Electrical Engineer Project Management

Jose C. Pomales

Orlando FL, *****

Interview Availability: Available for interview with 24 hrs. noƟce. SUMMARY

Electrical Engineer with experƟse in power system protecƟon, relay tesƟng, and substaƟon commissioning from 13kV to 500kV.

Extensive experience in NERC, FERC, and uƟlity compliance, including Facility RaƟng (FAC) and PRC protecƟon standards.

Skilled in tesƟng and commissioning of high-voltage equipment, including transformers, circuit breakers, and digital fault recorders (DFR).

Proficient in RTAC commissioning and protecƟve relay calibraƟon for electromechanical and microprocessor-based systems.

Strong background in electrical design, project management, and technical documentaƟon, including NASA and uƟlity infrastructure projects.

Advanced knowledge of industry soŌware such as ETAP, AutoCAD, Doble ProtecƟon Suite, RTS, and RTAC Accelerator.

CerƟfied Fiber OpƟc Technician with experƟse in Megger test equipment, grounding systems, and high-voltage insulaƟon diagnosƟcs.

EDUCATION

Polytechnic University of Puerto Rico 2005 – 2011

Bachelor of Science in Electrical Engineering, Major in Power System ProtecƟon Inter American University of Puerto Rico 1986 – 1992

Bachelor of Science in Electronic Engineering Technology CerƟficaƟons

CerƟfied Fiber OpƟc Technician

CerƟfied in Megger test equipment

Advanced relay tesƟng and protecƟon system training

Compliance with NERC, FERC, and uƟlity standards (G.O. 95, G.O. 128, G.O. 165) SKILLS

Power Systems Engineering & ProtecƟon

SubstaƟon commissioning (13kV - 500kV)

Relay protecƟon tesƟng (Electromechanical & Microprocessor-based)

RTAC commissioning and SCADA integraƟon

Digital Fault Recorder (DFR) tesƟng and analysis

Transformer tesƟng & diagnosƟcs

Circuit breaker tesƟng & commissioning

Facility RaƟng Compliance (NERC, FERC)

TesƟng & Commissioning

Power system modeling and analysis

Acceptance tesƟng for HV equipment (CTs, PTs, surge arresters, grounding)

Breaker velocity tesƟng and diagnosƟcs

High-voltage insulaƟon resistance and power factor tesƟng

ProtecƟon relay calibraƟon and troubleshooƟng

Electrical Design & Engineering

Electrical as-built drawings and schemaƟc redesign

SubstaƟon automaƟon and communicaƟon system integraƟon

Technical documentaƟon and regulatory compliance

Engineering design support (NASA, UƟlity Projects) Project Management & Field Supervision

Oversight of substaƟon construcƟon and commissioning

CoordinaƟon with cross-funcƟonal teams for project execuƟon

Safety compliance and quality assurance in electrical infrastructure projects

Permiƫng and regulatory approvals for construcƟon acƟviƟes SoŌware & Technical Proficiency

Electrical Engineering SoŌware: ETAP, SKM PowerTools, PSpice/OrCAD

ProtecƟon & TesƟng SoŌware: Doble ProtecƟon Suite, RTS, Accelerator, RTAC Accelerator

Design & DraŌing Tools: AutoCAD (Release 2022 & 24.2/24.3), Revit MEP

General SoŌware: MicrosoŌ Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Windows OS (up to 2022) PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE

BIC Electric, Engineering & Control Sep 2022 – Present

Served as a Project Engineer across mulƟple sites in the State of Florida for NextEra Energy (FPL), focusing on Facility RaƟng (FAC) compliance under the North American Electric Reliability CorporaƟon (NERC) standards.

Ensured accurate data collecƟon, validaƟon, and reporƟng to maintain compliance with NERC Facility RaƟngs Standards (FAC-008, FAC-013, etc.), which regulate the raƟng of transmission faciliƟes to ensure grid reliability.

Provided technical assessments and worked with substaƟons, transmission lines, and power generaƟon faciliƟes to ensure the equipment raƟngs were accurately documented and aligned with operaƟonal and regulatory standards.

