Senior Electrician

Posting Details

I. JOB OVERVIEW


Job Description Summary:


Facilities, Buildings & Grounds (FBG) is currently seeking an experienced, licensed Senior Electrician to help support the university's mission in education. FBG is a part of GW's Facilities, Planning, and Construction Management division, which maintains GW's property and grounds on all three campuses.

The Senior Electrician maintains and troubleshoots campus electrical infrastructure with emphasis on the Central Utility Plant (CUP)/cogeneration (CHP) facility. The role performs and leads electrical work on low- and medium-voltage distribution, generation support systems, and critical/standby power; coordinates shutdowns and switching; and mentors other electricians while enforcing strict safety and regulatory compliance.

Essential duties & responsibilities

• Central utility plant / CHP (cogeneration) electrical support: Maintain, inspect, test, troubleshoot, and repair electrical power and control systems that support CHP operation, such as generator auxiliaries, excitation/support power, plant MCCs, motor starters, protective relays/interfaces, and associated instrumentation/control power. Support safe equipment outages and restoration to maintain campus steam/hot water/chilled water and electric reliability.
• Medium voltage (MV) switching, distribution, and maintenance: Perform and/or lead maintenance and troubleshooting on campus primary distribution (commonly 5kV/15kV class), including metal-clad switchgear, feeders, breakers, transformers, terminations/splices, and distribution protection. Execute or support switching orders, LOTO/clearances, and safe-work authorizations consistent with campus operating procedures.
• Controls, instrumentation power, and modern drive systems: Troubleshoot electrical control circuits and power to automation systems (PLCs/I/O, control power supplies, interlocks), and maintain VFD/soft start applications used across pumps, fans, and plant processes. Coordinate with plant operators, controls technicians, and vendors on complex faults and commissioning activities. (Common expectation in industrial/utility-plant electrician roles.)
• Critical power: emergency generators, ATS, UPS, and life-safety support. Maintain and troubleshoot emergency/standby power systems serving research, health/clinical, data, and life-safety loads-generators, automatic transfer switches (ATS), UPS systems, and emergency distribution-supporting testing, load-bank activities, and outage response.
• Preventive & predictive maintenance (PM/PdM): Execute PM/PdM tasks such as inspections, cleaning, torquing/termination checks, breaker maintenance support, and condition-based checks (often including infrared thermography coordination/participation where used by the organization). Document findings and recommend repairs/upgrades based on risk and reliability impact.
• Leadership, coordination, and documentation: Act as senior/lead worker: plan work, coordinate outages, review prints/schematics, update redlines/as-builts as directed, and mentor apprentices/junior electricians. Maintain accurate work order notes, test records, and safety paperwork in the CMMS.

Safety & compliance

• Electrical safety (NFPA 70E culture): Work as a "qualified person" where applicable; follow energized work restrictions, arc-flash labeling/PPE requirements, shock protection boundaries, and documented risk assessments as required by the institution's electrical safety program.
• Lockout/Tagout (hazardous energy control): Apply and verify LOTO for electrical and other hazardous energy sources during servicing and maintenance; follow written procedures and group LOTO practices.

Physical Demands

• Ability to climb ladders up to 100 feet, work in confined spaces, and lift/carry tools up to 50 pounds.
• Work in a 24/7 operating plant environment: noise, heat, confined spaces, ladders, and outdoor work in all weather.
• Must wear required PPE (including arc-flash PPE as assigned) and pass required medical/respirator clearance if applicable.
• Respond to outages and emergencies.

Performs other related duties as assigned. The omission of specific duties does not preclude the supervisor from assigning duties that are logically related to the position.

Minimum Qualifications:


Qualified candidates will hold a high school diploma/GED plus 3 years of relevant professional experience, or, a Bachelor's degree or higher in a relevant area of study. Degree must be conferred by the start date of the position. Degree requirements may be substituted with an equivalent combination of education, training and experience.

Additional Required Licenses/Certifications/Posting Specific Minimum Qualifications:

• Current DC Journeyman's License.

Preferred Qualifications:

Experience:

• Progressively responsible electrical experience, including experience in a lead or supervisory capacity, is desired.
• Strong experience with industrial/utility electrical systems (campus CUP/CHP, hospital, data center, or plant environment) preferred.
• Demonstrated experience with MV equipment (switchgear/breakers/terminations), protective relays/interfaces, and troubleshooting controls is desired.
• Ability to read one-lines, schematics, wiring diagrams, and equipment manuals is preferred.
• Ability to work rotating/on-call as an essential services employee.

Licensing:

• A valid Master Electrician or advanced Journeyman License is preferred.

Education:

• Completion of a four-year apprenticeship or a two-year technical program in electrical/electronics is desired.

Hiring Range
$28.69 - $44.76


GW Staff Approach to Pay


How is pay for new employees determined at GW?

Healthcare Benefits
GW offers a comprehensive benefit package that includes medical, dental, vision, life & disability insurance, time off & leave, retirement savings, tuition, well-being and various voluntary benefits. For program details and eligibility, please visit

II. JOB DETAILS


Campus Location:
Foggy Bottom, Washington, D.C.


College/School/Department:
Division of Safety and Operation


Family
Safety and Facilities


Sub-Family
Electrical


Stream
Service and Support


Level
Level 3


Full-Time/Part-Time:
Full-Time


Hours Per Week:
40


Work Schedule:
7:00am to 4:00 PM Monday- Friday to include a Holiday, after-hours, Overnight and Weekend Rotating schedule


Will this job require the employee to work on site?
Yes


Employee Onsite Status
Essential onsite


Telework:
No


Required Background Check:
Criminal History Screening, Education/Degree/Certifications Verification, Social Security Number Trace, and Sex Offender Registry Search


Special Instructions to Applicants:


Employer will not sponsor for employment Visa status

Internal Applicants Only?
No


Posting Number:
S014145


Job Open Date:
04/23/2026


Job Close Date:

If temporary, grant funded, Sponsored Project funded or limited term appointment, position funded until:

Background Screening
Successful Completion of a Background Screening will be required as a condition of hire.


EEO Statement:


The university is an Equal Employment Opportunity employer that does not unlawfully discriminate in any of its programs or activities on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, disability, veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, or on any other basis prohibited by applicable law.