Underground Contractor Jobs in Ohio (NOW HIRING)

About the Opportunity
We are a forward-thinking electric utility powered by a diverse team of employees committed to making customers' lives brighter, the environment better and our communities stronger.

FirstEnergy (NYSE: FE) is dedicated to integrity, safety, reliability and operational excellence.

Headquartered in Akron, Ohio, FirstEnergy includes one of the nation's largest investor-owned electric systems, more than 24,000 miles of transmission lines that connect the Midwest and Mid-Atlantic regions, and a regulated generating fleet with a total capacity of more than 3,500 megawatts.

The selected candidate may be offered a position within the same job family, at a level that is lower than what is posted. This will be determined based upon the results of the interview process which considers the candidate's skills, work history, experience level, and other relevant qualifications.

This is an open position with FirstEnergy Service Company, a subsidiary of FirstEnergy Corp.

This position is responsible for providing the engineering and support necessary to ensure that all underground/civil installations (substation, circuit, feeder, network, customer, etc) are adequately designed and constructed. The incumbent will also be responsible for ensuring the safety of FirstEnergy employees and the general public in all projects and assignments. Underground Network Engineer position requires an individual to be self-directed with an interest and/or ability to create and manage engineering designs for underground distribution, network and sub transmission facilities, manage contract work and evaluate and specify non-standard underground equipment for the Underground Engineering Group within Cleveland Illuminating company.  This position must provide technical support to CE underground construction crews, contract construction personnel, contract right of way services and project management verifying that no safety standards are compromised, monitoring expenditures to ensure projects stay within budget allocation and meet required in-service dates.

Responsibilities include: 

- Participating with the Public Works Tracking Process and performing underground engineering reviews

- Performing design of substation underground conduit system and cable exits between the substation switchgear and distant cable pole locations by utilizing feeder maps and distribution documents depicting substation equipment, structures and layouts

- Participating in underground distribution (UD) development, modification and repair/replacement of underground cable design and padmount transformer use, utilizing customer request work scheduling (CREWS) design program to perform and release underground cable designs, as well as utilizing the geographic information system (GIS) to verify existing underground

- Performing conduit system and manhole design for commercial and industrial developments based on construction standards, which will require an understanding of the customer's responsibility for obtaining electrical service connections. Work also requires coordination of bid packages and street opening permits for contractor construction

- Designing duct systems for new and existing area bridges. Design needs include planning repairs to failed duct systems where multiple feeder cable circuits exist. This work requires an understanding of Ohio department of transportation (ODOT) bridge rehabilitation designs and construction practices, including applying to ODOT for limited access (LA) permits and coordinating utility supports as needed for conduit system spans

- Providing jackbore installation designs with multi-duct arrangements for primary cables placed in steel casing. The design need requires the ability to coordinate with third parties (NSRR, CSX, GCRTA, ODOT and other utilities) a jackbore route where below grade circuits require crossing under rivers, highways or railroads

- Working with FirstEnergy Corporate Real Estate to apply for and obtain railroad right-of-way permits for bridge and jackbore projects

- Becoming familiar with common underground distribution materials required on a daily basis, along with specialty materials such as splices needed to modify or extend older cable circuits such as those with existing paper-insulated cables 

- Performing computer aided drafting (AutoCAD) designs of duct systems including new or existing manhole formation

- Creating (AutoCAD) cable design diagrams, including splices and terminations

- Interfacing with the system planning group and regional dispatch office (RDO) staff on projects, abnormal circuit, planned circuit outages and new circuit tie-ins

- Participating in storm restoration process, including performing hazard dispatch, hazard responding or damage assessment activities

- Participating in department budget process for active and future projects

- Developing and providing schedule and cost estimates of assigned projects to the department project management team

- Conducting research, solving complex problems and analyzing complex information

- Demonstrating a solid commitment to all aspects of safety, with maturity to exercise independent judgment on complex projects and assignments

An employee hired at the Engineer III and IV level will be expected to perform all of the above responsibilities with more proficiency, and in a more independent manner. 

Qualifications: 

- Bachelor's degree in Engineering (electrical, mechanical or civil) from an ABET accredited school, with 0 to two (2) years engineering experience for Engineer II, minimum three (3) years of engineering experience for an Engineer III a minimum five (5) years engineering experience for Engineer IV, minimum seven (7) years of engineering experience for Engineer V

- Advanced degree or possession of a Professional Engineering(PE) license or Fundamentals of Engineering (FE) certificate is a plus

- Understanding of electrical engineering and utility power system concepts

- Understanding of the company's planning and protection criteria

- Strong oral and written communication skills, with an emphasis on understandable and clear technical writing and presentation skills

- Ability to work independently and in team environments

- Working knowledge of the company's transmission and distribution (T&D) construction and maintenance standards, practices, procedures, work methods, materials, equipment and tools

- Solid computer skills with competency in Microsoft Office products, along with a good working knowledge of AutoCAD, CREWS and GIS software systems

- Ability to interpret detailed engineering drawings to a high degree

- Detail-oriented, accurate and able to understand and interpret complex technical information

- Strong customer service skills

- Must possess and maintain a valid state issued driver's license

- Possess moderate knowledge, maturity and decision making skills regarding civil problems and analyzing complex information.

Qualifications at the Engineer V level include all of the above qualifications plus: 

- Focus on taking a lead role regarding underground assignments

- Take ownership of assignments and solutions of underground/civil problem assignments

- Lead work process improvements and be a major contributor in all underground/civil designs

- Possess proven knowledge, maturity and decision making skills regarding civil problems and analyzing complex information

Benefits, Compensation & Workforce Diversity

At FirstEnergy, employees are key to our success. We depend on their talents to meet the challenges of our changing business environment. We are committed to rewarding individual and team efforts through our total rewards philosophy which includes competitive pay plus incentive compensation, a company-sponsored pension plan, 401(k) savings plan with matching employer contribution, a choice of medical, prescription drug, dental, vision, and life insurance programs, as well as skills development training with tuition reimbursement. Please visit our website at www.firstenergycorp.com to learn more about all of our employee rewards programs. FirstEnergy proudly supports workforce diversity. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, religion, color, national origin, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, age, status as a protected veteran, or status as a qualified individual with a disability. No recruiters or agencies without a previously signed contract. Unable to sponsor or transfer H-1B visas at this time.

Safety

Safety is a core value for FirstEnergy and is essential to all of our business activities. We ensure employees have the tools, information, and processes to perform their duties in a manner that assures safety for themselves, their co-workers, our customers and the public. Our goals are to provide a safe work environment, to maintain an accident-free, injury-free workplace, and to promote and maintain public safety. To meet these goals, we dedicate ourselves to achieving world-class safety standards.

FirstEnergy Human Resources Team