Assisted in facility audits, documentaƟon reviews, and regulatory reporƟng to ensure compliance with the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) mandates.

Collaborated with cross-funcƟonal teams, including operaƟons, asset management, and regulatory affairs, to enhance compliance strategies and miƟgate potenƟal risks related to facility raƟng miscalculaƟons or violaƟons.

Served as a Lead Test Engineer for Florida Power & Light (FPL), overseeing testing, commissioning, and validation of power system equipment across the state.

Conducted high-voltage equipment testing for substations, transmission, and distribution systems, ensuring all systems met performance, safety, and regulatory requirements.

Led protective relay testing, system fault analysis, and SCADA integration testing, working closely with field engineers and operations teams to resolve system issues.

Developed and implemented testing protocols and standard operating procedures (SOPs) for electrical equipment to optimize system reliability and reduce downtime.

Ensured compliance with NERC PRC standards (Protection and Control), IEEE testing standards, and FERC reliability mandates by conducting thorough performance evaluations and root cause analysis.

Managed vendor coordination and contractor oversight for commissioning projects, ensuring timely and cost-effective execution of testing activities. Burns & McDonnell Sep 2021 – Sep 2022

Electrical Test and Commissioning Engineer

Served as a Commissioning Engineer across the State of Georgia for Georgia Power Projects, ensuring the proper testing, validation, and commissioning of electrical infrastructure.

Provided oversight responsibilities, reviewing and revising commissioning records to maintain accuracy and compliance with industry standards.

Conducted walkdowns and site inspections to identify and mitigate potential risks, ensuring safety, reliability, and adherence to project specifications.

Collected and organized commissioning documentation, including test results, reports, and compliance records, to support project closeout and regulatory requirements.

Collaborated with engineering teams, contractors, and project managers to address technical issues, optimize commissioning processes, and enhance system performance. Electric Power System (EPS) Feb 2020 – Jun 2021

Lead Relay Commissioning Engineer

Oversaw and planned electrical specifications for new relay protection and control systems across multiple projects and states.

Developed and executed comprehensive relay testing and commissioning plans, ensuring compliance with industry standards such as NERC PRC, IEEE, and IEC.

Performed system protection and control testing, including protective relay calibration, breaker trip testing, and SCADA integration for substations and power plants.

Diagnosed and resolved complex system issues, optimizing relay settings and verifying fault detection, isolation, and restoration processes.

Led energization efforts for new substations, ensuring safe and successful commissioning across multiple high-profile projects.

Managed troubleshooting, repairs, and performance testing of electrical circuits and wiring in substations, wind farms, solar farms, and battery energy storage systems (BESS).

Coordinated with utilities, contractors, and project managers to streamline commissioning schedules and mitigate potential risks during substation energization. Key Commissioning Projects:

FPL-Pirolo 115kV Substation – Deltona, FL Mar 2020

FPL-Sarno 115kV Substation – Malabar, FL Jul 2020

SONOCO-Williams Gas Plant – Alabama Aug 2020

Amadeus Wind Farm – Rotan, TX Sep 2020

FPL-Dania Beach BESS – Dania Beach, FL Oct 2020

Broadview Wind Farm – Clovis, NM Oct 2020

Deuel Station Wind Farm – South Dakota Nov 2020

Baxley Solar Farm – Baxley, GA Nov 2020

Robbins Air Force Base Solar Substation – GA Dec 2020

Nextera-Jordan Creek Wind Farm – Indiana Dec 2020

Clewiston Protection Upgrade – Clewiston, FL Mar 2021

Nextera-Solar Kestrel Power Plant – Okeechobee, FL Jun 2021 NASA - Kennedy Space Center Base Operations Dec 2019 – Mar 2020 Electrical Engineer /Design

Led the re-design and updating of electrical As-Built drawings and schematics for the Vehicle Assembly Building (VAB) Tower F, a critical structure used for space vehicle processing and integration.

Provided technical support and design modifications to ensure compliance with NASA electrical safety standards, NEC codes, and operational requirements.

Assisted in electrical system upgrades and infrastructure improvements, collaborating with aerospace engineers, facility maintenance teams, and project managers.

