Electrical Engineer Ridgecrest/Trona, CA

Searles Valley Minerals provides customers worldwide with high quality soda ash, sodium sulfate, and boron products from a large saline mineral deposit in California s Mojave Desert. Searles Valley Minerals uses an environmentally friendly solution mining technology to extract mineral rich brines from over 25,000 acres of leased and owned reserves which it processes using proprietary technologies in three manufacturing facilities in Trona, California.

We are seeking experienced and motivated candidates for the position of Electical Engineer. The successful candidate will provide electrical engineering expertise in direct support of maintenance and operations and be responsible for electrical systems design, specification, installation, testing, and start-up. Compliance with applicable State and Federal Codes, Standards and Regulations related to safety and the environment is an important part of this position.

Key responsibilities:

Develop, execute and manage electrical projects, both valley-wide and for capital projects, serving as project management liaison for the electrical engineering department.

• Develop detailed project specifications including drawings, data sheets, etc. in full compliance with recognized industry standards, safety standards and various client specifications.
• Project duties include design development, construction scope, drawing preparation, and construction support.
• Develop standardized documentation including SOP s, training, and validation.
• Identify and manage relationships with OEM and preferred equipment manufacturers, specialists, and technical support consultants.
• Prepare electrical single line drawings and size the equipment as per NEC
• Coordinate and supervise work of contractors by ensuring their compliance with approved construction drawings, contract documents, project specifications, and all applicable standards.

Provide electrical engineering support to the Central Engineering group. Obtain the information necessary for design improvement for equipment and systems where inherent reliability is inadequate.

• Provide engineering support including preparation of technical specifications for electrical equipment.
• Work closely with manufacturing team at all levels to resolve technical issues, applying engineering and technical skills to design, optimize and troubleshoot electrical equipment, including power distribution systems, motor controls, switch gear, UPS systems, and substations
• Lead Management of Change (MOC) process for electrical driven changes and perform technical review.
• Support Central Engineering group in reviewing equipment specifications and equipment selection, monitoring installation and successful start-up of electrical equipment in specific facility.

Act as electrical engineering resource for the manufacturing plants and across the company.

• Improve and optimize various power distribution system designs to minimize facilities downtime, thereby ensuring continuous plant operations.
• Power system analysis in existing facility as well as new design of low voltage and medium voltage electrical distribution system within the standards and codes including but not limited to NEC, NFPA 70E, IEEE.
• Coordinate with chemical, mechanical and process departments for desired electrical loads of the machines (pumps, chillers, compressors) to perform load studies and analysis for system planning
• Collect, review, update and analyze system parameters and load data of different LV and MV substations for planning, design and system improvements.
• Serve on the Electrical Safety Council and work with the I&E Compliance Coordinator providing insight from an engineering level on federal and state mandated code changes as required.

Improve equipment and system reliability, safety and sustainability at minimum total cost. Perform technical analysis, testing, calculations, and evaluation of results to solve complex engineering problems.

• Lead failure analysis (FMEA and RCA) of electrical systems/equipment and educate both maintenance and production technicians after failure analysis.
• Maintain and update plant electrical drawings and files as needed.
• Perform short circuit study, protective device coordination, load flow analysis and arc flash hazard analysis
• Develop and maintain reliability metrics, scorecards, and Key Performance Indicators (KPI) for purposes of measuring and identifying the highest value reliability and cost improvement opportunities.
• Prepare electrical calculations including cable, transformer and breaker sizing and electrical panel loading.

Required Skills:

• Capable of applying engineering insights, technical problem-solving skills and experienced-based judgment to complex challenges.
• Must be hands-on and willing to roll up sleeves and work at all levels of organization.
• Able to support plants which are in continuous operation.
• Must have thorough understanding of root cause analysis and troubleshooting.

• Able to work in areas under adverse conditions that may require the donning and use of personal protective equipment.

• High knowledge of complicated electrical machinery and related equipment, including good grasp of electrical system installation requirements.
• Strong ability to troubleshoot PLC and VFD and motor control circuits.
• Strong knowledge of electrical distribution systems, equipment and protection.

Qualifications:

• - BS in electrical engineering and at least 5 years of experience in an industrial environment with at least 3 years maintenance experience.

• -Minimum of 2 years experience with PLC s HMIs, AC/DC drives and motors, low and medium power distribution, substations and power distribution equipment (transformers, circuit breakers, cables, etc.)

• - Must have a solid understanding of production processes, electrical and instrumentation (E&I) field applications and basic understanding of mechanical engineering practices

- Excellent knowledge of OSHA NEC and National Electrical Safety Code standards

• - Six Sigma experience a plus

- PE is a plus

The candidate should have a working knowledge of the Microsoft Office Suite. Strong analytical, verbal, writing and presentation skills are required. Candidate must be skilled in data analysis and statistical methods and familiar with computer modeling tools. The successful candidate must be willing and able to spend up to 50% of the time in physical plant areas.

Salary:

$77,000 - $132,000 a year

Searles Valley Minerals provides a competitive salary, a relocation package for some positions, and an outstanding employee benefit package that includes comprehensive medical, dental, and vision plans, short-term and long-term disability insurance, life insurance, paid time off, a 401k retirement savings program, and paid holidays. This compensation package coupled with a dynamic and challenging work environment employing a diverse, sustainable and highly skilled workforce makes Searles Valley Minerals an excellent employment opportunity.

Searles Valley Minerals is an equal opportunity employer committed to a diverse and inclusive workforce. Applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex (including pregnancy), age, sexual orientation, national origin, marital status, parental status, ancestry, disability, gender identity, veteran status, genetic information, other distinguishing characteristics of diversity and inclusion, or any other protected status.