Energy Engineer Job Description- Sustainability and Energy Team – Facilities Planning and Management

Description

The University of Southern California (USC), founded in 1880, is located in the heart of downtown L.A. and is the largest private employer in the City of Los Angeles. As an employee of USC, you will be a part of a world-class research university and a member of the "Trojan Family," which is comprised of the faculty, students and staff that make the university what it is.  

USC Facilities Planning & Management (FPM)’s Sustainability and Energy group is seeking an Energy Engineer to join our team.

FPM is a diverse group of innovative and talented professionals who provide high quality facilities maintenance and management services in support of education and research at the University of Southern California. Our team is committed to being fully responsive to the needs of faculty, students, staff and public, who are our customers. FPM strives to cooperate fully with all campus constituents to provide a functional and efficient facilities operation for the university, upholding our values of quality, transparency, dedication, collaboration, and innovation. Learn more about FPM Facilities at: https://fpm.usc.edu/

USC is committed to being a strong community member and has recently announced its intent to be carbon neutral by 2025. The Sustainability and Energy Team has a key leadership role in this effort.  As our team is responsible for promoting, driving, and supporting sustainability throughout FPM, along with tracking and reporting on USC’s sustainability goals for the built environment.  This responsibility spans many programs such as maintaining a robust metering system, to leveraging utility data, to identifying and driving efficiency opportunities.

The Energy Engineer will serve as a technical resource for FPM’s Sustainability and Energy Team and will assist with energy and water audits, retro-commissioning studies, energy analyses, and project selection.  Responsibilities including supporting all aspects of audits and studies conducted by consultants on a variety of university buildings, including laboratories, apartments, classrooms, offices and more. The individual would assist in data collection, field visits, interviews with campus staff and faculty, and report reviews, ultimately determining best efficiency measures to pursue. These efforts, reports, and identified measures are a core component to meeting USC’s 2025 carbon neutrality goals and the City of LA's Existing Building Energy and Water Efficiency (EBEWE) ordinance.

Responsibilities

Works on energy audits, engineering analyses, and other related technical projects and tasks, deciding approaches, ensuring quality, overseeing implementation, and tracking results. Coordinates site walks and meetings, and assists with data collection, field visits, interviews, and report reviews. Performs technical reviews of consultant-proposed designs and specifications.

• Works on varied technical projects and tasks simultaneously (e.g., energy audits, engineering analyses, cost estimates), deciding approaches, ensuring quality, overseeing implementation and tracking results. Supports energy audits conducted by consultants on facilities (e.g., laboratories, apartments, offices) and reviews consultant reports and analyses.

• Coordinates site walks and meetings, and assists with data collection, field visits, interviews, and report reviews. Collects and evaluates documentation (e.g., utility bills, as-built drawings). Completes and submits utility documentation for rebates and incentives.

• Performs technical reviews of consultant-proposed designs and specifications.

• Provides guidance with building management systems to enhance operability and comfort, improve maintenance services, and minimize energy usage.

• Collaborates with relevant stakeholders to determine best measures to use on projects based on impact to occupants, costs, and savings potential, and tracks implementation. Coordinates with project managers to address questions and issues that arise.

• Manage several audits and RCx efforts simultaneously, including all technical aspects of planning, scoping, budgeting, scheduling, deciding technical approach, ensuring technical quality, overseeing implementation of reports and studies, and tracking results.

• Assist in reviewing trends to verify and/or assess equipment start/stop scheduling, economizer mode operation, VFD modulation, terminal box control functionality, static pressure and temperature differential optimization, pump staging, and other parameters affecting efficient energy usage.

• Supports other sustainability related efforts and participates in relevant committee meetings as needed.

The University of Southern California values diversity and is committed to equal opportunity in employment.

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor's Degree, Majors: Environmental Science or Engineering, Energy Management, or related fields. Or equivalent experience.

• 3 years of experience in energy engineering and/or energy management

• Demonstrated knowledge of energy efficiency/sustainability initiatives.

• Excellent written and oral communication skills, and an exemplary attention to detail.

• Advanced judgment, analytical, and decision-making skills, able to work independently with minimal supervision.

• Knowledge in technical subject matter including building systems (HVAC, building envelope, and lighting systems).

• Proficiency with computer operating systems and relevant applications/software (e.g., Windows, Apple, Adobe).

• Demonstrated interpersonal and critical-thinking skills, able to review technical calculations, models, systems, and measurements.

• Experience in diverse, collaborative and high-performing teams.

Preferred Qualifications

• 5 years of experience working in the energy efficiency/sustainability industry.

• Familiarity with LADWP’s and SCG’s energy efficiency rebate and incentive programs.

• Certified Energy Manager and/or Certified Energy Auditor

• Experience with building systems and local/state benchmarking regulations.

• Familiarity with utility efficiency rebate and incentive programs.

The hourly rate range for this position is $40.21 - $45.39. When extending an offer of employment, the University of Southern California considers factors such as (but not limited to) the scope and responsibilities of the position, the candidate’s work experience, education/training, key skills, internal peer equity, federal, state, and local laws, contractual stipulations, grant funding, as well as external market and organizational considerations.

#LI-FT

Minimum Education: Bachelor's degreeMinimum Experience: 3 years Three years of experience in energy engineering and/or energy management.Minimum Skills: Bachelor’s degree in energy management, mechanical engineering, environmental engineering, environmental science, or related fields.Demonstrated knowledge of energy efficiency/sustainability initiatives.Excellent written and oral communication skills, and an exemplary attention to detail.Advanced judgment, analytical, and decision-making skills, able to work independently with minimal supervision.Knowledge of building systems (e.g., HVAC, lighting).Proficiency with computer operating systems and relevant applications/software (e.g., Windows, Apple, Adobe).Demonstrated interpersonal and critical-thinking skills, able to review technical calculations, models, systems, and measurements.Experience in diverse, collaborative and high-performing teams.Preferred Experience: 5 years Five years’ experience in energy engineering, energy management, and/or energy efficiency/sustainability.Preferred Skills: Certified Energy Manager and/or Certified Energy Auditor.Experience with building systems and local/state benchmarking regulations.Familiarity with utility efficiency rebate and incentive programs.

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