Senior Electric Utility Engineer

Salary : $213,927.24 - $272,964.60 Annually
Location : 1500 Warburton Ave., Santa Clara, CA
Job Type: Full-Time
Job Number: 68-25-730
Department: Electric Utility
Opening Date: 10/28/2025
Closing Date: Continuous
FLSA: Non-Exempt
Bargaining Unit: 4
Weighting Plan: 100% Oral, Qualifying Supplemental

Description
The PositionsSilicon Valley Power (SVP) is seeking dynamic and innovative Senior Electric Utility Engineer candidates to immediately fill two (2) vacancies in the Customer Development and Project Management divisions, with potential future vacancies in these or other divisions. The ideal candidates will have electric utility engineering experience; excellent project management skills; strong oral and written communication skills; experience working in a team environment on major construction projects.

For the Engineering Division:

This position will lead substation engineering and standards development that support the mission of the Utility. This individual should be an experienced, self-starter who can thrive in both an autonomous and team environment. This position requires hands-on working knowledge of substation design and construction, and standards development. A working knowledge of protection and control systems, communication systems, project management, and Compliance is desirable. The candidate should have extensive knowledge of substation engineering concepts, principles, and practices to resolve complex problems with only general direction. This position supports day-to-day utility operations and Compliance.

For System Expansion Division

This position will support System Expansion Capital Projects and have the opportunity to work on complex and exciting large capital system expansion improvement projects in a dynamic, team-oriented environment. This position will be working on four large system expansion projects moving forward to bid and construction, totaling an estimated cost of $440 million. This position requires hands-on work during construction of 3 receiving station projects and one 2.25-mile 115kV transmission line project. The position may also assist with outage management, construction and contracts management, material procurement and tracking, and easement acquisition. As such, the ideal candidate will have large substation or receiving station project experience and be able to work in a fast-paced environment with competing priorities. The candidate will show proven problem-solving skills and excellent communication.

Incumbents in these positions may be assigned to work in the operations, generation, transmission, planning, distribution, or substation groups of the Electric Utility Department as the need is determined.

Additional Information:

Applications must be filled out completely (e.g. do not write "see resume, NA, or personnel file."). To receive consideration for the screening process, candidates must submit a Resume and completed supplemental questionnaire. Cover letters are encouraged. Incomplete applications will not be considered.

Application packets may be submitted online through the "Apply Now" feature on the job announcement at This position is continuous: If you are interested in applying you are encouraged to apply as soon as possible before the position is closed. Applications are reviewed on a monthly basis.

THIS RECRUITMENT MAY BE USED TO FILL MULTIPLE POSITIONS IN THIS, OR OTHER DIVISIONS OR DEPARTMENTS BESIDES THE POSITIONS LISTED BELOW. IF YOU ARE INTERESTED IN EMPLOYMENT IN THIS CLASSIFICATION, YOU SHOULD APPLY TO ENSURE YOU ARE CONSIDERED FOR ADDITIONAL OPPORTUNITIES THAT MAY UTILIZE THE APPLICANTS FROM THIS RECRUITMENT.MEETING THE MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS DOES NOT GUARANTEE ADMITTANCE INTO THE EXAMINATION PROCESS. ONLY THE MOST QUALIFIED CANDIDATES WHO DEMONSTRATE THE BEST COMBINATION OF QUALIFICATIONS IN RELATION TO THE REQUIREMENTS AND DUTIES OF THE POSITION WILL BE INVITED TO TEST OR INTERVIEW.

The annual salary range for this position is $196,841.40 - $251,163.60. This position will receive a 4.5% wage increase effective July 1, 2026. This position will be filled at or near the minimum of the salary range.
Minimum Qualifications
EDUCATION AND EXPERIENCE
Graduation from an accredited college or university with: a) Bachelor's Degree in Electrical Engineering and three (3) years experience in electric utility engineering work or b) a Bachelor's Degree in Engineering and four (4) years experience doing electric utility engineering work or ten (10) years experience doing electric utility engineering work and satisfactory completion of a qualifying written examination. A Master's Degree in electrical, mechanical or civil engineering from an accredited college may be substituted for one year of experience (proof of receipt of an Engineer In Training certificate may be substituted for the qualifying written examination). Candidates from a non accredited college or university must demonstrate equivalency. Registration as a professional electrical, mechanical or civil engineer in the State of California may be substituted for accreditation equivalency.

LICENSE
Possession of a valid California Driver's license.

SPECIAL CONDITIONS
May work unusual hours in emergency situations, or while acting as duty supervisor outside regular working hours, or at other than regular job site.

SCOPE OF EXAMINATION FOR QUALIFYING EXAMINATION (if necessary) Fundamentals of engineering and science. Mathematics including algebra, geometry, complex numbers, trigonometry, calculus; electrical theory (alternating and direct current), statics, dynamics, thermodynamics and economic analysis.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities
Follow this link to view the entire Class Specification, which includes more information on Typical Duties and Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities.

Candidates must attain a passing score on each phase of the examination process to qualify for the Eligible List. A department interview may be required prior to appointment.

