Substation Specialist, Expert - Oakland

Requisition ID # 175383

Job Category: Maintenance / Construction / Operations

Job Level: Individual Contributor

Business Unit: Energy Delivery

Work Type: Hybrid

Job Location: Oakland

Position Summary

We are seeking an Expert Work Methods & Procedures Specialist to provide recognized subject matter expertise and technical leadership for substation maintenance, construction, commissioning, testing, and operational support. Reporting to the Work Methods & Procedures Manager, this role advances safety, reliability, equipment performance, and consistent work execution across PG&E’s electric system.

The Expert Specialist performs the Senior-level responsibilities and, in addition, coaches and develops other technical specialists; leads high-level initiatives and stakeholder forums; and provides technical expertise, historical perspective, industry standards, and regulatory requirements to improve safety, productivity, reliability, and material performance. The role independently resolves highly complex or unusual issues, including matters with limited precedent, and provides well-supported recommendations to field leaders, management, engineering, asset strategy, sourcing, suppliers, and other cross-functional partners.

This position supports work on high-voltage equipment from 208 VAC through 500 kV and requires extensive hands-on knowledge of commissioning, testing, troubleshooting, maintenance, and failure analysis for primary and secondary substation equipment, including circuit breakers, switchgear, load tap changers, gas-insulated switchgear, transformers, instrument transformers, batteries and chargers, monitoring systems, and associated controls.

This position is hybrid, working from your remote office and your assigned work location based on business need. The assigned work location will be in Oakland,and the selected candidate must live within the Bay Area Region.

PG&E is providing the salary range that the company in good faith believes it might pay for this position at the time of the job posting. This compensation range is specific to the locality of the job. The actual salary paid to an individual will be based on multiple factors, including, but not limited to, specific skills, education, licenses or certifications, experience, market value, geographic location, collective bargaining agreements, and internal equity. Although we estimate the successful candidate hired into this role will be placed towards the middle or entry point of the range ($122,000 - $155,000), the decision will be made on a case-by-case basis related to these factors. This job is also eligible to participate in PG&E’s discretionary incentive compensation programs.

A reasonable salary range is:

Bay Area Minimum: $122,00

Bay Area Mid-Point: $158,000

Bay Area Maximum: $194,000

Scope of Work / Focus Areas

• • Recognized subject matter expertise and escalation support for complex substation maintenance, construction, commissioning, testing, and operational issues.
  • Technical leadership for systemic equipment issues, failure investigations, material problem reports, supplier engagement, factory acceptance testing, and corrective-action development.
  • Development and leadership of Quality Control and Quality Assurance programs, procedural-adherence reviews, and effectiveness assessments.
  • Leadership of human performance, human error, root-cause, extent-of-condition, audit, compliance, and regulatory-response activities.
  • Ownership and technical approval of bulletins, manuals, job aids, forms, tailboards, maintenance programs, and other controlled documents.
  • Development and delivery of advanced technical training, coaching, and knowledge transfer in partnership with PG&E Academy and field organizations.
  • Evaluation, onboarding, and implementation of new equipment, monitoring technologies, diagnostic methods, tools, and business systems.
  • Leadership of large, cross-functional initiatives and emergency technical support affecting multiple departments or the electric system.

Job Responsibilities

• • Perform all responsibilities of the Senior Work Methods & Procedures Specialist and serve as a recognized technical authority for assigned substation equipment, work methods, and maintenance programs.
  • Coach, mentor, and develop technical specialists and field personnel; provide direction and technical review for complex work and project teams.
  • Lead high-level initiatives, steering-team updates, and cross-functional stakeholder meetings; influence decisions through technical evidence, risk evaluation, and clear recommendations.
  • Provide expert technical judgment, historical perspective, and interpretation of company requirements, manufacturer guidance, industry standards, codes, and regulations.
  • Lead development, revision, and technical approval of high-level work methods, procedures, standards, bulletins, manuals, forms, job aids, and tailboards using in-depth analysis and benchmarking.
  • Lead or review equipment-failure, human-performance, root-cause, and extent-of-condition investigations; establish corrective actions and communicate lessons learned.
  • Interface with or lead QC and QA programs that evaluate procedural adherence, training effectiveness, supplier quality, equipment acceptance, and field implementation.
  • Provide expert support for systemic equipment issues, including troubleshooting, diagnostic-test interpretation, asset-health decisions, supplier resolution, factory audits, and repair-versus-replace recommendations.
  • Lead response to large-scale emergencies and provide timely technical guidance to field personnel, management, and incident teams, including overtime support on short notice when required.
  • Support legal, regulatory, audit, and compliance matters as a witness or subject matter expert, including responses to CPUC data requests, audit findings, and other high-profile issues.
  • Partner with PG&E Academy and curriculum-development teams to create, revise, and deliver advanced technical training and to build workforce capability.
  • Identify gaps in policies, procedures, maintenance programs, equipment strategies, and work practices; lead cross-functional implementation of sustainable improvements.
  • Evaluate and lead deployment of new tools, technologies, online monitoring, diagnostic methods, and equipment, including pilot programs and associated documentation, training, and field support.
  • Manage multiple large, complex, and/or high-priority assignments with limited direction while maintaining clear ownership, stakeholder alignment, and documented technical justification.

Additional Information

This role regularly partners with Substation Maintenance and Construction, Engineering Standards, Asset Strategy, System Protection, Sourcing and Procurement, suppliers, PG&E Academy, Safety, Quality, Compliance, and other internal and external stakeholders. Assignments may include field and emergency response, travel within the service territory, supplier or factory audits that may require international travel, technical testimony or data-request support, and leadership of projects with significant operational, reliability, safety, or enterprise impact. This description reflects the general nature and level of work and is not an exhaustive list of all duties, responsibilities, or skills required.

Background Qualifications

Minimum

• • High School Diploma or GED.
  • At least 10 years of electric utility industry experience.
  • At least 5 years of Work Methods & Procedures Specialist experience, or equivalent relevant experience demonstrating mastery of Senior-level responsibilities

Desired

• • Associate degree or bachelor’s degree in electrical engineering, engineering technology, or a related technical field.
  • Certified Journeyman Electrician or Electrical Technician.
  • 7 years in an engineering discipline.
  • Demonstrated ability to independently lead complex substation technical work, investigations, programs, and cross-functional projects.
  • Advanced manufacturer or industry training for substation equipment, diagnostic testing, load tap changers, gas-insulated switchgear, power-factor testing, oil analysis, or related specialties.
  • Expert knowledge of PG&E electric utility requirements, controlled documents, substation standards, maintenance programs, and field work practices.
  • Demonstrated leadership, coaching, stakeholder-influence, and team-development skills.
  • Superior analytical, technical-writing, communication, and creative problem-solving skills.
  • Experience leading QC/QA programs, supplier audits, factory acceptance testing, equipment-failure investigations, or regulatory and compliance responses.
  • Project and change-management experience leading multiple large, complex, cross-functional initiatives.
  • Working knowledge of applicable ANSI, IEEE, ASTM, NETA, OSHA, CPUC, NERC, FERC, and CAISO requirements appropriate to the assignment.