Engineering Intern (Tacoma Power)

Position Description

Tacoma Public Utilities Power department is currently recruiting for internships! This opportunity is for engineering students to apply their engineering studies, receive hands-on experience, and work side-by-side with experienced professionals on challenging and fun engineering projects.

We have opportunities for Electrical, Civil, Mechanical, and Computer Science Engineering internships.

The hours for these positions are 40 hours per week. The term of each position is expected to coincide with the typical summer break for college students.

Available engineering internships include the following areas:
Generation Automation Engineering is responsible for programming, designing, modifying, and maintaining Tacoma Power's industrial control systems at the Hydro Power Plants, Dams, and Fish Facilities. Work will include modifying PLC Ladder logic and Operator interface screens, troubleshooting alarms, performing Virtual Machine Backups, creating drawings for electrical schematics and wiring diagrams, and updating and maintaining asset lists and procedures.

Substation Engineering intern within the Substation Engineering group will work side-by-side with experienced engineers whose focus is on major substation equipment. This includes power transformers, medium and high voltage circuit breakers, substation cable and bus conductors, and an array of accessory devices. Work includes design drawings, equipment specifications, crew support and troubleshooting, and procurement of components.

Protection & Controls Engineering intern within the Protection & Controls Engineering group will work side-by-side with experienced engineers whose focus is power circuit breaker (PCB) controls, protective relays and intelligent electronic devices (IEDs). Relays and IEDs are used to protect generation, transmission, and distribution equipment from electrical faults; to gather real-time data; to integrate the field devices with the Supervisory Controls and Data Acquisition (SCADA) system; and to provide remote control capabilities for electrical grid equipment. Work includes design drawings, relay and IED settings, system fault studies, crew support and troubleshooting, and procurement of components.

T&D Innovation & Asset Management group works to prepare and modernize the T&D system for various drivers such as aging infrastructure, electrification, climate change and others. We work to reduce risk, maximize efficiency and mitigate cost impacts to optimize the value we get from our assets. We do this by creating and implementing modernization strategies, as well as using data and analysis techniques to identify the best time to replace an asset, as well as by finding ways to improve management and performance. The T&D Innovation & Asset Management intern will support this work by performing research, data analysis, running models, and other tasks.

New Services Engineering (NSE) is the first point of contact for new and existing Tacoma Power customers looking to install or upgrade electrical facilities. NSE provides engineering, design, cost estimation, work packet creation, and project management for customer projects. NSE engineers work in the office and field working directly with the customers, contractors, engineering firms, and other utilities to find solutions to customer projects.

Energy Management System controls Tacoma Power’s Generation, Transmission, and Distribution grid to support Tacoma’s service territory, the broader WECC interconnect and our part in the Western Energy Imbalance market. The EMS Engineering team provides software and coordination of hardware and database support for the real-time monitoring, control, storage, dissemination, and telemetry of field asset information. The summer engineering intern will work with the EMS Engineers and System Operators on various projects relevant to improved operations.

Tacoma Power System Planning includes transmission, distribution, and operational planning. System Planners model and study Tacoma Power’s electrical system from its generators to the meters on residences and businesses across the city, and everything in between. These studies allow planners to design projects that will improve and sustain Tacoma Power’s ability to serve its customers reliably, sustainably, and safely. System Planning’s Engineer in Training will work side by side with system planning engineers on projects to improve power reliability and quality of service, including voltage optimization, phase balancing, distribution protection analysis, and other distribution and transmission planning projects.

Line Engineering intern within the Line Engineering group will work side-by-side with experienced engineers whose focus is related to all aspects of constructing, maintaining, and operating the overhead and underground “lines” i.e. poles and wires (above ground), conduit and cable (underground), and all associated equipment. Line engineers work predominantly with distribution (15 kV) class systems and may work with transmission (115 kV) systems. Line engineer’s work includes designs, hardware specification, drawing creation, standards creation, understanding and interpreting code, permitting, contracts, field work, and construction support.

Qualifications

Minimum Education*
Bachelor's degree in progress

Selection Process & Supplemental Information

This recruitment is being managed by Elise Drennen, if you would like to be notified of similar opportunities or stay connected with things going on at Tacoma Public Utilities and the City of Tacoma, connect with me on LinkedIn.

