State of Maryland

A Public Service Commission (PSC) Engineer Expert is the expert level of work in the inspection, testing, investigation, and evaluation of physical facilities used by public utility companies in the production and distribution of their products and services. Employees in this classification do not supervise other PSC Engineers, but may train, review work, and provide advice and guidance to lower-level PSC Engineers.

Employees in this classification receive general supervision from a PSC Assistant Chief Engineer, PSC Deputy Chief Engineer, or PSC Chief Engineer; or other designated higher-level administrator. The work requires traveling throughout the State to physical facilities of public utility companies where conditions may be noisy, dirty, and uncomfortable. Employees may be subject to work evenings, weekends, and holidays.

Positions in this classification are evaluated by using the classification job evaluation methodology. The use of this method involves comparing the assigned duties and responsibilities of a position to the job criteria found in the Nature of Work and Examples of Work sections of the class specification.

The PSC Engineer Expert is differentiated from the PSC Engineer Lead/Advanced in that the PSC Engineer Expert serves as the highest level technical expert in the areas of engineering, energy policy, and utility regulation and is assigned special projects, advanced testimony, and leads stakeholder groups on behalf of the Commission. Employees in the classification may also train and review work for lower-level engineers. The PSC Engineer Lead/Advanced either assigns, reviews, and approves the work of and trains lower-level PSC Engineers; or functions as an advanced worker in the areas of engineering, energy policy, and utility regulation. The PSC Engineer Expert is differentiated from the Assistant Chief, Public Service Commission in that the Assistant Chief, Public Service Commission has supervisory responsibility for the work of lower-level PSC Engineers.

Provides high-level technical leadership and mentorship assisting management in overseeing the training of new engineers and ensures the team meets complex regulatory standards and engineering best practices;

Serves as an authoritative expert witness in major Commission proceedings and rate cases providing high-level technical recommendations to Commission leadership on the most complex infrastructure or regulatory issues, including engineering prudence reviews of large-scale capital investments and system-wide programs;

Leads the development of regulatory frameworks and engineering policies drafting formal proposals for policy positions, provides comments on draft legislation, and monitors industry trends to ensure the Commission is informed of shifting regulatory environments, including emerging technologies, safety standards, and reliability practices;

Acts as the primary technical expert for specific program areas including assisting management with safety and reliability evaluation and compliance documentation, and providing technical advisory support on complex operational or infrastructure issues;

Represents the Commission in high-level technical forums and interagency initiatives serving as the public-facing representative for the Commission on critical issues, such as pipeline safety and electricity matters affecting Maryland residents, including coordination with federal agencies, regional entities, and other state regulators.

Conduct inspections, tests, studies, investigations, and evaluations of operations in the production and distribution of products and services provided by public utility companies, such as gas, electricity, water, sewage treatment and disposal, or telecommunications;

Determines compliance with State and federal rules, regulations and standards governing the operation and quality of products and services provided by public utility companies;

Conducts field investigations of service complaints and alleged violations of the laws, rules, and engineering regulations of the Public Service Commission;

Prepares reports of findings and make recommendations on the accuracy, safety, efficiency, and cost of public utility company operations as a result of inspections, investigations, tests, studies, and evaluations completed;

Prepares testimony and supporting documentation for administrative hearings held by the Public Service Commission and other regulatory agencies;

Provides sworn testimony in formal Public Service Commission hearings and to support that testimony under cross examination;

Interprets safety codes, standard codes and utility rate tariffs;

Provides advice, guidance and information regarding engineering and regulation compliance to representatives of public utility companies and customers;

Performs other related duties.

Knowledge of the principles and practices of engineering;

Knowledge of the engineering operations and procedures used by public utility companies; Knowledge of the laws, rules and regulations of the Maryland Public Service Commission;

Skill in conducting inspections, engineering tests and procedures, investigations and evaluations of operations in the production and distribution of products and services provided by public utility companies, such as gas, electricity, water, sewage treatment and disposal, or telecommunications;

Ability to interpret the laws, rules, and regulations of the Maryland Public Service Commission;

Ability to analyze technical data in order to evaluate the safety, economy, efficiency, operational costs of public utility companies;

Ability to identify regulatory issues in the conduct of inspections, engineering tests and procedures, investigations and evaluations of public utility companies;

Ability to prepare reports and make recommendations based on engineering procedures, standards and practices;

Ability to communicate effectively;

Ability to use standard word processing, spreadsheets, database and communications applications and software;

Ability to prepare and present testimony in administrative hearings;

Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with representatives from public utility companies, employees and the general public.

Education: Bachelor’s degree in engineering from an accredited college or university.

Experience: Five years of engineering experience conducting inspections, tests, investigations and evaluations of physical facilities used by public utility companies in the production and distribution of products and services.

Notes:

1. Candidates may substitute additional engineering experience conducting inspections, tests, investigations and evaluations of physical facilities used by public utility companies in the production and distribution of products and services on a year for year basis for the required education.

2. Candidates may substitute professional engineering experience other than as defined above at the rate of two years for each one year of the required education and/or experience.

3. Candidates may substitute the possession of a Master's degree in engineering from an accredited college or university for one year of the required experience.

4. Candidates may substitute U.S. Armed Forces military service experience as a commissioned officer in Engineering classifications or Engineering specialty codes in the Environmental field of work on a year-for-year basis for the required education and/or experience.

Class specifications are broad descriptions covering groups of positions used by various State departments and agencies. Position descriptions maintained by the using department or agency specifically address the essential job functions of each position.

This is a Skilled Service classification in the State Personnel Management System. All positions in this classification are Skilled Service positions. Some positions in Skilled Service classifications may be designated Special Appointment in accordance with the State Personnel and Pensions Article, Section 6-405, Annotated Code of Maryland.

This classification is not assigned to a bargaining unit, as indicated by the designation of M (Manager), T (Agency Head), U (Board or Commission Member), W (Student), X (Used by Agency or Excluded by Executive Order), or Z (Confidential). As provided by State Personnel and Pensions Article, Section 3-102, special appointment, temporary, contractual, managerial and confidential employees are excluded from collective bargaining. Additionally, certain executive branch agencies are exempt from collective bargaining, and all positions in those agencies are excluded from collective bargaining.