Hydro Engineer (Alabama Hydros)

Description

Hydro Plant Engineer (Alabama Hydros)

Southern Company Generation – Hydro Services

JOB SUMMARY

This position is responsible for supporting the plant engineering needs for Southern Company’s hydroelectric power plants, primarily within Alabama Power but occasionally supporting hydro plants in Georgia Power. This position interfaces with plant operators/hydro journeymen, superintendents, and managers to identify, troubleshoot, and solve hydro plant operations and maintenance issues. Hydro engineers will be heavily involved in the Hydro Modernization program and have primary technical responsibility for the turbine scope of work for Modernization projects.

PLEASE NOTE – We are open to considering all levels of experience, provided you meet the basic requirements outlined below.

JOB QUALIFICATIONS

Education:

• Bachelor’s degree in Engineering is required.
• Mechanical Engineering degree preferred, but will also consider Electrical, Civil, or Nuclear Engineering degrees with applicable experience.

Experience:

• At least 1 year of experience working in an industrial setting is required. Previous power plant experience is highly desired.
• At least 1 year of experience working on project teams in various roles (design, technical support, project engineer, project manager, etc.) is required.
• Experience supporting Technical and Project Solutions (T&PS) managed projects is preferred. (T&PS is Southern Company’s internal engineering, construction, and project management organization.)

Knowledge:

• Basic knowledge of mechanical systems in hydroelectric power plants is desired: pumps, piping systems, heat exchangers, rolling element and fluid film bearings.
• Understanding of principles of machine vibration and alignment is desirable.
• Knowledge of vertical shaft alignment is desirable.
• Knowledge of machine design as it relates to turbine and generator assembly and disassembly.
• Knowledge of hydroelectric turbines is desirable.
• Knowledge of formal root cause analysis process is desirable.
• Knowledge of laser tracker use and operation is desirable.

Skills:

• Ability to read, review, and mark-up physical and schematic drawings is required.
• Strong troubleshooting skills are required.
• Ability to handle multiple projects of various priorities at once is required.
• Project management skills are desirable.
• Ability to build relationships across departments and organizations is required.
• Strong Excel and VBA skills are desirable.
• Strong written and oral communications skills are required.
• Ability to write and review detailed technical specifications is desirable.
• Ability to communicate with all levels of organization, from union-represented plant employees to executives is required.

MAJOR JOB RESPONSIBILITIES

This position has cradle to grave responsibility for small projects, working with hydro plant personnel to: identify problem, develop viable solutions, assess options and select solution, find relevant vendors, and provide technical direction for installation and commissioning. Project management duties for small projects can be the responsibility of this position.

For larger projects, this position will work on a multidisciplinary team serving as a Hydro Engineering Subject Matter Expert (SME). In this role, the position would be responsible for writing or reviewing specifications, providing drawings to contract partners, reviewing design drawings from internal or external groups, and providing technical support for assembly, disassembly, and commissioning. This position would also interface with, provide support for, and attend meetings scheduled by T&PS for these larger projects.

Additional job duties expected of this job would be:

• Review alignment data provided by vendors for adherence to industry standards.
• Review operational data to identify trends.
• Take field measurements when no relevant drawings are available.
• Inspect hydroelectric turbines for condition assessment.
• Perform factory acceptance tests.
• Perform shop inspections of witness or hold points prior to equipment shipment.
• Write or modify existing specifications for hydroelectric turbines, oil systems, bearings, shafts, and coolers.
• Assist Hydro management with Capital and O&M budgeting process by providing budgetary estimates, project durations, and project cash flows.
• Attend industry conferences and technical meetings.
• Provide technical input in support of procurement organization contract negotiations.

Other Requirements:

• Extensive travel in Alabama to the various hydroelectric plants is required, including some overnight travel and some travel on short notice.
• Periodic international travel may be required for factory acceptance tests and shop inspections.
• Must be comfortable working in an operating power plant, often during construction or outage related activities, occasionally in confined spaces.

BENEFITS

• Competitive Pay
• Excellent benefits packages which includes:
• Medical and dental coverage
• Defined Benefit Cash Balance Pension plan
• Performance-sharing plan
• 401(k) plan with a generous company match
• Bonus opportunities
• Tuition Reimbursement

Please submit an updated resume along with your application

Southern Company (NYSE: SO ) is America's premier energy company, with 46,000 megawatts of generating capacity and 1,500 billion cubic feet of combined natural gas consumption and throughput volume serving 9 million customers through its subsidiaries . The company provides clean, safe, reliable and affordable energy through electric operating companies in four states, natural gas distribution companies in seven states, a competitive generation company serving wholesale customers across America and a nationally recognized provider of customized energy solutions, as well as fiber optics and wireless communications . Southern Company brands are known for excellent customer service, high reliability and affordable prices that are below the national average. Through an industry-leading commitment to innovation, Southern Company and its subsidiaries are inventing America's energy future by developing the full portfolio of energy resources, including carbon-free nuclear, 21st century coal, natural gas, renewables and energy efficiency, and creating new products and services for the benefit of customers. Southern Company has been named by the U.S. Department of Defense and G.I. Jobs magazine as a top military employer, recognized among the Top 50 Companies for Diversity by DiversityInc, listed by Black Enterprise magazine as one of the 40 Best Companies for Diversity and designated a Top Employer for Hispanics by Hispanic Network. The company has earned a National Award of Nuclear Science and History from the National Atomic Museum Foundation for its leadership and commitment to nuclear development and is continually ranked among the top energy companies in Fortune's annual World's Most Admired Electric and Gas Utility rankings. Visit our website at www.southerncompany.com.

Southern Company is an equal opportunity employer where an applicant's qualifications are considered without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, disability, veteran status, genetic information, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, or any other basis prohibited by law.

#LI

Job Field: Engineering

Job Type: Standard

Primary Location: Alabama-Metro Birmingham/Eastern AL-Birmingham

Operating Company: Southern Company Services

Other Locations: Alabama-Metro Birmingham/Eastern AL-Ohatchee, Alabama-Metro Birmingham/Eastern AL-Leesburg, Alabama-South Alabama-Wetumpka, United States, Alabama-South Alabama-Clanton, Alabama-South Alabama-Verbena, Alabama-Metro Birmingham/Eastern AL-Vincent

Job Type: Standard

Travel (Up to...): Yes, 75 % of the Time

Work Location(s):

APC Corporate Headquarters - 600 North 18th Street (600BIRMINGHAM)

600 North 18th Street

Birmingham, 35203

H Neely Henry Dam - 1021 Highway 144 (1021OHATCHEE)

1021 Highway 144

Ohatchee, 36271

Weiss Dam - 2500 County Road 20 (2500LEESBURG)

2500 County Road 20

Leesburg, 35983

Walter Bouldin Dam - 750 Bouldin Dam Road (750WETUMPKA)

750 Bouldin Dam Road

Wetumpka, 36092

Lay Dam - 626 County Road 794 (626CLANTON)

626 County Road 794

Clanton, 35046

Mitchell Dam - 2235 County Road 93 (2235VERBENA)

2235 County Road 93

Verbena, 36091

Logan Martin Dam - 299 Logan Martin Dam Road (299VINCENT)

299 Logan Martin Dam Road

Vincent, 35178

Jordan Dam - 615 Jordan Dam Lane (615WETUMPKA)

615 Jordan Dam Lane

Wetumpka, 36092

Req ID: SCS2011242