Engineer, Principal - Dam Safety
JOB SUMMARY
This position will be filled at an exempt Level 6-7 depending upon the experience, knowledge, skills, and abilities of the successful candidate.
This position will serve as part of a multi-disciplinary team supporting Southern Company’s dam safety program, providing technical expertise and direction for Alabama Power’s hydroelectric generating plants. Primary job responsibilities include:
Maintain the requirements of FERC’s Engineering Guidelines and Title18 CFR, Chapter 1, Subchapter B, Part 12 - Safety of Water Power Projects and Project Works (Subparts A through F) as they pertain to Alabama Power’s hydroelectric projects.
Conduct routine dam safety field inspections of soil, concrete, and steel structures associated with dams and appurtenant structures.
Monitor trends in dam safety instrumentation data such as piezometers, weirs, drains, and deformation monuments, and review and interpret the data.
Interface with federal dam safety officials, primarily the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission’s Division of Dam Safety and Inspections (FERC D2SI).
Become familiar with and implement the requirements of Southern Company Generation’s “Safety Procedure for Dams and Dikes at Hydroelectric Generation Plants” and “Dam Safety Program for FERC Licensed Projects .”
Prepare, coordinate and review dam safety engineering analyses, designs, calculations, specifications, and requests for proposals as applicable.
Support dam safety aspects of APC’s Hydro Modernization Construction Program
Support construction activities associated with deep grout injection of a highly karstic dam foundation, with a focus on geologic/geotechnical aspects related to dam safety.
Coordinate and interface with independent dam safety consultants to meet the requirements of external inspections, assessments, analyses, and reports (Part 12D process).
Interface with external specialty contractors and engineering consultants for routine spillway gate inspections and underwater inspections.
Perform detailed review of engineering reports prepared by external consultants and contractors.
Actively participate in assessments and audits of the company’s dam safety program.
Participate in Georgia Power dam safety inspections/activities with our counterpart Hydro Services group in Atlanta, Georgia.
Other duties assigned may include assisting with hydro plant relicensing efforts, hydrology studies, hydraulics studies, slope stability analyses, seepage analyses, contract management, etc. depending on the needs of the subject facilities. On occasion it may be required to assist in the inspection of storage ponds, ash ponds and other related dams at fossil plants and interact with the Fossil Dam Safety Group in Birmingham, Alabama.
This position reports to the Dam Safety & Surveillance Supervisor in the Southern Company Generation Hydro Services group in Birmingham.
JOB REQUIREMENTS
Education:
At a minimum, a bachelor’s degree in civil engineering from an ABET-accredited university is required.
Advanced degree (Master’s, PhD) in civil engineering or a related field is advantageous.
Experience:
Alabama Professional Engineer (PE) License (or ability to obtain through comity) is required.
Minimum 5 years’ experience in dam safety related work experience (including regulatory compliance, design, construction, inspection, and/or analysis) is required.
Advanced knowledge of dam safety principles is required.
Advanced experience writing technical letters, reports, and/or design documents is required
Basic knowledge of FERC’s regulations for dam safety at hydropower projects is preferred.
Experience with Potential Failures Modes Analyses (PFMA) and/or Risk Analyses (either Semi-Qualitative or Qualitative) for dam safety is preferred.
Job Knowledge, Skills and Abilities:
Advanced understanding of the technical principles of concrete structures, soil mechanics, and relevant loading scenarios (normal, hydrologic, seismic) is required.
Strong written communication skills are required. The successful candidate must have the ability to produce technically advanced, coherent documents that will withstand regulatory scrutiny.
Strong oral communication skills are required. The successful candidate must be able to communicate effectively and to work constructively with other groups within Southern Company and with outside agencies and consultants.
Knowledge of hydroelectric power plant operations is preferred.
Strong computer skills, including proficiency with MS Word, Excel and PowerPoint, are required.
Strong observational skills are required.
Strong organizational skills are required.
