Energy - Utilities Engineer 4

Energy/Utilities Engineer 4

Location: Thurston County – Lacey, WA
Work Model: Flexible/Hybrid
Job Type: Full Time – Permanent

Salary
$91,464.00 - $120,048.00 Annually

Remote Employment
Flexible/Hybrid

Department
Utilities and Transportation Commission

Division
Energy Transformation

Opening Date
11/25/2025

Closing Date
12/9/2025 11:59 PM Pacific

Salary Information
The high end of the salary range, Step M is typically a longevity step

Description
WASHINGTON UTILITIES AND TRANSPORTATION COMMISSION

Respect. Professionalism. Integrity. Accountability.

Energy/Utilities Engineer 4

Help protect the consumers of Washington state!

Salary Consideration: Range 71, Step A ($91,464) – Step L ($120,048) annually.
The starting employment offer will be determined based on the successful candidates’ qualifications. Typically Step M of the pay range is a longevity step.

This recruitment is open until December 09, 2025, at 11:59pm.
UTC reserves the right to render a hiring decision and/or choose to close or extend this recruitment at any given time. Applications for this recruitment could be used to fill comparable positions that open within the next 60 days.

The Opportunity:
The Washington Utilities and Transportation Commission (UTC) is seeking to fill the role of one (1) Energy/Utilities Engineer 4 position within the Energy Transformation Section of the Regulatory Services Division. This advanced position manages statewide utility engineering projects and programs, including electrical utility wildfire mitigation planning, electrical distribution system planning, and grid interconnection planning. The Energy Transformation Section, within the Regulatory Services Division, provides regulatory oversight of seven (7) electric and natural gas utilities serving approximately 3 million customers in Washington State with annual revenues exceeding $4.5 billion.

Hybrid:
Although this is a hybrid opportunity, the successful incumbent must reside within Washington state and must be available to report to the Lacey, Washington headquarters building when needed.

Travel:
Travel will be a required, essential component of this position and typically occur within Washington state at a utility office or infrastructure/operational locations. Occasionally, travel outside of the state may be required. Travel may occur outside of normal work hours.

Who We Are:
Our mission is to protect the people of Washington by ensuring that investor-owned utility and transportation services are safe, equitable, reliable, and fairly priced.

We protect consumers by regulating the rates, services, and practices of private or investor-owned utilities and transportation companies to ensure they are safe, equitable, reliable, and affordable.
The UTC is continually recognized for its excellence and integrity as a regulatory agency, as we challenge the status quo and ourselves to ensure equitable outcomes for our customers and the people of Washington state.
We recognize that our employees are the key to the agency’s success. We are committed to our work but value balance with our personal lives. We demonstrate our commitment to employees by providing an environment that stimulates professional growth, and offers continuing learning opportunities, meaningful work, and a comprehensive benefits package. For more information about our benefits or working at UTC, please visit our website.

What We Offer Our Employees:
UTC fosters an environment of diversity, equity, inclusion and belonging, while striving to hire and retain a workforce from the communities we serve.
We place importance on a healthy balance between personal and professional lives; offering flexible work schedules, wellness programs, and mobile/telework opportunities.
Through the state, our employees (and their families) are offered options for medical, dental, vision and basic life insurance.
We offer enrollment into the state retirement programs and a deferred compensation plan.
Throughout a calendar year, employees receive a minimum of 14 days of vacation leave per year and 11 paid holidays and 1 personal holiday in addition to accruing sick leave.

Our Values:
Respect - We treat every person and interaction with consideration and goodwill.
Professionalism - We are committed to excellence in our work and conduct.
Integrity - We do the right things for the right reasons - trusting others to do the same.

How to Apply:
Interested in joining the UTC team? Click the Apply button at the top to begin! We only consider candidates for further screening if the following documents are attached to your completed application packet.

Letter of Interest describing how you meet the position qualifications and why you believe you are the ideal candidate.
Resume detailing your applicable experience and education.
References: At least three (3) professional references with current telephone numbers and email addresses. One (1) contact MUST be your current or most recent supervisor.

The initial screening of candidates will be solely based on the contents and completeness of the application, including answers provided to the Supplemental Questionnaire, along with the required attachments - letter of interest, resume, and references submitted as part of the application process.

Please note, see resume will not substitute for completing the "work experience" section of the application or supplemental questionnaire.

Duties

What you’ll do:
Reporting to the Energy Transformation Deputy Director, the Energy/Utilities Engineer 4 (E/UE 4) provides expert technical leadership, regulatory guidance, and strategic oversight for engineering programs that promote public safety, regulatory compliance, energy reliability, and equitable access to utility infrastructure across the state.