Please be aware that City of Tacoma employees must be residents of Washington state and live within 2 hours of their onsite work location. The onsite work location for these positions is 3628 South 35th Street, Tacoma, WA .

City of Tacoma Commitment to Diversity and Inclusion
Tacoma's diversity is its greatest asset. Tacoma embraces its multi-cultural and multi-ethnic character. Communities of color and immigrant communities are fundamental to Tacoma's entrepreneurial spirit, workforce, and long-term success. In Tacoma, equity and empowerment are top priorities, meaning that all Tacoma residents must have equitable opportunities to reach their full potential and share in the benefits of community progress. One of our goals is for the City of Tacoma workforce to reflect the community it serves. We actively work to eliminate racial and other disparities and welcome candidates with diverse backgrounds and/or multicultural skill sets and experiences. Our goal is for Tacoma to be an inclusive and equitable place to live, work, and play.

The City of Tacoma is an Equal Opportunity Employer and values diversity in its workplace. Applicants are considered for positions without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, ancestry, age, marital or veteran status, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity, or any other basis prohibited by federal, state, and local laws.

Tacoma Power
Tacoma Power is an almost 100% hydroelectric, municipally-owned public power utility, located in Tacoma. We serve approximately 180,000 customers as one of the three operating divisions of Tacoma Public Utilities, alongside Tacoma Water and Tacoma Rail. As one of the most livable, walkable cities in the country, you'll find that Tacoma is a great fit for all interests with places to bike, run, hike, and explore, the perks of a big city, and the charm of a small town.

Apply
Interested individuals should apply online and attach a detailed resume and cover letter that includes job experience, major responsibilities and accomplishments related to this position.

Applications will be reviewed as they are received for interview consideration.

Reference checks will be conducted on final candidates and appointment is subject to passing a background check.

Communication from the City of Tacoma:
We primarily communicate via e-mail during the application process. E-mails from cityoftacoma.org and/or governmentjobs.com must be placed on your safe domain list to ensure that you receive notifications in a timely manner. As a precaution, you may also want to check your junk e-mail folders.

For assistance with the NEOGOV application process, questions regarding this job announcement, or if you are experiencing complications while applying, please contact the Human Resources office at 253-591-5400 by 4:00 pm of the closing date of the job announcement. This will allow time to assist you before the job announcement closes. (For technical difficulties using the NeoGov system, call the applicant support line at 1-855-524-5627 between 6:00 AM and 5:00 PM Pacific Time.)

The City of Tacoma provides excellent medical, dental and vision plans for the whole family; paid holidays and paid leave; participation in the Tacoma Employees' Retirement System (alternate plan for Police/Fire); continuing education and advancement opportunities and a growing variety of City-sponsored health and wellness opportunities and incentives.

Medical Coverage: For eligible employees and their families, including domestic partners and dependent children age26 or younger.

Dental Coverage: For eligible employees and their families, including domestic partners and dependent children age26 or younger.

Vision Coverage: For eligible employees and their eligible dependents.

Paid Leave: City employees are entitled to received paid holidays, sick/vacation leave or personal time off (PTO), depending upon union affiliation and appointment type.

Insurance Plans: Employees are covered by a long-term disability plan. Short-term and expanded long-term disability insurance plans are also available to employees. The State Industrial Insurance Act also covers employees.

Deferred Compensation: Income can be set aside on a pretax basis and invested for supplementation of normal retirement income.

Retirement: All employees of the City, except members of the Police and Fire services, Tacoma Rail and certain project employees, are included in the Tacoma Employees' Retirement System. Information on the Tacoma Employees' Retirement System can be found at www.cityoftacoma.org or by calling (253) 502-8200.

Other Employment Information

Direct Deposit: Employees are paid on a bi-weekly schedule by direct deposit.

Salary Increases: Based on satisfactory job performance, the City provides for a regular progression of salary increases for most classifications according to the salary schedule.

Union Affiliation: Many job classifications are covered by union security provisions which require union membership, dues, or payment of equivalent service fees.

Note: The provisions of this job announcement do not constitute an expressed or implied contract. Any provision contained herein may be modified and/or revoked without notice.

Closing Date/Time: 1/13/2025 5:00 PM Pacific

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• City of Tacoma

• 253-591-5400

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