Engineering Specialist, Project Manager, or Engineer

Work with us and make a difference in Texas!

The Public Utility Commission regulates the state’s electric, telecommunication, and water and sewer utilities, implementing respective legislation and offering customer assistance in resolving customer complaints.

We are committed to protecting customers, fostering competition, and promoting high quality utility infrastructure.

Thank you for your interest in employment with the Public Utility Commission of Texas. We are committed to the recruitment and promotion of a character-driven, competent, productive and diverse workforce. Our employees come from a broad range of professional backgrounds, from attorneys and engineers to administrative support staff, united by their passion to be accountable to the people of Texas and provide equitable, efficient, and effective regulation in an increasingly competitive environment.

We understand that motivated, knowledgeable staff are essential for the successful completion of our vital work. If you're ready to join our efforts to serve our fellow Texans by helping electric, water, sewer and telecom utilities attain and maintain compliance, we would love to hear from you. Working at the PUC will not only broaden your professional horizons, it will also make you part of a highly motivated, technically proficient and warmly collegial team of professionals. Apply today!

The BENEFITS Of Working At The PUC

In addition to an affirming work environment and a family-oriented culture, we offer an array of attractive benefits to our employees. A summary of benefits can be found at https://www.puc.texas.gov/HumanResources/Home/Benefits

DIVISION – INFRASTRUCTURE

POSITION TYPE - This is a hybrid position and is eligible for telecommuting up to four (4) days a week.

The Infrastructure Division works to ensure that customers have electricity, water and sewer, and certain telecom service readily available by addressing the ability of utilities and their infrastructure to meet customers’ need for adequate and continuous service. The division has three sections: Engineering, Infrastructure Analysis, and Mapping.

The Engineering Section reviews and recommends routes for new electric transmission lines, electric utility requests to build new generating facilities, and requests for electric utility sales, transfers, and mergers. The section analyzes utilities’ cost of facilities, equipment, and supplies, the rate to allocate costs over their useful life, expenses to operate and maintain facilities, and funds set aside for emergency events. The section also addresses electric reliability and service quality issues and complaints about the cost of obtaining utility service.

The Infrastructure Analysis Section addresses the need for water and electric utility service area changes as well as water utility purchases. In addition, the section addresses distressed water utilities, including the capital costs and operations and maintenance expenses incurred by temporary managers of those utilities; electric utility fuel and purchased power costs; electric utility energy efficiency programs designed to reduce customer energy use; electric utility advanced metering systems; and telephone area codes and other numbering resource issues.

The Mapping Section uses geographic information system software to maintain boundary maps for water, sewer, and electric service areas; review water and sewer maps in applications that add or amend service area boundaries; respond to public and staff requests for electric and water data and maps; and maintain the state’s electricity supply chain map.

The division is seeking an Engineering Specialist, Project Engineer or Engineer who has a desire to work in the utility regulatory industry, with a strong initiative, and would like to expand their knowledge, skills and experience performing routine to highly advanced engineering work on a broad range of infrastructure issues. Work involves applying engineering principles to evaluate engineering and other technical issues to include identifying, analyzing, and providing recommendations or testimony regarding issues related to facility planning, construction, operations, and maintenance in the electric and water industries, as well as some telecommunications infrastructure issues.

SALARY RANGE

Engineering Specialist

Engineering Spec III

Engineering Spec IV

Engineering Spec V

Engineering Spec VI

Min

$70,008 ($5,834)

$75,000 ($6,250)

$80,004 ($6,667)

$85,008 ($7,084)

Max

$75,000 ($6,250)

$82,895 ($6,908)

$88,692 ($7,391)

$100,008 ($8,334)

Project Manager

Project Manager II

Project Manager III

Project Manager IV

Project Manager V

Min

$75,000 ($6,250)

$80,004 ($6,667)

$85,008 ($7,084)

$88,200 ($7,350)

Max

$82,895 ($6,908)

$88,692 ($7,391)

$100,008 ($8,334)

$115,008 ($9,584)

Engineer

Engineer III

Engineer IV

Engineer V

Engineer VI

Min

$80,004 ($6,667)

$85,008 ($7,084)

$90,000 (7,500)

$100,008 ($8,334)

Max

$90,000 ($7,500)

$100,008 ($8,334)

$110,004 ($9,167)

$115,008 ($9,584)

Qualifications

The ideal candidate will have the following required minimum qualifications:

ENGINEERING SPECIALIST

Engineering Specialist III

Graduation from an accredited four (4) year college or university with a bachelor or post-graduate degree in engineering.

