Distribution Designer - Reading, PA

FirstEnergy at a Glance

We are a forward-thinking electric utility powered by a diverse team of employees committed to making customers’ lives brighter, the environment better and our communities stronger.

FirstEnergy (NYSE: FE) is dedicated to integrity, safety, reliability, and operational excellence. Headquartered in Akron, Ohio, FirstEnergy includes one of the nation's largest investor-owned electric systems, more than 24,000 miles of transmission lines that connect the Midwest and Mid-Atlantic regions, and a regulated generating fleet with a total capacity of more than 3,500 megawatts.

About the Opportunity

This is an open position with FirstEnergy Pennsylvania Electric Company, a subsidiary of FirstEnergy Corp.

The Distribution Designer is responsible for the designed construction, relocation, and new business work for the Distribution function of the Company. The Designer leverages customer service, software use, and learned expertise in design standards and regulatory requirements. This individual acts as a regular point of contact for internal and external customers through the lifetime of various projects and tasks.

This position is on site at the Reading Office in Reading, Pennsylvania.

Responsibilities include:

• Demonstrating and directing a solid commitment to all aspects of safety.
• Utilizing FirstEnergy construction standards and engineering practices to complete single- and 3-phase overhead and underground designs to serve residential, commercial, and industrial requests.
• Supporting job progress through customer contacts, field work, job packages, and job closeout functions including material review and paperwork verification.
• Facilitating billing functions for line extension and applicable relocation work, including billing recommendations in non-routine scenarios.
• Facilitating completion of outage management system (OMS) follow-up requests, inspection and maintenance repairs, streetlight installation and replacement, claims, Transmission priority repairs, aerial patrol findings, and Job & Contracting (J&C) projects.
• Acquiring permits related to railroad, Department of Transportation, and municipality road right-of-way.
• Collaborating with customers to secure and document easements for line extensions and highway relocation work.
• Updating and maintaining compliant records to support technical reports, metrics, and information systems.
• Travelling to various off-site locations as required, including FirstEnergy offices, training facilities, and customer sites.
• Providing ongoing assistance during emergencies and storm-related activities.

Qualifications

• Associate Degree in a technical discipline OR High School / equivalent and minimum 2 years related work experience is required. Related work experience includes utility design and knowledge of design practices, procedures, and methods used in construction.
• Demonstrated post-secondary, accredited college / university completion of these courses is required:
  • CAD / AutoCAD or drafting course
  • AC and DC Electricity fundamentals
  • Math – Pre-Calculus or higher
• Pass the Edison Electric Institute (EEI) Technician Occupations Selection System (TECH) employment test.
• Strong communication ability to guide decision-making or consensus, negotiate acceptable outcomes, and diffuse challenging situations.
• Willing to seek guidance and advice to fill gaps in understanding.
• Self-motivated and able to manage shifting priorities.
• Able to interpret complex written and visual information, such as procedures, manuals, drawings, and schematics.
• Able to gain working familiarity with standards, codes, regulations, electrical systems, construction methods, equipment, and safety requirements, including practical applications.
• Able to gain proficiency in software applications including Microsoft Office, SAP, customer request work scheduling (CREWS), outage management system (OMS), and graphic work design (DDS).
• Understanding of National Electric Code (NEC), National Electric Safety Code (NESC), and tariff language.
• Willing to participate regularly in emergency and storm-related activities, including the ability to work additional hours and/or modified schedules when necessary.
• Possess a valid driver’s license and have access to personal vehicle to commute to various facilities and locations as required.
• Participate in the Distribution Designer classification Automatic Mode of Progression and continue to train and qualify in the Distribution Designer classification.

Benefits, Compensation & Workforce Diversity

At FirstEnergy, employees are key to our success. We depend on their talents to meet the challenges of our changing business environment. We are committed to rewarding individual and team efforts through our total rewards philosophy which includes competitive pay plus incentive compensation, a company-sponsored pension plan, 401(k) savings plan with matching employer contribution, a choice of medical, prescription drug, dental, vision, and life insurance programs, as well as skills development training with tuition reimbursement. Please visit our website at www.firstenergycorp.com to learn more about all of our employee rewards programs. FirstEnergy proudly supports workforce diversity. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, religion, color, national origin, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, age, status as a protected veteran, or status as a qualified individual with a disability. No recruiters or agencies without a previously signed contract. Unable to sponsor or transfer H-1B visas at this time.

The starting pay for this union role is $39.12 per hour. Wage increases are based on performance to contracted standards and certain time lengths.

Safety

Safety is a core value for FirstEnergy and is essential to all of our business activities. We ensure employees have the tools, information, and processes to perform their duties in a manner that assures safety for themselves, their co-workers, our customers and the public. Our goals are to provide a safe work environment, to maintain an accident-free, injury-free workplace, and to promote and maintain public safety. To meet these goals, we dedicate ourselves to achieving world-class safety standards.

Position Classification

Non-Exempt / Bargaining

FirstEnergy Human Resources Team