Material Failure Engineer I

POWER YOUR GREATNESS

PacifiCorp is seeking customer-centric candidates to grow and sustain our commitment to a culture of customer service excellence, environmental sustainability inclusion & belonging.

General Purpose

The Material Failure Engineer serves as an engineer in training to help support, with the direct supervision of a senior engineer, the evaluation, analysis, and prevention of equipment and material failures across the utility’s substation, transmission, and distribution systems. This role ensures that insights gained from material performance are applied to improve reliability, safety, and cost-effectiveness. The engineer collaborates with field crews, engineering standards teams, suppliers, and manufacturers to identify root causes of failures, assess the scope of affected materials and facilities, and recommend corrective actions that enhance long-term asset performance. 

Responsibilities

• Support higher level engineers in the investigation and analysis of material, component, and equipment failures within transmission and distribution systems.
• Support the performance of root cause analyses (RCA) using industry best practices, laboratory testing, and proven engineering methodologies.
• Support higher level engineers in the development and implementation of strategies to determine the scope of affected materials, including identifying impacted assets, facilities, and geographic areas.
• Support higher level engineers in transition to a new material failure database and maintain its accuracy to proactively identify performance trends.
• Support higher level engineers in collaboration with standards engineering, supply chain, and operations to recommend changes to material specifications, design standards, or vendor qualifications.
• Act in a support role during emergent events, such as equipment breakdowns and system outages.
• Support higher level engineers in the preparation and delivery of technical reports, presentations, and recommendations for leadership, regulatory bodies, and internal/external stakeholders.
• Assist, with the guidance of a higher-level engineer, procurement and vendor management in evaluating supplier performance and participating in failure-related warranty claims.
• Contribute to continuous improvement initiatives aimed at enhancing reliability, extending asset life, and reducing system risk.
• Support higher level engineers in creation, updating, and improvement of material failure processes and documentation to ensure consistency and effectiveness

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree in mechanical engineering, materials engineering, electrical engineering, (advanced degree preferred) from an accredited college/university.

• 0 - 1 year or more of relevant engineering experience in utility substation, transmission, and distribution or related industries.

OR

• 0 - 1 year or more of experience applying material failure analysis tools, including X-ray spectroscopy, hardness testing, tensile testing, impact testing, and non-destructive evaluation methods. Knowledge of materials science, metallurgy, polymers, and failure analysis techniques.

• Basic knowledge and application of principles in area of engineering specialty.
• Support root cause analysis efforts by gathering data and documenting findings; apply basic 5 Whys under supervision.
• Develop foundational knowledge of utility equipment, standards, and operational practices while assisting under supervision.
• Assist in data collection and basic analysis; contribute to report preparation under guidance.
• Participate in team discussions and provide accurate updates while learning effective communication practices.
• Assist with investigation tasks and maintain organized documentation across multiple projects.
• Learn and apply basic regulatory requirements (including NESC fundamentals) under supervision.
• Assist with emergent tasks while learning to manage priorities under supervision.
• Learn and apply basic computer tools to support engineering tasks and maintain accurate records.

Preferences

• 0 - 1 year or more of experience applying material failure analysis tools, including X-ray spectroscopy, hardness testing, tensile testing, impact testing, and non-destructive evaluation methods. Knowledge of materials science, metallurgy, polymers, and failure analysis techniques.

Benefits

At PacifiCorp, we understand that living a healthy lifestyle isn’t just about your physical health — your mental, financial, and social wellbeing also play an important role. That’s why we offer a wide range of benefits designed to help you live a more balanced lifestyle

Our benefits include:

•    Medical, dental, and vision insurance

•    401k with match fixed contributions, including a Roth and saving option. For union employees, matching contributions vary by union. For nonunion, PacifiCorp makes a fixed contribution equal to 4% of your eligible pay each year for new hires. In addition, PacifiCorp matches 100% of the first 6% you contribute.

•    Life insurance

•    Additional voluntary benefits, including pet insurance

•    Tuition Assistance

•    Mass Transit Pass for employees in our Portland and Salt Lake City Offices.

Work Life Balance

•    Generous Paid Time Off (PTO) - Time off varies by employee type (Union or Non-Union)

•    Paid short-term disability leave and long-term disability insurance

•    Paid Parental Leave

•    Paid Bereavement Leave

•    Employee Assistance Program supporting mental and emotional wellbeing

For more information, please visit: https://careers.pacificorp.com/content/New-Benefits-Page/?locale=en_US

Additional Information

Req Id: 114877 
Company Code: PACIFICORP #PM25
Primary Location: SALT LAKE CITY     
Department: Power Delivery 
Schedule: FT 
Personnel Subarea: Exempt
Hiring Range: $77,200-$106,150  
This position is eligible for an annual discretionary performance incentive bonus of up to 12.00% of salary.   

Benefits: Health care, retirement, paid time off, tuition assistance, paid short-term and long-term disability, paid bereavement leave. For more information, please visit: https://careers.pacificorp.com/content/New-Benefits-Page/?locale=en_US 

Employees must be able to perform the essential functions of the position with or without an accommodation.

PacifiCorp is proud to be an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion or religious creed, age, national origin, ancestry, citizenship status (except as required by law), gender (including gender identity and expression), sex (including pregnancy), sexual orientation, genetic information, physical or mental disability, medical condition, veteran or military status, familial or parental status, marital status or any other category protected by applicable local, state or U.S. federal law.

Unless otherwise required by law, all offers of employment are contingent upon the successful completion of a background check and drug screening including for marijuana. While marijuana is legal in several states, including Oregon, a positive test for positions in Oregon may disqualify a candidate. The company complies with the laws of Washington and California and only obtains and considers positive tests for marijuana in safety-sensitive positions or those covered by U.S. Department of Transportation regulations.