Engineering Specialist IV

Graduation from an accredited four (4) year college or university with a bachelor or post-graduate degree in engineering, and a minimum of two (2) years of full-time work experience in engineering related activities, field or system operations, or planning.

Engineering Specialist V

Graduation from an accredited four (4) year college or university with a bachelor or post-graduate degree in engineering, or related field and a minimum of four (4) years of full-time work experience performing electrical engineering related activities with an electric utility, electric cooperative or municipally owned electric utility.

Engineering Specialist VI

Graduation from an accredited four (4) year college or university with a bachelor or post-graduate degree in engineering, or related field and a minimum of six (6) years of full-time work experience performing electrical engineering related activities with an electric utility, electric cooperative or municipally owned electric utility.

PROJECT MANAGER

Project Manager II

Graduation from an accredited four (4) year college or university with a bachelor or post-graduate degree in engineering and a Texas Engineer In Training Certification.

Project Manager III

Graduation from an accredited four (4) year college or university with a bachelor or post-graduate degree in engineering; a Texas Engineer In Training Certification; and a minimum of two (2) years of full-time work experience in engineering related activities, field or system operations, or planning.

Project Manager IV

Graduation from an accredited four (4) year college or university with a bachelor or post-graduate degree in engineering, or related field; a Texas Engineer In Training Certification; and a minimum of four (4) years of full-time work experience performing electrical engineering related activities with an electric utility, electric cooperative or municipally owned electric utility or seven (7) years of full-time work experience performing electrical engineering related activities with an electric utility, electric cooperative or municipally owned electric utility.

Project Manager V

Graduation from an accredited four (4) year college or university with a bachelor or post-graduate degree in engineering, or related field; Texas Engineer In Training Certification; and a minimum of six (6) years of full-time work experience performing electrical engineering related activities with an electric utility, electric cooperative or municipally owned electric utility or eight (8) years of full-time work experience performing electrical engineering related activities with an electric utility, electric cooperative or municipally owned electric utility.

ENGINEER

Engineer III

Graduation from an accredited four (4) year college or university with a bachelor or post-graduate degree in engineering, business with coursework in engineering, or related field and an active Professional Engineer (PE) License in Texas.

Engineer IV

Graduation from an accredited four (4) year college or university with a bachelor or post-graduate degree in engineering, business with coursework in engineering, or related field; an active Professional Engineer (PE) License in Texas; and a minimum of two (2) years of full-time work experience as a licensed PE performing electrical engineering related activities at an electric utility, electric cooperative or municipally owned electric utility.

Engineer V

Graduation from an accredited four (4) year college or university with a bachelor or post-graduate degree in engineering, business with coursework in engineering, or related field; an active Professional Engineer (PE) License in Texas; and a minimum of four (4) years of full-time work experience as a licensed PE performing electrical engineering related activities at an electric utility, electric cooperative or municipally owned electric utility.

Engineer VI

Graduation from an accredited four (4) year college or university with a bachelor or post-graduate degree in engineering, business with coursework in engineering, or related field; an active Professional Engineer (PE) License in Texas; and a minimum of six (6) years of full-time work experience as a licensed PE performing electrical engineering related activities at an electric utility, electric cooperative or municipally owned electric utility.

Preferred Qualifications

Bachelor or post-graduate degree in electrical engineering. Texas Engineer In Training (EIT) Certificate or a Professional Engineer (PE) License in Texas. Experience as an expert witness in regulatory hearings. Work experience with a regulatory agency.

VETERAN’S PREFERENCE

Veterans, Reservists, or Guardsmen with a Military Occupation Specialty (MOS) or additional duties that fall in the fields listed in the below link who meet the minimum qualifications are encouraged to apply.

