Power Systems Manager

Important Notifications:

Application Deadline: When applying, please keep in mind this posting will close at 11:59 pm the night before the posted "end date". Applications MUST be submitted prior to this deadline.

Current Employees: Do not apply via the OSU Career site. Instead, please login to your regular Workday account and visit the Jobs Hub to apply.

Department:

Division of Research & Innovation | PacWave -

Special Instructions to Applicants:

When applying you will be required to attach the following electronic documents:

1. A resume
2. A cover letter indicating how your qualifications and experience have prepared you for this position.

Starting salary will be commensurate with skills, education, and experience.

For additional information please contact:

Jon Sutton Jon.Sutton@oregonstate.edu (541)737-7743

Job Summary:

Oregon State University (OSU) is seeking to hire a Power Systems Manager for PacWave. This is a full-time (1.00 FTE), 12-month, professional faculty position reporting to the PacWave Director.

This position is located in Newport, OR.

PacWave is a globally recognized wave energy test facility developed and operated by OSU, which provides critical infrastructure to support the national and international marine energy industries. Over the last decade, PacWave’s flagship, open ocean site, PacWave South, has been developed with over $150M in funding, primarily from the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE). PacWave South serves as the only pre-permitted, grid connected wave energy test site in the U.S. and is one of only a handful of similar sites in the world.

As PacWave recently transitioned into its operational phase, OSU is seeking a Power Systems Manager to assist the PacWave team in establishing the facility as a leading global test facility, which will provide the marine energy sector with the opportunity to test and conduct testing, research & development, demonstration, and deployment (RDD&D) activities for wave energy systems and other technologies.

The Power Systems Manager will:

• Serve as the team’s technical authority for PacWave's power systems, including medium voltage distribution up to 36kV and protection and control equipment
• Manage the operation, maintenance, and safe isolation of PacWave's power infrastructure, including the subsea export cables and onshore substation
• Review and evaluate third-party power system planning studies and designs, including testing client interconnection and grid compliance submittals, and approve them for connection to PacWave infrastructure.
• Oversee commissioning and testing of client grid-interconnection systems, and set the technical acceptance criteria they must meet.
• Coordinate with Central Lincoln People’s Utility District (CLPUD) and Bonneville Power Administration (BPA) and support PacWave and its clients in meeting applicable CLPUD and BPA requirements.
• Manage PacWave's power and data systems personnel, including SCADA, Power Quality, and other data acquisition, networking, and instrumentation staff, who hold the primary technical expertise in those systems.
• Oversee power and data contractors supporting PacWave operations.
• Coordinate and support client power and data operations, relying on the data systems team and external subject matter experts for technical review of data-related client submittals and test plans.
• Provide oversight of data systems requirements, including SCADA, and their integration with power system operations, including resolution of interfaces between the two.
• Provide technical expertise, manage relationships with the Department of Energy, and oversee and coordinate with National Laboratory personnel supporting PacWave power and data systems activities and testing.

NOTE: The Power and Data Systems Manager is not expected to manually operate medium voltage equipment such as switchgear. These activities will be performed by licensed contractors. A power line technician or electrician license is not required for this position.

Key Responsibilities:

• Power System Operations and Distribution Management – Manage implementation and maintenance of power control and distribution systems, including dynamic AC/DC power management, storage, transformation, conditioning, and monitoring; oversee continuous power quality performance and serve as final technical decision-maker on power systems at PacWave.
• Data Systems and SCADA Oversight – Ensure effective performance of SCADA systems and onshore/offshore data networks - including hardware, local networks with nested firewalls, data display, storage, and archiving - whether by directly overseeing the systems or by managing the technical personnel who administer them. Set priorities, assign work, and hold staff accountable, while retaining latitude to engage directly in data systems matters as circumstances require.
• Staff Supervision and Budget Management – Supervise power and data staff, including future hires, contractors, and existing personnel, with authority to plan, assign, and approve work, hire, discipline, respond to grievances, and prepare performance evaluations; develop and manage budgets for power and data operations, including equipment selection, procurement, and personnel costs.
• Inspection, Testing, and Preventive Maintenance – Serve as technical authority for inspection, testing, maintenance, and repair of medium-voltage equipment and subsea power cables between offshore test sites and the UCMF; oversee equivalent work on data networks, SCADA systems, and subsea data cables performed by data systems personnel.
• Safety Programs and Regulatory Compliance – Oversee lockout/tagout, voltage testing, grounding, and arc flash studies for all MV operations; enforce permit-to-work and internal safety procedures; develop and maintain power and data safety protocols; ensure compliance with OSHA 1910, OSHA 1926, NFPA 70E, NEC, and NESC standards.
• Design Review, Interconnection, and External Partnerships – Review client and third-party power equipment designs for compliance with the CLPUD Interconnection Agreement and BPA Power Purchase Agreement; coordinate with CLPUD and BPA on interconnection and operating requirements; provide technical expertise and manage relationships with DOE and National Laboratory staff.
• Client Coordination, Emergency Response, and Outreach – Coordinate client, contractor, and subcontractor operations and installations onshore and offshore, and advise clients on grid interconnection and data infrastructure requirements; diagnose power system failures and direct emergency repairs, lead failure investigations and root cause analysis, serve in the rotational 24/7 Duty Officer schedule, and support public outreach and engagement for PacWave.

