Smiddy started his career in industry as engineer in training at the engineer in training Public Service Electrical Company in Newark. New Jersey, now part of PSE&G, in the year 1920–21. In 1921 he joined the West Penn Power Corporation in Pittsburgh, now part of FirstEnergy [where in the next nine years he climbed up from service engineer, assistant distribution engineer, assistant to the commercial manager and assistant to the r.p., to operating manager.