The MOS codes applicable to this position can be accessed at

Military Crosswalk for Engineering Specialist and Engineer

Military Crosswalk for Project Manager

If you qualify for a Veteran Employment Preference, it is mandatory that you provide the required documentation with your State of Texas Application. Documentation must be provided before a Veteran Preference can be granted. Required documentation is as follows: Veteran – DD Form 214; Surviving Spouse of a Veteran who has not remarried – Marriage Certificate and DD Form 1300; Orphan of a Veteran who was killed during active duty – Birth Certificate and DD Form 1300.

A detailed job description can be viewed on our website: https://puc.texas.gov/HumanResources/Home/Jobs

Salary commensurate with qualifications. The salary of an ERS Retiree or non-contributing member will be 9.5% less than the offered salary.

NOTICE TO APPLICANTS

Applications must contain complete job histories, which includes:

Job title Dates of employment Name of employer Supervisor's name and phone number Description of duties performed that demonstrates how you meet the minimum qualifications for the position applying for

Note: Resumes do not take the place of this required information and applications with “See attached" or "See resume" will not be accepted in lieu of a completed application.

The hiring manager is requesting the following documents be submitted with the State of Texas CAPPS Application:

Resume Official or Unofficial College Transcripts (applicants applying for entry level positions with no experience must submit transcripts)

When submitting your documents, make sure to mark them as “relevant.” Incomplete applications will not be considered .

WORK IN TEXAS APPLICANTS

To apply for the position, it is best to go to the CAPPS State of Texas Talent Management System to submit your application by going to https://capps.taleo.net/careersection/ex/jobsearch.ftl and select our agency, Public Utility Commission of Texas, from the "Company/Agency" list.

If applying through Work In Texas (WIT) you will also need to complete the supplemental questions and forms to be considered for this posting. An automated email from the CAPPS State of Texas Talent Management System will be sent to your email on file in WIT with additional instructions.

REMARKS

All information provided in connection with an application for employment must be true and complete, and any misstatement, falsification, or omission of information may be grounds for refusal to hire or, if hired, termination. Salary commensurate with qualifications. The salary of an ERS Retiree or non-contributing member may be 9.5% less than the recommended salary. If required for position, licensure as a Professional Engineer or to practice law in Texas will be verified on the selected candidate through either the Professional Board of Engineers or the State Bar of Texas. A satisfactory driving record is required for driving a state or personal vehicle to conduct agency business. Selected candidates will have their driving record evaluated in accordance with the Commission’s Traffic Safety policy. For males born on or after January 1, 1960, the PUC will verify proof of Selective Service registration through the online Selective Service System. Any males born after January 1, 1960 who are not registered will need to provide proof of exemption from the Selective Service registration requirement. The Public Utility Commission participates in E-Verify and will provide the Social Security Administration (SSA) and, if necessary, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), with information from each new employee's Form I-9 to confirm work authorization. The Public Utility Regulatory Act imposes certain restrictions on PUC employees' investments, professional activities, and relationships with regard to "public utilities," as defined by Texas Utilities Code11.004. Most PUC employees cannot be an officer, employee, or consultant of a "trade association," and may not be married to an officer, manager, or paid consultant of a "trade association." (See Tex. Util. Code12.153.) The trade associations to which this restriction apply are defined in Texas Utilities Code11.003(21), and are limited to electric or telecommunications industry-related associations. (The trade association restrictions do not apply to employees who are eligible for overtime under the Fair Labor Standards Act.) PUC employees are prohibited from having a pecuniary interest in a public utility, a public utility affiliate, or "a person a significant portion of whose business consists of furnishing goods or services to public utilities or affiliates." (Tex. Util. Code12.154(a)(1).) A pecuniary interest is a financial interest and includes investments, such as ownership or stock holdings, or interest as an officer, director, partner, employee, attorney, or consultant. However, it does not include interests "held indirectly by ownership of an interest in a retirement system, institution, or fund that in the normal course of business invests in diverse securities independently" of your control. (Tex. Util. Code12.154(g).) The PUC has a Post-Employment Restriction – details furnished upon request. The PUC is an Equal Employment Opportunity Employer and recruits, hires, trains, and promotes into all job levels the most qualified persons without regard to race, color, sex, religion, national origin, sexual orientation, mental or physical disability, age, genetic information, veteran status, or participation in protected activity. Female and minority applicants are encouraged to apply.