Electric Utility Engineer Salary $185,797.44 - $236,936.04 Annually Location: Santa Clara, CA Job Type: Full-Time Job Number: 17-26-428 Department: Electric Utility Opening Date: 02/19/2026 Closing Date: Continuous FLSA: Non-Exempt Bargaining Unit: 4 Weighting Plan: 100% Oral Description Benefits Questions Description The Department: Silicon Valley Power (SVP) currently provides over 40 percent of Santa Clara's electricity from carbon-free renewable resources. In addition to using green energy from large-scale wind, solar, geothermal and hydroelectric projects outside of the area, SVP employs innovative ways to locally produce electricity by capturing and burning methane gas from a closed city landfill and using power from solar generating systems on city-owned garages and vacant, unusable land. It is the mission of SVP to be a progressive, service-oriented utility, offering reliable, competitively priced services for the benefit of Santa Clara and its customers. Being competitive in the marketplace with a continuous focus on customer service, SVP can provide economic value to the City of Santa Clara and its customers while maintaining low residential rates and offering competitive rates for all customers.
The Position: Silicon Valley Power (SVP) is seeking dynamic, engaging and qualified engineers for several vacant Electric Utility Engineer positions in various divisions. For SVP Operations Division, this position will be assigned engineering work associated with communication and electrical power engineering. This individual will assist with the programming of industrial multiplexer networks. The individual should have a strong interest in industrial high-speed data networking.
For SVP Engineering and CIP projects Division, this position will be assigned engineering work associated with electrical power engineering, substation design and Transmission and distribution systems. The individual may manage or will assist in managing Capital improvement Projects (CIP) to support growth of the electric utility. The candidates should have strong background and interest in electric systems.
For System Planning and Asset Management Division, this position will be assigned to perform and maintain distribution system model, participate in integrated SVP system planning and other SVP groups to deliver distribution system results and reports, identify and implement projects that are necessary to support load growth and improve reliability of the distribution system. This position will work closely with customer/developers on their projects, will coordinate with various City departments and support SVP's field and operation staff as necessary.
Additional Information: Applications must be filled out completely (e.g. do not write "see resume, NA, or personnel file."). To receive consideration for the screening process, candidates must submit a 1) Cover Letter and 2) Resume. Incomplete applications will not be considered.
Application packets may be submitted online through the "Apply Now" feature on the job announcement at www.santaclaraca.gov. This position is open until filled: Applications will be reviewed on a bi-weekly basis for consideration to the position. If you are interested in applying you are encouraged to apply as soon as possible, before the position is closed.
THIS RECRUITMENT MAY BE USED TO FILL MULTIPLE POSITIONS IN THIS, OR OTHER DIVISIONS OR DEPARTMENTS BESIDES THE POSITIONS LISTED ABOVE. IF YOU ARE INTERESTED IN EMPLOYMENT IN THIS CLASSIFICATION, YOU SHOULD APPLY TO ENSURE YOU ARE CONSIDERED FOR ADDITIONAL OPPORTUNITIES THAT MAY UTILIZE THE APPLICANTS FROM THIS RECRUITMENT.
MEETING THE MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS DOES NOT GUARANTEE ADMITTANCE INTO THE EXAMINATION PROCESS. ONLY THE MOST QUALIFIED CANDIDATES WHO DEMONSTRATE THE BEST COMBINATION OF QUALIFICATIONS IN RELATION TO THE REQUIREMENTS AND DUTIES OF THE POSITION WILL BE INVITED TO TEST OR INTERVIEW. APPLICANTS WILL BE CONSIDERED FOR POSITIONS ADHERING TO ALL APPLICABLE CITY POLICIES, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO CMD 033- EMPLOYMENT OF RELATIVES.
