Pros
Pros: Competitive compensation compared to industry averages. Some coworkers are willing to help when asked. Exposure to utility systems and standards (FirstEnergy, SPANS, CREWS, NESC).
Cons
Cons: The role I accepted was not the role I was told I’d be doing. The position was advertised as Distribution Engineer work (design, reconductoring, calculations, engineering support), but in reality, it was a QAQC role for 3PA Joint Use. This bait-and-switch created frustration and disappointment. Very little training or onboarding support. Proprietary, in-house programs were expected to be used immediately without proper guidance. Quality expectations, timelines, and processes were not clearly explained. Lack of leadership structure and poor communication. I often had to dig just to find procedure documents or training resources. This setup makes it easy for new hires to fail. Inconsistent feedback processes across QAQC staff, leading to confusion among designers. Transparency is lacking. If the intent is to place hires into QAQC before transitioning them into design roles, that should be made clear before accepting the offer.