The ability to read and interpret engineering drawings is required.
The ability to work harmoniously with government regulators is required.
The proven ability to be a self-starter and to work harmoniously with multi-disciplinary teams is required.
Leadership skills and enthusiastic attitude towards professional development are encouraged.
Essential Job Functions:
Carry out all job requirements with strict adherence to Southern Company safety policies and procedures.
Travel is required within Alabama (about 20-30% of the time), including some overnight travel, for site and dam safety field inspections and meetings at Alabama Power hydro dams and occasionally at APC fossil plants, as needed.
This position requires extensive walking along dams, including up and down earthen slopes and climbing up and down stairs and ladders at the hydro dams and powerhouses. This position may require safely accessing narrow concrete trenches, steep slopes, drainage galleries, spillways, and other challenging-access areas to perform inspections.
Occasional use of a Personal Flotation Device (PFD) and safety harness/fall arrest will be required depending on field inspection requirements.
Routine dam safety field inspections and site visits would be approximately 20 to 30 percent of the job function. The frequency of these field inspections may increase for attending to unusual dam safety issues as they arise or when dam safety construction projects underway.
Office work is typically related to letter/report writing, preparation and review of engineering analyses, dam safety instrumentation data review, responding to plant inquiries for dam safety issues, interaction with regulatory agencies, generally as noted in the Job Summary above.
BEHAVIORAL ATTRIBUTES
Demonstrates Southern Company’s “Our Values” (Safety First, Intentional Inclusion, Acting with Integrity, & Superior Performance).
Self-starter, self-motivated.
Technically advanced knowledge of civil dam safety components and dam safety principles and philosophies
Ability to work independently on technically advanced projects under the overall direction the Dam Safety Supervisor.
Diplomatic.
Organized.
Strong customer focus.
Team player.
Strong work ethic.
Attention to details, accuracy and follow-up.
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION REQUESTED:
The following information will be requested of individuals selected for an interview:
A report you have authored. (May be redacted to obscure identifying information, if necessary)
A listing of any professional publications or conference papers that you have authored or presented.
A listing of national or state professional organizations to which you belong and any leadership positions that you have held in them.
Southern Company (NYSE: SO) is a leading energy provider serving 9 million residential and commercial customers across the Southeast and beyond through its family of companies. Providing clean, safe, reliable and affordable energy with excellent service is our mission. The company has electric operating companies in three states, natural gas distribution companies in four states, a competitive generation company, a leading distributed energy infrastructure company with national capabilities, a fiber optics network, and telecommunications services. Through an industry-leading commitment to innovation, resilience, and sustainability, we are taking action to meet our customers’ and communities’ needs while advancing our commitment to net zero emissions by 2050. Our uncompromising values ensure we put the needs of those we serve at the center of everything we do and are the key to our sustained success. We are transforming energy into economic, environmental and social progress for tomorrow. Our corporate culture and hiring practices have earned the company national awards and recognition from numerous organizations, including Forbes, Military Times, DiversityInc, Black Enterprise, J.D. Power, Fortune, Human Rights Campaign and more. To learn more, visit www.southerncompany.com .
Southern Company invests in the well-being of its employees and their families through a comprehensive total rewards strategy that includes competitive base salary, annual incentive awards for eligible employees and health, welfare and retirement benefits designed to support physical, financial, and emotional/social well-being. This position may also be eligible for additional compensation, such as an incentive program, with the amount of any bonus/awards subject to the terms and conditions of the applicable incentive plan(s). A summary of the benefits offered for this position can be found here https://seo.nlx.org/southernco/pdf/SOCO-Benefits.pdf . Additional and specific details about total compensation and benefits will also be provided during the hiring process.
Southern Company is an equal opportunity employer where an applicant's qualifications are considered without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, disability, veteran status, genetic information, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, or any other basis prohibited by law.
Job Identification: 11051
Job Category: Engineering
Job Schedule: Full time
Company: Southern Company Services