Description
As Electrical Operations Engineer, you will serve as the technical authority for all electrical systems at Cape Station - Fervo’s flagship geothermal power facility in Milford, UT. Reporting to the Director of Engineering, you will own the reliability and integrity of Cape Station’s medium- and high-voltage power systems, generation interconnection, protection and control infrastructure, and electrical safety program. This role is operational at its core: you are not primarily a designer, but an engineer who keeps a 24/7 power generation facility running safely and at full output. You will work closely with operations, maintenance, engineering and EHS teams to diagnose problems fast, execute improvements, and build the electrical systems and programs that enable Fervo to scale. This position will report to the Operations Engineering Manager.
Requirements
Responsibilities
Electrical System Ownership & Reliability
- Serve as the site technical authority for all electrical systems including MV/HV distribution, ORC generator step-up transformers, switchgear, motor control centers (MCCs), variable frequency drives (VFDs), and auxiliary power systems.
- Monitor electrical system performance and develop data-driven reliability improvement programs targeting availability, efficiency, and power quality.
- Lead root cause analysis (RCA) and after-action reviews (AARs) for electrical failures, outages, and near-misses; develop and track corrective actions to closure.
- Work closely with maintenance to prioritize electrical reliability upgrades, define preventive maintenance strategies, and develop maintenance procedures for critical electrical assets.
- Maintain accurate as-built single-line diagrams, electrical schematics, and equipment documentation; drive timely updates following any system changes.
Protection, Control & Interconnection
- Own the site protection and control philosophy, including relay coordination, settings management, and protection scheme documentation for generation and distribution systems.
- Manage and maintain the grid interconnection agreement and SCADA/metering systems in coordination with the transmission owner and off-taker.
- Support commissioning, testing, and acceptance of new generation units, including relay testing, functional verification, and interconnection requirements.
- Serve as the primary technical interface with the utility, ISO, and off-takers on electrical and interconnection matters.
Electrical Safety Program
- Own and continuously improve the site electrical safety program in compliance with NFPA 70E, OSHA 29 CFR 1910.269, and applicable NEC and IEEE requirements.
- Maintain arc flash hazard analysis and labeling; ensure equipment is appropriately rated and labeled for operational conditions.
- Develop, maintain, and enforce energized electrical work permitting, lockout/tagout (LOTO), and electrical safe work practices.
- Provide electrical safety training and technical mentorship to operations and maintenance personnel.
Small Capital Project Development & Execution
- Identify, scope, and develop small capital electrical improvement projects from concept through commissioning and handover.
- Prepare AFEs, project scopes, cost estimates, and schedules for management approval.
- Manage vendors, contractors, and internal stakeholders through project execution, ensuring delivery on time and within budget.
- Apply a design philosophy of safety, simplicity, and rapid deployment — optimizing for speed-to-power-production without sacrificing integrity.
Engineering Standards & Documentation
- Own and maintain the site electrical design basis, equipment specifications, and engineering standards.
- Support and review electrical scope within the MOC program, ensuring changes to electrical systems are properly evaluated and documented.
- Provide technical input during electrical equipment procurement and review contractor and vendor electrical deliverables.
- Support PSSR activities for new electrical systems and modifications prior to energization.
Safety & Culture
- Model and reinforce a safety-first culture across all engineering and field electrical activities.
- Actively participate in safety observations, incident investigations, and corrective action tracking.
- Champion proactive hazard identification and risk reduction in all electrical work planning.
Qualifications
- Bachelor’s degree in Electrical Engineering; related disciplines considered.
- 5+ years of experience in electrical engineering roles at operating industrial, power generation, or utility facilities — operational experience required, pure design backgrounds will not be considered without significant field exposure.
- Hands-on experience with MV/HV electrical systems, switchgear, transformers, MCCs, VFDs, and associated protection and control equipment.
- Working knowledge of relay protection principles and experience managing protection settings and coordination studies.
- Demonstrated experience owning or significantly contributing to an electrical safety program, including NFPA 70E compliance, arc flash analysis, and energized work permitting.
- Experience with utility or ISO interconnection requirements and SCADA/metering systems is strongly preferred.
- Experience developing and executing small capital projects, including scoping, cost estimation, and contractor management.
- Strong technical writing and communication skills — able to produce clear engineering documents and present findings to leadership and external stakeholders.
- High ownership mindset with the ability to manage multiple work streams independently in a fast-moving, resource-constrained environment.
- Experience with power generation facilities (geothermal, ORC, gas, solar+storage, or similar) is a plus but not required.
- Professional Engineer (PE) license — Electrical — or active pursuit is a plus
Location
This position may be based in Houston, TX or within the Milford, UT corridor (Salt Lake City to Cedar City). Cape Station is a remote, industrial site that operates 24/7 to deliver firm, zero-carbon energy to the grid. The Electrical Operations Engineer will work a standard Monday–Friday (5/2) schedule with regular travel to and presence at Cape Station. Due to the continuous nature of plant operations, this role also requires availability for emergency call-outs after hours, on weekends, and holidays as needed.