Qualifications:

Required Qualifications:

• Bachelor’s degree in electrical engineering with a specialization in power systems, or a closely related field and/or equivalent experience
• Strong understanding of three-phase electrical power systems and analysis.
• Demonstrated experience managing power systems, including medium voltage equipment
• Demonstrated experience managing technical personnel, including direct reports, contractors, and/or cross-functional teams
• Demonstrated experience in project management
• Advanced computing skills, including familiarity with MS Office Suite and Adobe, including Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and Adobe Acrobat
• Must be self-motivated, organized, and detail-oriented with the ability to work independently and as part of a team. Must be able to manage multiple tasks, set priorities, meet deadlines, and take ownership of assigned initiatives
• Strong leadership, management, and interpersonal skills, with proven discretion and diplomacy

This position is designated as a critical or security-sensitive position; therefore, the incumbent must successfully complete a criminal history check and be determined to be position qualified as per University Standard: 05-010 et seq. Incumbents are required to self-report convictions and those in youth programs may have additional criminal history checks every 24 months.

This position requires driving a university vehicle or a personal vehicle on behalf of the university; therefore, the incumbent must successfully complete a motor vehicle history check, possess and maintain a current, valid driver's license in their state of residence, be determined to be position qualified and self-report convictions as per University Policy 05-030.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Hands-on experience maintaining and testing medium voltage electrical power equipment, with knowledge of protective relays and electrical power systems
• Experience with medium voltage electrical SCADA systems
• Background in marine or renewable energy, with specific knowledge of the marine energy or clean energy sector
• Professional experience and/or qualifications in ocean engineering, marine energy, or a related field
• Experience working with the US Department of Energy and in cross-disciplinary environments.
• Strong quantitative skills, excellent written and verbal communication, digital proficiency, and presentation abilities
• Demonstrated experience managing data systems personnel or data management systems, including environmental sensing networks, instrument interface software, and fieldwork including offshore and seagoing systems

Working Conditions/Schedule:

PacWave maintains a 24/7 Watch Desk, which requires a Duty Officer from the team to carry a PacWave cellphone at all times and to respond to incidents and emergencies associated with PacWave facilities or operations underway at PacWave. This responsibility rotates through the PacWave team on a weekly basis. As a member of the team, the Power & Data Systems Manager will be required to act as the on-call Duty Officer on a rotational schedule every few weeks.

Other than the Duty Officer responsibilities, occasional work beyond normal working hours and on weekends is expected.

The ability to travel and work remotely from other offices or field sites is required. This position requires working in outdoor field settings (including at sea) in all weather conditions, including heat, cold, and rain. At-sea work will consist primarily of day trips but may occasionally require longer durations.

The ability to lift/push/pull/carry up to 50 pounds of equipment is required.

This position is deemed essential; and the incumbent is expected to report to work during inclement weather, emergency and other University work curtailments or closures.

Salary Range:

$100,000 to $120,000

Anticipated Start Date:

2027-01-04

Anticipated End Date:

When applying, please keep in mind this posting will close at 11:59 pm the night before the posted "end date". Applications MUST be submitted prior to this deadline.

We are an Equal Opportunity Employer, including disability, protected veteran, and other protected status.

OSU will conduct a review of the National Sex Offender Public website prior to hire.

OSU is a fair chance employer committed to inclusive hiring. We encourage applications from candidates who bring a wide range of lived experience including involvement with the justice system. If this position has “critical or security-sensitive” responsibilities and/or driving duties and you are selected as a finalist, your initial job offer will be contingent upon the results of a job-related pre-employment check (such as a background check, motor vehicle history check, sexual misconduct reference check, etc.). Background check results do not automatically disqualify a candidate. Take a look at our Background Checks website including the for candidates section for more details. If you have questions or concerns about the pre-employment check, please contact OSU’s Employee and Labor Relations team at employee.relations@oregonstate.edu.