The Staff Engineer / Assistant Project Manager (APM) provides critical engineering, project co-ordination, and technical leadership support for the planning, design, and execution of electric distribution and transmission projects. This role supports both customer-driven service installa-tions (residential, commercial, and developer projects) and company-driven capital and ex-pense projects focused on system reinforcement, reliability, and modernization.
This position requires strong technical expertise in electric utility systems, the ability to coor-dinate cross-functional resources, and direct interaction with customers, contractors, consult-ing engineers, operations, and project management teams. The Staff Engineer / APM operates in both office and field environments and plays a key role in delivering projects safely, on budget, and on schedule.
Key Responsibilities
Engineering & Technical Support
• Provide technical engineering support for the design, operation, and expansion of the elec-tric distribution system, including customer-owned and utility-owned infrastructure.
• Perform engineering evaluations, load studies, system impact analyses, and economic as-sessments related to electric service requests and system operations.
• Provide technical consultation to internal stakeholders and external customers regarding service design, constructability, and operational feasibility.
• Review and approve distribution designs, material selections, and construction methods for compliance with utility standards and regulatory requirements.
Project Planning, Budgeting & Controls
• Support the development, execution, and tracking of Division Work Plans for capital and expense projects.
• Assist the Lead Supervisor and Project Management teams in managing the full project lifecycle, from scoping and design through bidding, construction, and closeout.
• Participate in the project bid cycle, including scope development, coordination with Pro-curement and T&D Project Management, contractor support, and award recommendations.
• Assist in the development of annual budgets, cost forecasts, and variance analyses for as-signed project portfolios.
• Track schedule and financial performance to ensure alignment with approved work plans and regulatory commitments.
Work Order, Design & Portfolio Oversight
• Review and approve Work Orders prepared by Planners and Designers for technical accura-cy, scope alignment, and budget compliance.
• Ensure completion of the Capital Work Plan portfolio, including:
o Major Capital Projects
o Public Works Projects
o System Conversions & Reinforcements
o Exit Feeder Projects
o Power Asset Management (PAM) Programs
o Other large infrastructure initiatives
• Provide technical guidance to internal teams and external partners for both PSEG-owned and customer-owned equipment.
Leadership, Coordination & Stakeholder Engagement
• Demonstrate the ability to lead, motivate, and technically guide team members while fos-tering collaboration across engineering, operations, construction, and external partners.
• Set technical direction for assigned projects and contribute to broader organizational engi-neering strategy.
• Participate in and represent the organization at safety meetings, technical briefings, and professional society events as directed by leadership.
• Provide expert testimony or regulatory support when required.
• Maintain a strong customer-focused mindset, ensuring high service levels while protecting system reliability and safety.
Field Support & Storm Response
• Perform field site visits to verify design conditions, support construction activities, and re-solve complex technical issues.
• Participate in storm restoration and emergency response efforts, including off-hour work, extended shifts, and field operations support as required.
Required Qualifications
• Bachelor’s Degree in Electrical Engineering or Mechanical Engineering (Electrical Engineer-ing strongly preferred).
• Minimum of 4 years of relevant engineering and/or operations experience supporting elec-tric distribution and/or transmission systems.
• Strong analytical, planning, and organizational skills with exceptional attention to detail.
• Proficiency in the Microsoft Office Suite (Excel, Word, PowerPoint, Outlook); ability to rap-idly learn new utility systems.
• Excellent interpersonal, verbal, and written communication skills with the ability to inter-act with all organizational levels and external stakeholders.
• Strong problem-solving, decision-making, and results-oriented mindset.
• Demonstrated leadership skills, professionalism, and customer/client focus.
• Valid U.S. driver’s license with a safe and satisfactory driving history.
• Willingness and ability to travel locally and regionally to attend meetings and field sites.
• Ability to respond to storm/emergency conditions, including nights, weekends, and ex-tended work schedules as required.
Preferred Qualifications
• Experience supporting regulated electric utilities in a planning, engineering, or project management capacity.
• Working knowledge of distribution automation, feeder analysis, substations, service design, and load forecasting.
• Experience with capital program management, public works coordination, and large-scale infrastructure programs.
• Familiarity with utility asset management, GIS platforms, and project management systems.
Core Competencies
• Electric Utility Engineering & Operations
• Capital Project Execution & Controls
• Budgeting, Forecasting & Cost Management
• Technical Leadership & Team Development
• Stakeholder & Customer Engagement
• Regulatory & Safety Compliance
• Field Engineering & Constructability
• Emergency & Storm Response Operations
Working Conditions
• Combination of office and active field environments.
• Exposure to energized electrical systems, construction zones, traffic, and adverse weather conditions.
• Extended hours may be required during storm restoration and emergency events.