Electrical Reliability Engineer

Remote, Oregon, United States

• Category: Electrical Engineering

Description

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Job Description:

Orbital is seeking an Electrical Reliability Engineer to manage risk based electrical infrastructure programs for client operating facilities across the United States. This position requires occasional travel (10-20%) throughout the United States interfacing with clients and project teams.

The Electrical Reliability Engineer is responsible for developing, managing, and continuously improving risk-based electrical infrastructure programs for owners and operators of heavy industrial facilities. This role applies asset condition, failure consequence, and operational risk principles to guide inspection, maintenance, capital planning, and system upgrade decisions across medium- and high-voltage electrical systems.

The position serves as a technical authority and trusted advisor, bridging engineering, maintenance, operations, and capital planning to improve client electrical system reliability, safety, and lifecycle performance while minimizing unplanned outages and risk exposure.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities

Risk-Based Program Leadership

• Develop, implement, and manage risk-based electrical infrastructure programs covering substations, switchgear, MCCs, transformers, protective relays and power distribution systems
• Establish asset criticality frameworks incorporating probability of failure, consequence of failure, safety impact, production impact, and regulatory exposure.
• Translate asset risk profiles into prioritized inspection, maintenance, repair, and capital upgrade strategies.

Asset Condition & Reliability Engineering

• Lead and/or review electrical condition assessments, including infrared thermography, partial discharge, power quality, relay testing, arc flash studies, and equipment health evaluations.
• Analyze inspection and testing data to identify degradation trends, failure modes, and emerging reliability risks.
• Support incident investigations related to electrical events or near misses.

Capital Planning & Lifecycle Management

• Support owners/operators in developing multi‑year electrical capital plans aligned with risk, reliability targets, and business objectives.
• Recommend repair vs. replace decisions based on lifecycle cost, risk reduction, and system performance.
• Provide technical input for budgeting, project justification, and investment prioritization.

Standards, Governance & Compliance

• Develop and maintain electrical reliability standards, inspection procedures, and engineering guidelines aligned with applicable codes and industry best practices (e.g., NEC, IEEE, NFPA 70E, where applicable).
• Support regulatory, insurance, and audit activities by providing technical documentation and risk-based justification.

Cross-Functional & Stakeholder Engagement

• Serve as a technical liaison between engineering, maintenance, operations, safety, and management teams.
• Interface with external engineering firms, testing contractors, equipment vendors, and OEMs.
• Communicate complex technical risk concepts clearly to non‑technical stakeholders and leadership.

Other Duties

• Please note that this job posting does not list all duties and responsibilities that are required of this job. Duties and responsibilities may change at any time with or without notice.

Work Environment

• Remote within the United States
• Occasional travel (10-20%) throughout the United States interfacing with clients and project teams.

Minimum Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree in electrical engineering
• Minimum 15 years of experience in electrical engineering, reliability engineering, or asset management within industrial, utility, energy, or large facility environments.
• Strong knowledge of medium- and high-voltage electrical systems, protection schemes, and power distribution infrastructure.
• Experience developing long-term electrical infrastructure strategies or portfolio-level programs.
• Demonstrated experience applying risk-based methodologies to asset management, reliability, or capital planning.
• Working knowledge of electrical testing, inspection technologies, and power system studies.
• Excellent communication, leadership, and organizational skills
• Must excel in working in a team environment
• Occasional domestic travel will be required

Preferred Qualifications

• Professional Engineer (PE) license.
• Experience supporting owner/operator environments (refineries, chemical plants, power generation, steel mills, or similar).

Salary Range:

• $125,000 - $175,000 annually (based on experience, qualifications, and location)

Benefits:

A commitment to excellence and hard work will be rewarded with a competitive salary, career advancement opportunities, and a comprehensive benefits package designed to support your health, financial security, and work-life balance. Our benefits include medical, dental, vision, and prescription drug coverage; a 401(k)-retirement savings plan; and supplemental insurance options. We also provide company-paid life and AD&D insurance, company-paid short-term disability coverage, and a generous paid time off program to ensure you have the support and flexibility you need both professionally and personally.

About Orbital: 

Powered by People, Driven by Solutions

Since 1969, Orbital has been specializing in project development, project execution and asset management for the heavy industrial sectors and utilities. Our regional offices, hands-on mentality, and world-wide integrated teams provide an ability to leverage subject matter experts and industry best-practices wherever a project may lie geographically. Our focus steadfastly remains on finding and delivering the best solution, regardless of where that team sits across our organization. At Orbital, our power is our people.

Equal Opportunity Statement:

We are an equal opportunity employer and value diversity at our company. We do not discriminate on the basis of race, religion, color, national origin, gender, sexual orientation, age, marital status, veteran status, or disability status.

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Company

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Orbital Engineering

Orbital Engineering has provided worldwide professional engineering and consulting services since 1969. Our commitment to quality, responsiveness, and attention to detail has earned us the reputation as a leading provider of engineering and design services. Over the years, we've broadened both our scope and client list and we’ve been consistently ranked among the Engineering News Record (ENR) Top 500 Design Firms.

With over 300 engineers and support staff throughout district offices in Pittsburgh, PA, Philadelphia, PA, Chicago, IL, Detroit, MI, St. Louis, MO and Houston, TX we're creative, client-driven, and collaborative. Employees are our greatest asset, so it makes sense to offer a quality benefits package that helps them and their families stay healthy, enjoy time off, and provide for their financial future. We offer competitive salaries, comprehensive medical and dental care coverage, long-term disability, life insurance, and educational assistance