This role is responsible for the program planning of statewide utility engineering projects with electrical utility wildfire mitigation planning, electrical distribution system planning, and grid interconnection planning. The E/UE 4 supervises and directs the work of lower-level utility and energy engineers, ensuring the effective statewide implementation of technical and regulatory initiatives. The incumbent plans, develops, and manages complex engineering projects and programs related to interconnection, distribution planning, wildfire mitigation, and broadband access. The position also reviews and evaluates utility filings and infrastructure plans by applying their advanced engineering judgment, statistical and field analysis, and regulatory knowledge.

Additional duties include, but aren’t limited to the following:

Supervises and directs the work of utility and energy engineering projects and programs related to interconnection, distribution planning, wildfire mitigation, and broadband access.
Guides, mentors, and trains junior engineers and regulatory staff, fostering professional development and maintaining high standards of thorough analytical approach.
Prepares and presents reports, data, and technical findings to support commission decisions and integrate results into ongoing programs.
Provides written expert testimony and technical recommendations on complex, politically sensitive, or high-impact issues.
Applies advanced engineering judgment to assess the technical merits of filings and ensures recommendations are grounded in sound regulatory and safety principles.
Reviews, validates, and conducts field assessments of complex utility engineering reports and infrastructure.
Leads negotiations and discussions with utilities and stakeholders on highly technical or contested regulatory matters.
Conducts ongoing research and professional development to stay current on national and international advancements in utility regulation and technology.
Reviews expert testimony, company exhibits, work papers, and data analyses, identifying methodological gaps, assumptions, and implications for public safety and reliability.
Determines root causes and recommends corrective actions or regulatory responses, providing comprehensive briefings and written findings to agency leadership.
Collaborates with attorneys, engineers, and policymakers to ensure that investigations are methodical, transparent, and consistent with commission standards.
Fosters a supportive and communicative team environment through proactive engagement, consistent follow-up, and open feedback channels.

Qualifications

Required Qualifications:
A bachelor’s degree in engineering, physical science, or related technical field from an accredited institution whose accreditation is recognized by the US Dept. of Education or the Council for Higher Education Accreditation (CHEA) or a foreign equivalent.
Four (4) years of progressively responsible engineering experience in utilities, energy systems or regulatory oversight. An advanced degree in engineering or applicable physical science field may substitute for two (2) years of experience.
Supervisory, project management, or lead engineer role experience.

OR

Seven (7) years progressive responsible engineering experience in utilities, energy systems or regulatory oversight engineering/technician field work, with an emphasis in industrial and/or power systems.

Demonstrated Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities in:
Advanced knowledge of utility systems, electrical distribution, transmission, interconnection, and wildfire mitigation technologies.
Excellent written, oral, and visual communication skills with the ability to convey complex technical information clearly to varied audiences.
Knowledge of Electric and/or Gas Utility Systems.
Research Skills.
Judgment and Problem Solving.
Analytical Skills and Critical Thinking.
Fundamental Regulatory Skills.
Writing and Communication.
Inclusive and Collaborative Conduct.
Leadership.
Project Management.
Mentorship.
Peer Review.
Communication Skills.
Adaptability/Flexibility.
Self-Development.
Continuous Process Improvement.

Demonstration of EDI Competencies:
The ability to take action to learn and grow.
The ability to take action to meet the needs of others.

Demonstration of UTC Core Competencies:
Accountability
DEI Knowledge, Understanding, & Commitment
Self-Awareness and Commitment to Growth
Cultivating Mutually Beneficial and Trusting Strategic Partnerships
Inclusive Excellence & Allyship
Measuring Success and Improvement
Customer Focus
Results Focus
Communication Skills
Adaptability/Flexibility
Self-Development
Continuous Process Improvement

Desired Experience, Knowledge, Skills, Abilities:
An advanced degree in electrical engineering, civil, mechanical, chemical, or industrial engineering.
Professional work experience in large industrial or electric power systems.
Progressive experience and knowledge in engineering or technical fields involving large-scale industrial and/or electric power systems.
Experience developing and implementing engineering programs.
Experience designing and troubleshooting electrical circuits and power systems.
Experience analyzing engineering schematics and diagrams.
Experience with SCADA systems.

Supplemental Information

This position is represented by the Washington Federation of State Employees (WFSE).
This position is exempt from the overtime requirements of the Fair Labor Standards Act.

Ensure the accuracy, spelling, and grammar of your application and any requested attachments before submitting.

If you have gotten this far and are thinking you do not qualify, consider again! Studies have shown that women and people of color are less likely to apply to jobs unless they meet every single qualification.

The UTC is an equal opportunity employer. Persons needing accommodation in the application process or this announcement in an alternative format may contact humanresources@utc.wa.gov. For TTY service, please call Washington Relay Service at 7-1-1 or 1-800-833-6384.