Seattle City (spot)Light: Subash Gautam, Electrical Power System Engineer

The Basics

How long have you been at City Light? Since June 2014

Division: Generation

Tell us about your role: I am mostly involved as a project engineer for major Capital Improvement Program (CIP) projects. Many of the electrical and mechanical equipment at Seattle City Light's power plants are over 60 to 70 years old and have reached the end of their life cycle. As a part of the CIP, we are replacing these aging assets so that we can continue to supply our customers with affordable, renewable energy.

Right now, I am working on a project to replace four generator step-up transformers at the Boundary Powerhouse, which were originally installed in the 1960s. The new transformers are manufactured in Poland.

Background

Hometown: Born in Nepal. Presently live in Sammamish, Wash.

Alma mater: Undergraduate from Visvesvaraya National Institute of Technology in India and master's from Lamar University in Texas.

Discipline/Trade of study: Bachelor's in electrical power engineering and master's in engineering management.

Tell us about your family/pets: There are four of us in my family now. Our labradoodle, Leo, died in February 2023. He was just 6 years old. My wife, Sukriti, is a homemaker. My son, Suyash, is a senior at Central Washington University majoring in computer science. My daughter, Sharvi, will leave for Maastricht in the Netherlands on August 28 to complete her junior and senior years of high school at United World College.

Just for fun

What do you like most about your role?

My role comes with many challenges and learning opportunities. I get to travel to City Light's scenic Skagit and Boundary power plants. I also get opportunities to travel overseas to Brazil and Poland to witness factory tests for transformers. Capital projects involve collaboration across City departments, allowing me to meet with a diverse group of colleagues and learn about their backgrounds and cultures. This is also an opportunity to know about the City's different departments and their functions.

What's the most exciting thing you've done recently?

In February, I visited Montezuma in New Mexico with my daughter. She was attending a two-day retreat at United World College, where they selected 50 finalists from the U.S. for the Davis Scholarship. She was selected and will represent the U.S. at United World College in Maastricht, Netherlands. She will have an opportunity to study with students from over 100 different countries.

What's your favorite way to spend a rainy day?

Drinking coffee and watching a movie on Netflix.

If you were stranded on a deserted island, what band or music would you want on replay?

The Beatles, of course, and the song "Imagine."

What has helped you get to where you are and what advice do you have for others who want to set off in a similar career direction?

Try not to "burn your bridges." You never know whom you might need in the future professionally and in your personal life.

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