards in the City of Austin Driver Safety Program, you may drive when necessary to multiple locations as part of your regular job duties. Otherwise, you are responsible for getting to and from these locations.

Important Note to Applicants:
Please be aware that the Job Posting Close Date reflects the final day to apply, but the posting will close at 11:59 PM the day before the date listed. All application steps, including attachments and submission, must be fully completed before that time.

We also recommend that you save or print a copy of the job posting for your records. Once a posting has closed, it will no longer be viewable in the system.

EEO Statement for City of Austin:

The City of Austin will not discriminate against any applicant or employee based on race, creed, color, national origin, sex, gender identity, age, religion, veteran status, disability, or sexual orientation. In addition, the City will not discriminate in employment decisions on the basis of an individual's AIDS, AIDS Related Complex, or HIV status; nor will the City discriminate against individuals who are perceived to be at risk of HIV infection, or who associate with individuals who are believed to be at risk.

City of Austin is committed to compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act. If you require reasonable accommodation during the application process or have a question regarding an essential job function, please call (512) 974-3210 or Texas Relay by dialing 7-1-1.

Closing Date/Time: 2025-12-10

• 

• City of Austin

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