PERMANENT CITY EMPLOYEES PREFERENCE POINTS: Current permanent employee candidates who receive a passing score on the examination will have an additional five (5) points added to their final score.

City of Santa Clara Benefit Summary Overview for Bargaining Unit #4
Professional Engineers
This summary provides a brief overview of the City of Santa Clara's benefits available to Bargaining Unit #4 employees in 2026. In the event of any conflict between the information in this summary and the applicable official plan documents, City Manager's Directives (CMDs), Personnel and Salary Resolution, or Memorandum of Understanding (MOU), the applicable official plan documents, CMDs, Personnel and Salary Resolution, or MOU will prevail over this summary. Benefits are subject to change.
Retirement:

• Membership in the California Public Employees Retirement System (CalPERS)
  • Classic Employees: 2.7% @ age 55 formula - employee pays 8.00% of gross pay, minus $61 bi-weekly
  • New Employees: 2.0% @ age 62 formula - employee pays 7.00% of gross pay
• Medicare and Social Security (FICA)
  • Employee pays 6.20% up to $11,439 (Social Security) and 1.45% (Medicare) of gross pay

Health Insurance:

• The City contributes up to 100% of the premium of the Kaiser (Region 1) plan for Employee Only and Employee + 1 Dependent plans, and up to 90% of the premium of the Kaiser (Region 1) plan of the Employee + 2 or More Dependents plan
• Employees electing health coverage with premiums above the City health contribution will pay additional premium costs from salary on a pre-tax basis
• No cash difference is paid if an employee elects a plan cheaper than the max City contribution
• To be eligible for the City's contribution toward health, employees must be on a paid status for at least 80 hours in the month prior to the month of coverage
• Coverage is effective as early as the first day of the month after date of hire
• Employees hired on or after 1/1/2024 who opt-out of City-offered health insurance and provide annual attestation and acceptable proof of alternative required coverage for themselves and their tax family, if applicable, are eligible for a cash-in-lieu amount of $250/month. Contact Human Resources for more details

Dental Insurance:

• Choice of two Delta Dental plans; enrollment is mandatory
• City pays lowest cost employee only plan; additional cost is paid by employee
• Coverage is effective as early as the first day of the month after date of hire

Vision Insurance:

• Choice of two VSP plans
• City pays lowest cost employee only plan; additional cost is paid by employee
• Coverage is effective as early as the first day of the month after date of hire

Voluntary Employee Beneficiary Association (VEBA):

• City contributes $50.00 a month toward employee's VEBA account
• Account funds may be used to pay for qualified medical expenses after separation from the City and after age 50 (pre-tax)

Life Insurance:

• City pays for 1x annual salary up to $250,000 of Basic Life Insurance coverage
• Coverage is effective the first of the month after one calendar month of employment
• Additional optional insurance may be purchased by the employee for the employee, spouse, domestic partner, and/or dependent children

State Disability Insurance (SDI):

• Employee pays 1.3% of gross pay (includes Paid Family Leave)
• 7 day waiting period. Weekly paid leave for absences due to non-work related injuries/illnesses. Benefit is based on past earnings. Refer to edd.ca.gov for more information

Paid Family Leave (PFL):

• Up to 8 weeks of benefits within a 12-month period to care for a family member or to bond with a new child
• No waiting period. Weekly paid leave benefit. Benefit is based on past earnings. Refer to edd.ca.gov for more information

Long Term Disability (LTD) Insurance:

• Benefit is 60% of basic wage up to $13,333; max $8,000/month
• City paid benefit. City pays $.207/$100 of insured earnings
• 60 calendar day waiting period
• Coverage is effective the first of the month after one calendar month of employment

Deferred Compensation:

• Voluntary plan through Nationwide Retirement Solutions
• Employee may contribute up to the lesser of the IRS maximum or 100% of gross compensation into a pre-tax 457(b) account or a post-tax Roth 457(b) account (or a combination of the two accounts) subject to IRS rules
• Additionally, the City contributes $330.00 a month toward the employee's 457(b) account. This dollar amount will factor into the above mentioned IRS rules and limits

Flexible Spending Account (IRS Section 125 Plan):

• Employee may contribute up to $3,400 per year in pre-tax dollars to a health care spending account
• Employee may contribute up to $7,500 per year in pre-tax dollars to a dependent care spending account
• Employee may contribute up to $340 per month in pre-tax dollars to a commuter benefit plan

Vacation:

• Vacation is accrued bi-weekly, cannot use vacation during first 6 months of City service
  • For 1 - 4 years of service: 10 days (80 hours)/year
  • For 5 - 9 years of service: 15 days (120 hours)/year
  • For 10 - 15 years of service: 21 days (168 hours)/year
  • For 16 - 20 years of service: 22 days (176 hours)/year
  • For 21+ years of service: 24 days (192 hours)/year
• Maximum vacation accrual is 400 hours
• Once per year, employees can elect to convert up to 60 hours of accrued vacation to cash to be paid out the following calendar year

Sick Leave:

• Sick leave is accrued bi-weekly for equivalent of 96 hours per calendar year with no maximum accrual
  • Up to 48 hours/year