Energy Trust is looking to hire either an Engineer or Sr. Engineer. Applicants that meet either level of qualifications are encouraged to apply.
Engineers and Sr. Engineers work as part of the Planning and Evaluation group to develop, review and approve energy efficiency measures, including new offerings and measures proposed by Energy Trust’s Program Delivery Contractors (PDC’s) and Program Management Contractors (PMC’s). Engineers and Sr. Engineers assists the Lead Engineer and Measure Development Manager in prioritizing development, review, approval, and documentation of prescriptive and semi-prescriptive efficiency measures; and continuously improving the measure development process and associated tools, templates, and documents. Engineers and Sr. Engineers ensure that all approved offerings are technically sound, cost-effective (or obtain exception approval) and consistent with Energy Trust requirements. They engage with staff from Energy Trust programs, evaluation, PMCs and PDCs to develop pilots, field tests, and other research to inform measure development. They also contribute to the oversight of technical field trials commissioned by Energy Trust and/or regional and national groups to verify measure savings or inputs.
In addition to the duties of the Engineer, the Sr. Engineer has final measure approval authority, subject to Lead Engineer or Director review as needed if required. The Sr. Engineer has responsibility for developing and scanning for emerging products and services and identifying those that are close to being market-ready. This involves representing Energy Trust in regional bodies such as the Regional Technical Forum, committees and working groups of the Northwest Energy Efficiency Alliance, and other regional and national organizations. The Sr. Engineer is also responsible for delivering training to measure development teams, maintaining and researching technical guidelines, leading projects within the group and coaching to others internal and PMC/PDC staff in best practices for energy efficiency analysis.
What You’ll Do:
For either Engineer or Sr. Engineer:
Review and develop and cost-benefit analyses of energy saving measures, and document information sources, analysis, and findings.
Review PMC- and PDC-provided measure development work scopes, draft measure approval documents and associated cost-benefit analyses, provide feedback and suggestions for improvement, and decide when measures analyses are acceptable to be published. Work with the Measure Development Manager to consider program design impacts and/or changes while scoping analyses.
Identify which key assumptions included in measure analyses need to be verified through evaluations or other market research; coordinate and communicate with Energy Trust staff, PMCs, and regional organizations to obtain information needed to verify assumptions.
Review evaluation and market research plans and reports to ensure they meet the needs of measure development and/or accurately reflect current measures.
Acquire information on changes in federal and state codes and standards, anticipate effects on baseline efficiencies, and incorporate into estimates of cost, savings and cost-effectiveness for efficiency measures. Provide this information to Planning staff for incorporation into Energy Trust’s Resource Assessment and to programs to inform goals.
Participate in outside committees, working groups, projects and pilots through organizations such as the Northwest Energy Efficiency Alliance (NEEA), Regional Technical Forum (RTF), and Consortium for Energy Efficiency (CEE), to assist in their efforts and to help identify products, services or data sources to inform new measures and measure updates.
As a subject matter expert, contribute to maintenance and continuous improvement of the measure development process, training and mentoring both internal staff and contractors on associated tools and templates.
Prepare documents for the Public Utility Commission or other public and regulatory groups.
Research and help define, design and oversee pilot projects and evaluations for emerging technologies and approaches.
Assist in the management and oversight of engineering contractors for the Planning and Evaluation group.
Maintain and enhance project and measure archives to support measure analysis and cost-effectiveness decision-making.
Make public presentations and facilitate discussions with regional and national energy efficiency organizations and forums.
Serve as a resource for ad hoc requests for information and engineering support.
Perform all functions of the job in a safe manner.
In addition, for Sr. Engineer:
Manages research contracts and projects. Assists in the management and oversight of engineering contractors for the Planning and Evaluation Group.
Provides technical advice for the development of market transformation models for measures for which the costs are justified by multi-year, market-wide changes in market preferences.
Ensure resources and scopes of work defining analytic approaches and needs are appropriate to circumstance.
Produce and present training related to measure development and measure technical guidelines to internal and external teams.
Keep measure development technical guidelines up to date, considering changes in technology, information sources and changing policy landscape.
SUPERVISORY RESPONSIBILITY
Oversees the work of contractors, suppliers, and/or vendors as necessary in the course of managing specific projects or developing measures.
What You’ll Need:
Basic requirements for either Engineer or Sr. Engineer:
Bachelor’s degree in electrical or mechanical engineering, physics, or other relevant quantitative degree, or equivalent experience, is required.
Experience applying engineering concepts pragmatically to help assess typical costs and savings for efficiency measures.
Advanced technical knowledge of residential, commercial and industrial energy-using processes, such as HVAC, lighting, water heating, pump systems, heat recovery, etc.
Experience with utility regulation is highly desired.
Proficiency with Excel; ability to review and troubleshoot complex spreadsheet analyses.
Willingness and skills to do a combination of communications and coordination, negotiation, documentation, and detailed technical work.
Demonstrated ability to work at the detailed analytical level and at strategic levels.
Verbal and written communication skills. In particular, ability to analyze complex technical issues and succinctly convey conclusions, inferences, and applications in general terms for diverse technical and public audiences.
Must be able to interact with a diverse workforce and be comfortable working in culturally diverse settings and groups.
Experience interpreting the effects of codes and standards changes on energy efficiency measures and programs.
Ability to work independently with minimal supervision.
In addition to basic requirements, for Engineer:
2 years of experience in an engineering role in the implementation or evaluation of energy efficiency programs.
Knowledge of applying business and economic analysis techniques including life cycle cost analysis, net present value, internal rate of return, and other quantitative economic criteria, ideally for consideration of investments in energy efficiency and renewable resources.
In addition to basic requirements, for Sr. Engineer:
6 years of experience in an engineering role in the implementation or evaluation of energy efficiency programs.
3 years of project management or similar leadership experience, including the management of technical contractors.
Experience applying business and economic analysis techniques including life cycle cost analysis, net present value, internal rate of return, and other quantitative economic criteria, ideally for consideration of investments in energy efficiency and renewable resources.
Oregon Professional Engineering License and Certified Energy Manager (CEM) are highly desired.