Apprentice/Technician/Journey Substation Technician

Position Summary

Directly responsible and accountable for performing effective substation maintenance/testing and operation activities required for "Safely keeping the lights on" for the assigned area. Responsibilities include: installation, checkout, calibration, maintenance, troubleshooting, repair and operation of electrical equipment, frequent travel, overnight stays, respond to after-hours trouble calls, and responding to emergencies.

Assignment to one of these positions and a condition of continued employment will be the ability to arrive from your residence to the NPPD office that you report to within 30 minutes of notification of a call out.

Due to NERC regulatory requirements regarding medium substations, all Substation Technicians must obtain and maintain a satisfactory NERC background check.

Education, Training and Experience

Associate's degree in Electro-Mechanical, Electronics, Electrical Technology, OR an associate degree or certificate of completion from an approved community college or correspondence school in a related field  OR have substation technician experience within NPPD or with another utility or electrical contractor that is considered an acceptable equivalent to the formal education options listed.

Applicants hired external to NPPD will be placed into the T&D Substation Technician Progression Program based on previous experience and education.

Training/Progression:  Job levels within the substation technician positions are based on a series of evaluations to determine advancing levels of proficiency and accountability.

Journey Substation Technician - Requires specialized competencies - responsibilities based on business need.  Completes requirements for specialized Journey level as outlined in the training progression program and is responsible for making decisions as defined in Decision-Making authority.  Leads other levels of technicians in the absence of the supervisor.  Provides training for other technicians.  Provides oversight of projects. Ensures all technicians perform safely and utilize all available human performance tools.

Note:

Technicians may obtain multiple Journey certifications and or specialized Substation Technician classifications with Substation Manager approval.

Prior Related Experience: 

A total of 5 years combined experience at the Apprentice Substation Technician and Substation Technician levels is the minimum requirement for progression to the Journey Substation Technician position (as outlined in the Substation Technician Progression Program.)

Licenses and/or Certifications

Maintain CDL operator's license, switchman certification, and other certifications as required.  Must obtain and maintain CPR & first aid certifications.

Essential Duties & Responsibilities

This position will have direct contact with various customers and is required to perform duties while working for and with various customers.  Assist other Technicians in performing their duties as needed.

Perform Acceptance and Diagnostic Testing of Substation Components associated with Transmission and Sub Transmission Substations. This involves the use of computers with various operating software to interface with diagnostic test equipment. This requires knowledge of Computers, Software, and Test Equipment, and how they interface.  The technician will be required to interpret the results.

Perform diagnostic troubleshooting and repairing of mechanical equipment associated with Transmission, Sub Transmission, and Distribution equipment. (i.e. Breakers, Transformers, Load Tap Changers, and Reclosers).  This requires technicians to perform testing on equipment in service without jeopardizing the stability of the system.

Respond to after-hours trouble calls to perform diagnostics and repairs of substation equipment.

Operate and maintain pneumatic and hydraulic components and have an understanding of such equipment associated with the substation.

Install, test, and maintain various substation equipment. (i.e. potential transformers, current transformers, lightning arrestors, and tap changer filters).  Requires knowledge on safely operating man-lifts, high reaches and substation vehicles.

Install, test, and maintain various mobile substation equipment. (i.e. transformers, substations, generators, SF6 equipment, and oil handling equipment).  Requires knowledge on safely operating this equipment.

Accountable for other duties as assigned.

Core Competencies