Minimum Qualifications EDUCATION AND EXPERIENCE Minimum Education and Experience Requirements: Graduation from an accredited college or university with: a) Bachelors Degree in Electrical Engineering and two (2) years experience doing electric utility engineering work, orb) Bachelors Degree in Engineering and three (3) years experience doing electric utility engineering work and experience using AutoCAD and Microsoft office (i.e. Microsoft Word, Excel, PowerPoint and Mathlab)
Acceptable Substitution: A Masters Degree in Electrical Engineering from an accredited college or university may be substituted for one (1) year of experience
An Engineer-in-Training Certification with ten (10) years of experience in electric utility engineering work can be substituted for the degree in engineering and the required experience indicated above
License/Certifications: Possession of an appropriate, valid Class C California drivers license is required at time of appointment and for the duration of employment
Desirable Qualifications: Registration as an Electrical, Mechanical or Civil Engineer in the State of California Experience using ESRI based Geographic Information System (GIS) Experience using system modeling and load flow software; Aspen one-liner software, GE PSLF, and DEW ISMS
Special Conditions: May work unusual hours in emergency situations, or while acting as supervisor, or at other than the regular job site
Other Requirements: Must be able to perform all of the essential functions of the job assignment
Benefits Summary Overview for Bargaining Unit #4 Professional Engineers This summary provides a brief overview of the City of Santa Clara's benefits available to Bargaining Unit #4 employees in 2026. In the event of any conflict between the information in this summary and the applicable official plan documents, City Manager's Directives (CMDs), Personnel and Salary Resolution, or Memorandum of Understanding (MOU), the applicable official plan documents, CMDs, Personnel and Salary Resolution, or MOU will prevail over this summary. Benefits are subject to change.
Retirement: Membership in the California Public Employees Retirement System (CalPERS) Classic Employees: 2.7% @ age 55 formula - employee pays 8.00% of gross pay, minus $61 bi-weekly New Employees: 2.0% @ age 62 formula - employee pays 7.00% of gross pay Medicare and Social Security (FICA) Employee pays 6.20% up to $11,439 (Social Security) and 1.45% (Medicare) of gross pay Health Insurance: The City contributes up to 100% of the premium of the Kaiser (Region 1) plan for Employee Only and Employee + 1 Dependent plans, and up to 90% of the premium of the Kaiser (Region 1) plan of the Employee + 2 or More Dependents plan Employees electing health coverage with premiums above the City health contribution will pay additional premium costs from salary on a pre-tax basis No cash difference is paid if an employee elects a plan cheaper than the max City contribution To be eligible for the City's contribution toward health, employees must be on a paid status for at least 80 hours in the month prior to the month of coverage Coverage is effective as early as the first day of the month after date of hire Employees hired on or after 1/1/2024 who opt-out of City-offered health insurance and provide annual attestation and acceptable proof of alternative required coverage for themselves and their tax family, if applicable, are eligible for a cash-in-lieu amount of $250/month. Contact Human Resources for more details
Dental Insurance: Choice of two Delta Dental plans; enrollment is mandatory City pays lowest cost employee only plan; additional cost is paid by employee Coverage is effective as early as the first day of the month after date of hire
Vision Insurance: Choice of two VSP plans City pays lowest cost employee only plan; additional cost is paid by employee Coverage is effective as early as the first day of the month after date of hire
Voluntary Employee Beneficiary Association (VEBA): City contributes $50.00 a month toward employee's VEBA account Account funds may be used to pay for qualified medical expenses after separation from the City and after age 50 (pre-tax)
Life Insurance: City pays for 1x annual salary up to $250,000 of Basic Life Insurance coverage Coverage is effective the first of the month after one calendar month of employment Additional optional insurance may be purchased by the employee for the employee, spouse, domestic partner, and/or dependent children
State Disability Insurance (SDI): Employee pays 1.3% of gross pay (includes Paid Family Leave) 7 day waiting period Weekly paid leave for absences due to non-work related injuries/illnesses Benefit is based on past earnings Refer to edd.ca.gov for more information
Paid Family Leave (PFL): Up to 8 weeks of benefits within a 12-month period to care for a family member or to bond with a new child No waiting period Weekly paid leave benefit Benefit is based on past earnings Refer to edd.ca.gov for more information
Long Term Disability (LTD) Insurance: Benefit is 60% of basic wage up to $13,333; max $8,000/month City paid benefit City pays $.207/$100 of insured earnings 60 calendar day waiting period Coverage is effective the first of the month after one calendar month of employment
Deferred Compensation: Voluntary plan through Nationwide Retirement Solutions Employee may contribute up to the lesser of the IRS maximum or 100% of gross compensation into a pre-tax 457(b) account or a post-tax Roth 457(b) account (or a combination of the two accounts) subject to IRS rules Additionally, the City contributes $330.00 a month toward the employee's 457(b) account This dollar amount will factor into the above mentioned IRS rules and limits
Flexible Spending