Senior Testing and Commissioning Manager chez O'Connell Electric Company

SENIOR TESTING AND COMMISSIONING MANAGER 

The Technical Services Division specializes in commissioning substations, performing maintenance and testing of existing substation equipment, and serving a wide range of power distribution systems for utility, industrial, and public sector clients.

The Senior Testing & Commissioning Manager is responsible for directing the execution of testing and commissioning activities on complex utility substation projects. This role often combines responsibilities of both Construction and Commissioning Manager, especially for challenging brownfield projects. The Manager provides hands-on site leadership, ensuring the safe, compliant, and efficient sequencing of work leading to project energization.

This position requires travel throughout NY State to customer sites and must have a valid driver’s license. Travel is expected 80% of the time. Candidates must be comfortable working in active construction environments, wearing appropriate personal protective equipment (PPE), and adapting to various weather conditions.

Responsibilities:

• Develop detailed commissioning documentation to prepare for, execute, and record all commissioning results.
• Manage testing & commissioning activities for one complex or multiple smaller substation projects
• Serve as dual-role leader (Construction Manager + Commissioning Manager) on brownfield projects when required.
• Identify Major Discrepancies in Substation Design and Detailed Protection & Control Design drawings and be responsible to determine the correction course of action.
• Design and develop Protection & Control (P&C) schemes
• Act as execution lead on-site: coordinate sequencing, oversee test witnessing, and manage daily activities.
• Review and validate construction drawings to ensure compliance with project requirements and industry standards.
• Provide and review deliverables: test plans, as-left settings, logic/GOOSE/SCADA diagrams, configs, commissioning report, asset keysheets, and marked-up substation prints.
• Apply advanced engineering theory and documentation practices in practical field execution.
• Provide on-site technical support during commissioning, troubleshooting, and testing.
• Coordinate with Owner, SP&C engineers, contractors, and commissioning agents to align project activities.
• Ensure safety, compliance, and readiness for energization
• Development of Commissioning Outage and Energization Plans.
• Mentor and lead technical staff, ensuring work quality and compliance with standards.
• Populate asset information in to Owner’s electronic database at end of job.
• Assist Owner in Training Its resources in the operation of new Owner Asssets.

Education and Experience:

• BSEE or BSET from an ABET-accredited school required.
• Professional Engineers (PE) Licensure preferred
• Must have a minimum of 10 years of progressive experience in electrical power utilities in the following areas:
• Construction, maintenance and testing of electrical equipment
• Relay protection and control systems
• Start-up and commissioning of electrical equipment and systems
• Electrical Field engineering
• Arc Flash safety training
• Troubleshooting of electrical equipment or systems.
• SCADA and communication systems

Required Skills/Abilities:

• Excellent verbal and written communication skills.
• Advanced knowledge of protection & control systems, SCADA, and substation automation.
• Excellent organizational skills and attention to detail.
• Expertise in relay settings, logic diagrams, GOOSE messaging, and control schematics
• Strong ability to plan, sequence, and execute commissioning activities safely and efficiently.
• Skilled in producing and reviewing technical documentation (test plans, reports, marked-up prints).
• Proficiency in engineering software tools for testing, protection, and control.
• Mentorship and Leadership
• Deep understanding of regulatory compliance, safety standards, and utility requirements.
• Strong problem-solving and troubleshooting abilities for field conditions.
• Effective communication and coordination across project stakeholders (Owner, engineers, contractors).

Compensation:

The minimum and maximum annual salary that O’Connell Electric Company believes in good faith to be accurate for this position at the time of this posting is $140,000 - $160,000 per year.

It is important to O’Connell Electric that potential candidates for this position understand that compensation depends on numerous factors including the geographic location where the role will be performed, skills required, experience, complexity, travel, and market rate. O’Connell Electric aims to reward performance and attract top talent with competitive, fair pay and benefits. Please note that the top of the salary range represents exceptional, and/or senior-level positions, which meet all required qualifications. Actual offers take the candidate’s knowledge, skills, abilities, and experience into account.

Equal Opportunity:

O’Connell Electric is an equal opportunity employer and prohibits discrimination and harassment of any type.   O’Connell Electric affords equal employment opportunities to employees and applicants without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, pregnancy, age, national origin, disability status, genetic information, protected veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by law.