Contributed to the Engineering Design Program at Kennedy Space Center (KSC), ensuring that facility electrical systems were accurately documented, optimized, and aligned with mission objectives.

Heatsinc LLC Aug 2017 – Sept 2019

Lead Relay Engineer

Served as Lead Relay Test Engineer for Duke Energy, overseeing the testing and commissioning of high-voltage substations ranging from 13kV to 500kV throughout the state of Florida.

Conducted protective relay testing and troubleshooting for electromechanical, solid-state, and microprocessor-based relays to ensure the reliability and security of the grid.

Led RTAC (Remote Terminal Unit Automation Controller) commissioning and testing for transmission and distribution substations, ensuring proper integration with SCADA and control systems.

Performed isolation procedures, in-service readings, and functional guidance to verify relay settings, trip logic, and overall system coordination.

Worked closely with utility engineers, relay technicians, and control center operators to validate protection schemes and ensure compliance with NERC and FERC reliability standards. PowerGrid Engineering, LLC Aug 2015 – Aug 2017

Lead Relay Engineer

Acted as Senior Relay Test Engineer for Georgia Transmission Corporation (GTC), responsible for the testing and commissioning of high-voltage substations (13kV - 500kV) across Georgia.

Conducted end-to-end relay protection testing, including differential, distance, overcurrent, and bus protection schemes for transmission systems.

Led Digital Fault Recorder (DFR) commissioning and testing, ensuring the accurate capture and analysis of power system disturbances.

Provided relay setting verification, logic programming, and functional testing for a variety of protective relay brands, including SEL, GE, ABB, and Siemens.

Supported utility outage coordination, troubleshooting misoperations, and improving system reliability by optimizing relay coordination settings. Puerto Rico Electrical Power Authority – Engineering Construction Division Sep 2000 – Aug 2015 Engineering Supervisor

Supervised the Wiring Department, overseeing the installation and construction of protection and control circuits for transmission and distribution substations.

Coordinated project materials, schematic diagrams, and engineering resources to ensure on- time completion of substation projects without delays.

Managed a team of field engineers, relay technicians, and electrical contractors, ensuring adherence to OSHA safety protocols, NFPA standards, and utility regulations.

Led commissioning and energization procedures for new and upgraded substations, ensuring proper protection coordination and system stability.

Played a key role in system expansion projects, modernizing legacy substation control systems to improve grid reliability and efficiency.

Puerto Rico Electrical Power Authority – Electrical System Operation Division Jan 1997 – Sep 2000 Relay Specialist

Specialized in the installation, testing, and calibration of electromechanical and microprocessor- based relays used for the protection and control of transmission and distribution systems.

Conducted protective relay maintenance programs, ensuring relays were properly configured, tested, and operating within design specifications.

Performed fault analysis and relay setting adjustments based on system studies and fault recordings.

Assisted in the transition from legacy electromechanical relays to modern digital protection systems, enhancing grid automation and system monitoring capabilities. Puerto Rico Electrical Power Authority – Electrical System Operation Division Jan 1994 – Dec 1997 Electrical Equipment Test Technician

Performed acceptance testing on high-power circuit breakers (4.2kV to 230kV) to ensure compliance with manufacturer specifications and utility standards.

Conducted testing and commissioning of current transformers (CTs), potential transformers

(PTs), and service transformers used in transmission and distribution networks.

Executed diagnostic tests on surge arresters and grounding systems, ensuring proper insulation resistance and fault protection.

Operated sophisticated test equipment, including: o Doble Power Factor Test Sets (for insulation testing and power factor analysis) o 15kV Megger (for high-voltage insulation resistance testing) o Grounding Test Equipment (for measuring ground impedance and system continuity) o Contact Resistance Testers (for verifying switchgear and breaker contact integrity) o Breaker Velocity Test Equipment (for analyzing breaker timing and motion profiles) o Vanguard CT/PT Test Sets (for ratio, polarity, and excitation testing of instrument transformers)

Responsible for conducting energization procedures for power transformers (13kV - 230kV), coupling capacitors, high-voltage auxiliary switches, underground cables, and switchyard grounding systems.

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