Entry Level Utility Engineer Jobs
New grad utility engineer jobs welcome recent graduates and entry level candidates with zero to two years of experience, where strong internship work or a hands-on senior project can carry more weight than a long resume. Most openings are on-site roles across Technology & Software, Electronics & Hardware, and Consulting & Professional Services, with employers like Volkert, Esri, and Qcells hiring at this level now.
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Description
Electrical Engineer, Utilities (Power Distribution & Switchgear)
Position Summary
Hanwha Qcells Georgia operates a vertically integrated solar manufacturing facility in Cartersville, GA, covering Ingot, Wafer, Cell, and Module production. The Electrical Engineer is responsible for the safe and reliable operation, maintenance, and expansion of the plant's medium-voltage (MV) and low-voltage (LV) power distribution system — including switchgear, circuit breakers, protective relays, automatic transfer switches (ATS), and power monitoring — in a 24/7 critical manufacturing environment.
Key Responsibilities
Power Distribution Operation & Maintenance
- Operate, inspect, and maintain MV/LV switchgear, VCB/ACB/MCCB, transformers, ATS, and associated control and protection equipment.
- Plan and execute preventive and predictive maintenance programs, including NETA-based testing (insulation resistance, breaker functional and timing tests, relay testing).
- Prepare and execute switching orders and LOTO in accordance with NFPA 70E and site safety procedures.
Protection & Control
- Maintain protective relay settings and logic (e.g., SEL, Basler, and other OEM relays); verify settings against coordination and arc flash studies.
- Perform firmware updates, retrieve event records and oscillography, and analyze trip events.
- Test and troubleshoot ATS controllers, transfer schemes, interlocks, and breaker control circuits.
Power Monitoring & Integration
- Maintain digital power meters and Modbus communication; resolve point mapping and communication issues between switchgear and FMCS/SCADA.
- Use power monitoring data to identify abnormal conditions, load trends, and power quality issues.
Troubleshooting & Reliability
- Serve as first-line technical responder for electrical events, trips, and equipment failures; lead root cause analysis and corrective action reports.
- Participate in the on-call rotation for after-hours electrical emergencies.
Projects & Expansion
- Support plant capacity expansion and modification projects: review switchgear submittals and drawings, attend FAT/SAT, oversee installation, and participate in commissioning (Level 3–5) and turnover.
- Coordinate with switchgear OEMs, EPC/electrical contractors, vendors, and Georgia Power.
Documentation & Technical Support
- Maintain one-line diagrams, panel schedules, as-built drawings, relay setting records, and critical spare parts lists.
- Provide technical guidance and training to electrical technicians and operators.
Minimum Qualifications
- Bachelor's degree in Electrical Engineering or a closely related field.
- 2+ years of hands-on experience in installation, commissioning, testing, or maintenance of MV/LV switchgear in industrial, utility, or data center environments.
- Working knowledge of protective relays, circuit breaker control circuits, and ATS operation.
- Ability to read and interpret one-line, three-line, schematic, and wiring diagrams.
- Familiarity with NEC, NFPA 70E, and OSHA electrical safety requirements.
- Proficiency in Microsoft Office, especially Excel.
- Ability to communicate effectively in English with contractors, vendors, and plant personnel.
Preferred Qualifications
- Experience with a switchgear manufacturer (OEM) in manufacturing, field service, or site installation and commissioning of MV/LV switchgear.
- Hands-on experience configuring protective relays (settings, logic, firmware) and extracting and analyzing event/waveform data.
- Experience replacing, configuring, or testing ATS controllers and transfer schemes.
- Experience with Modbus-based power monitoring and integration with FMCS, BMS, or SCADA systems.
- Field experience on large-scale U.S. industrial or mission-critical projects (manufacturing plants, battery plants, data centers), including Level 3–5 commissioning.
- Knowledge of ANSI/NETA testing standards.
- Electrical engineering certification or license (e.g., FE/EIT, or an equivalent international electrical engineering license).
- OSHA 10/30 certification; NFPA 70E qualified person training.
Working Conditions
- Work in a 24/7 manufacturing facility, including electrical rooms, substations, and outdoor areas.
- Participation in on-call rotation and occasional after-hours, weekend, or shutdown work.
- Required to wear PPE, including arc-rated clothing, as specified by task.
- Ability to climb ladders, work in confined or elevated spaces, and lift up to 50 lbs.
Hanwha Q CELLS provides equal employment opportunities (EEO) to all employees and applicants for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, disability, or genetics.
Description
Electrical Engineer, Utilities (Power Distribution & Switchgear)
Position Summary
Hanwha Qcells Georgia operates a vertically integrated solar manufacturing facility in Cartersville, GA, covering Ingot, Wafer, Cell, and Module production. The Electrical Engineer is responsible for the safe and reliable operation, maintenance, and expansion of the plant's medium-voltage (MV) and low-voltage (LV) power distribution system — including switchgear, circuit breakers, protective relays, automatic transfer switches (ATS), and power monitoring — in a 24/7 critical manufacturing environment.
Key Responsibilities
Power Distribution Operation & Maintenance
- Operate, inspect, and maintain MV/LV switchgear, VCB/ACB/MCCB, transformers, ATS, and associated control and protection equipment.
