Sr Engineer Tech Analyst

General Summary of Job Responsibilities

The Senior Engineering Technical Analyst is responsible for the development and enhancement of standards and materials, including emerging technologies while continuing to meet all applicable regulatory rules and codes and solving problems for different work groups within compliance of all applicable rules. The incumbent requires communication of these standards and direction to both engineers and operations in a concise manner that allows precise application of the standards and technology. The Senior Engineering Technical Analyst will lead moderately complex projects and ensure they are completed according to plan and budget.

The Smart Energy Operations Center is responsible for the health and reliability of all deployed Gas and Electric smart devices.  Consumers Energy currently has over 1.9M Smart Electric Meters, 680k Automated Metering Infrastructure (AMI) Gas Communication Modules (GCM’s) and 1.2M Automated Meter Reading (AMR) GCM’s.  The primary role of the team is to address the overall management requirements of the head end and meter data management systems, required to perform routine daily maintenance and data collection/command processing for this volume of devices.  We are also involved in tracking the daily and weekly performance of the 88k deployed DLA Switches that also communicate through the Electric Smart Meters.  The department is evolving as the business needs continue to be defined and developed.  We are looking for a new data analyst for the Smart Energy Operations Device Management team, who is analytical, hardworking, displays initiative, can handle multiple requests at the same time, results oriented, and adapts well to change.  This person will perform complex technical and analytical tasks related to the collection and analysis of meter data from the devices. 

The Smart Energy Sr Engineer Tech Analyst will be expected to perform all relevant duties required to support Smart Energy Operations.  This position will be responsible for understanding, processing, visualizing, and communicating smart device data utilizing LEAN business tools.  Additionally, this position will be performing daily problem solving on Smart Energy related system components.  These duties may include but are not limited to checking meter and system performance, working on system issues, querying multiple systems for data to compare and report findings.  The position will require being added to our department on-call rotation, which is currently every five weeks.  The department on-call person is responsible for answering calls after hours, weekends and performing the required daily tasks over the weekends and holidays.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities

• Lead and/or assist with engineering projects to include design, inspections, system planning, specifications, reports, maps, environmental impacts, permits, contracts, schedules, estimates, surveying, easements, data collection, construction observation, and field investigation.
• Approve highly complex construction prints, work instructions, and procedures.
• Address complex concerns, investigate suggestions, and provide support, direction, and recommendations to the multi work groups effected.
• Respond to incident investigations, responsible for causal analysis/incident reports. Provide timely correspondence to external regulatory agencies.
• Assist in the scope document process, project cost-estimates, project meetings, and closeout estimates.
• Develop and maintain documentation processes associated with integrated systems including; hardware, applications, protocols, detailed point lists and revision control.
• Perform advanced research and development that leads to issuing updates to engineering and construction standards, manuals, design tools and documents that are used across the business to ensure compliance with laws and regulations.
• Ensure meter data is synchronized between SAP, IEE (Meter Data Management -MDM), PI MODM, Performance Manager (IPM) and OpenWay systems.
• Collaborate with multiple vendors and internal organizations to problem solve technical issues, device installs/removals, work order creation/tracking, meter event analysis, various hardware/software testing and implement continuous. improvement through process changes.  Assist with documentation, implementation, and testing of new system processes and meter configurations.
• Develop quality measures and associated reporting using tools such as PowerBI.
• System testing of various releases of system software and meter firmware.
• Analyze meter data for anomalous behaviors.
• Identify trends and patterns in data.
• Perform detailed problem solving using LEAN business tools and implementing corrective actions.
• Other duties as assigned or may be necessary.

Knowledge/Skills/Abilities

• Ability to research and understand advanced industry trends and provide utility benchmarking
• Communication and Presentation Skills
• Microsoft Office products (Word, Excel, PowerPoint, TEAMs, etc.)
• Teamwork, analytical thinking, and willingness to learn new topics
• Knowledge of Lean Methods/Tools
• Ability to manage multiple conflicting projects and priorities simultaneously

Education/Experience

• Bachelor's Degree in Technical or related field with four (4) or more years of experience supporting advanced engineering work/projects.
  • [OR] Associate Degree in Technical or related field with six (6) or more years of experience supporting advanced engineering work/projects.
  • [OR] High School Diploma or GED with eight (8) or more years of experience supporting advanced engineering work/projects.