Failure Analysis Engineer - ATS

Requisition ID # 167717 

Job Category: Engineering / Science 

Job Level: Individual Contributor

Business Unit: Electric Engineering

Work Type: Onsite

Job Location: San Ramon

Department Overview

Applied Technology Services (ATS) has been providing technology-based, innovative, high-value services to the company for over 40 years. ATS is a multidisciplinary team of over 120 engineers, scientists, and technicians. The ATS vision is to be a forward-thinking, technological leader providing high-value solutions and services needed across the Company. ATS high value services also help proactively avoid future problems by specifying equipment, materials and methods that are best practices in the industry.

PG&E’s Applied Technologies Services (ATS) Materials Engineering & Failure Analysis group provides a range of services, which include failure analysis, condition assessments, and material specification testing.

Facility description: ATS has a metallurgical laboratory with an emphasis on Failure Analysis. The laboratory is equipped with a Scanning Electron Microscope (SEM), several light microscopes, image analysis system, micro-hardness testers, and a mechanical testing lab.

Position Summary

The ATS Failure Analysis Engineer is expected to execute failure analysis and materials testing projects with oversight from senior engineers. The engineer will support the planning, executing, and reporting as necessary. An ideal candidate will have some experience in testing of electrical components rated above 60 Volts, mechanical assemblies, and related materials for quality and reliability under dynamic or static forces such as tensile strength tests, compression strength tests, bending tests, shear tests, impact resistance, fracture toughness, and fatigue per industry standards. They should have an some familiarity of typical material failure modes including an understanding of how to verify with non-destructive (NDE) and destructive examination techniques. The Failure Analysis Engineer will also conduct inspections, failure analysis, performance assessments, and evaluations on a wide variety of systems and components. Materials they will most likely encounter on the job are Steels (pipes, valves, vessels), Aluminum (wire, fittings, connectors), Copper (wire, valves), and ceramics (insulators). The ATS Failure Analysis Engineer will be capable of managing simple failure analysis and component testing projects. The ideal candidate will support senior engineers in executing Risk Assessments like Failure Mode and Effects Analysis (FMEA) along with using advanced data analytics to integrate failure analysis and testing results into asset management strategies. The ATS Engineer will utilize engineering consulting principles, their expertise, and scientific work methods to identify, diagnose and solve technical problems.

PG&E is providing the salary range that the company in good faith believes it might pay for this position at the time of the job posting. This compensation range is specific to the locality of the job. The actual salary paid to an individual will be based on multiple factors, including, but not limited to, specific skills, education, licenses or certifications, experience, market value, geographic location, collective bargaining agreements, and internal equity.

A reasonable salary range is:

Minimum Base Salary (Bay Area)    $109,000.00
Mid Base Salary (Bay Area)    $142,000.00
Maximum Base Salary (Bay Area)    $175,000.00

Travel requirement: 10-30% of the time, throughout the PG&E territory.

Responsibilities

• Independently performs routine engineering analysis and performs lead role in determining scope, schedule, budget and resources needed. Prepares cost and materials estimates for use in client bid proposals.
• Assists senior peers on more complex tests and projects, participating in planning, budgeting and testing.
• Begins to develop knowledge in other areas of specialty/discipline or continues to focus on one area and increases depth of knowledge.
• Completes multiple projects concurrently. Prepares tests and studies. Evaluates performance of parts, assemblies or systems under simulated operating conditions. Records results and makes recommendations based on findings.
• Collaborates with peers to prepare technical reports and specifications and to identify, define, and solve problems.
• May review test design of Associate level engineers to determine effectiveness and if objectives of project will be obtained.
• Develops test protocols, models, test technologies and analyzes data. May assist in the development of technical policies and procedures.
• Participates in identifying innovations and cost-reduction potential of new and existing technologies.
• May interface with clients regarding status of project or to collect more information. Ensures client expectations for project are met.

Qualifications

Minimum:

• Bachelor's degree in engineering with emphasis in a discipline related to assignments.
  (i.e., materials, mechanical, or electrical engineering, etc.)
• 3 years of related experience

Desired:

• Master's degree
• Licensed Professional Engineer (PE)
• Proficiency in engineering research and materials testing concepts, theories, practices, methods, techniques.
• Thorough investigative skills.
• Good customer service orientation.
• Understanding of quality assurance and control concepts and practices.
• Good analytical and organizational skills.
• Communication, interpersonal and team collaboration skills.
• Basic team leadership and project management skills.
• Understanding of customer service concepts.