- Plan and execute preventive and predictive maintenance programs, including NETA-based testing (insulation resistance, breaker functional and timing tests, relay testing).
- Prepare and execute switching orders and LOTO in accordance with NFPA 70E and site safety procedures.
Protection & Control
- Maintain protective relay settings and logic (e.g., SEL, Basler, and other OEM relays); verify settings against coordination and arc flash studies.
- Perform firmware updates, retrieve event records and oscillography, and analyze trip events.
- Test and troubleshoot ATS controllers, transfer schemes, interlocks, and breaker control circuits.
Power Monitoring & Integration
- Maintain digital power meters and Modbus communication; resolve point mapping and communication issues between switchgear and FMCS/SCADA.
- Use power monitoring data to identify abnormal conditions, load trends, and power quality issues.
Troubleshooting & Reliability
- Serve as first-line technical responder for electrical events, trips, and equipment failures; lead root cause analysis and corrective action reports.
- Participate in the on-call rotation for after-hours electrical emergencies.
Projects & Expansion
- Support plant capacity expansion and modification projects: review switchgear submittals and drawings, attend FAT/SAT, oversee installation, and participate in commissioning (Level 3–5) and turnover.
- Coordinate with switchgear OEMs, EPC/electrical contractors, vendors, and Georgia Power.
Documentation & Technical Support
- Maintain one-line diagrams, panel schedules, as-built drawings, relay setting records, and critical spare parts lists.
- Provide technical guidance and training to electrical technicians and operators.
Minimum Qualifications
- Bachelor's degree in Electrical Engineering or a closely related field.
- 2+ years of hands-on experience in installation, commissioning, testing, or maintenance of MV/LV switchgear in industrial, utility, or data center environments.
- Working knowledge of protective relays, circuit breaker control circuits, and ATS operation.
- Ability to read and interpret one-line, three-line, schematic, and wiring diagrams.
- Familiarity with NEC, NFPA 70E, and OSHA electrical safety requirements.
- Proficiency in Microsoft Office, especially Excel.
- Ability to communicate effectively in English with contractors, vendors, and plant personnel.
Preferred Qualifications
- Experience with a switchgear manufacturer (OEM) in manufacturing, field service, or site installation and commissioning of MV/LV switchgear.
- Hands-on experience configuring protective relays (settings, logic, firmware) and extracting and analyzing event/waveform data.
- Experience replacing, configuring, or testing ATS controllers and transfer schemes.
- Experience with Modbus-based power monitoring and integration with FMCS, BMS, or SCADA systems.
- Field experience on large-scale U.S. industrial or mission-critical projects (manufacturing plants, battery plants, data centers), including Level 3–5 commissioning.
- Knowledge of ANSI/NETA testing standards.
- Electrical engineering certification or license (e.g., FE/EIT, or an equivalent international electrical engineering license).
- OSHA 10/30 certification; NFPA 70E qualified person training.
Working Conditions
- Work in a 24/7 manufacturing facility, including electrical rooms, substations, and outdoor areas.
- Participation in on-call rotation and occasional after-hours, weekend, or shutdown work.
- Required to wear PPE, including arc-rated clothing, as specified by task.
- Ability to climb ladders, work in confined or elevated spaces, and lift up to 50 lbs.
Hanwha Q CELLS provides equal employment opportunities (EEO) to all employees and applicants for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, disability, or genetics.
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Entry Level Utility Engineer Jobs: Frequently Asked Questions
How do I get an entry level utility engineer job?
Start by building hands-on experience through internships, university capstone projects, or co-op programs, since employers at this level look for applied skills over years on the job. Familiarity with CAD software, electrical or civil fundamentals, and utility grid concepts gives candidates a real edge. Tailoring your resume to each posting and highlighting any fieldwork, lab coursework, or relevant certifications helps you stand out in a competitive applicant pool.
Which companies hire entry level utility engineers?
Companies hiring entry level utility engineers right now include Volkert, Esri, and Qcells, based on current listings on Migrate Mate as of November 2026. Hiring at this level comes from a mix of large investor-owned utilities, regional municipal utility districts, and engineering consulting firms that staff infrastructure and energy projects.
Are there remote entry level utility engineer jobs?
Yes, though most positions are still on-site given the fieldwork involved. About 0% of entry level utility engineer openings are remote or hybrid as of November 2026, and those roles tend to focus on design, data analysis, or project coordination rather than direct field operations. Filtering by work setting on Migrate Mate helps you find the arrangement that fits.
Are these new grad utility engineer jobs?
Yes, the listings here include new grad, recent graduate, and junior utility engineer roles. A new grad-friendly posting typically welcomes zero to two years of experience and explicitly accepts internships, co-op rotations, or a strong portfolio in place of full-time history. If a job description lists a degree as the primary requirement and doesn't demand prior professional experience, it's a solid new grad target.
Which industries hire the most entry level utility engineers?
Entry Level utility engineer roles concentrate in Technology & Software, Electronics & Hardware, and Consulting & Professional Services, based on current listings on Migrate Mate as of November 2026. Those sectors drive hiring at this level because ongoing infrastructure investment, grid modernization initiatives, and renewable energy expansion all create steady demand for engineers who can step in and develop on the job.