Substation Electrician II

Substation Electrician II - Austin Energy

Under general supervision, this position participates in the Austin Energy (AE) Apprenticeship Program and performs apprentice-level tasks to assist in installation, maintenance, and repair of substation electrical equipment, structures, and conductors.

Duties, Functions and Responsibilities:

• Performs On-the-Job Training (OJT), attends classroom instruction, and helps maintain records to document progression in the Apprenticeship Program.
• Assists with installation, maintenance, and repair of substation electrical equipment including circuit breakers, power transformers, transformers, Oil Circuit Breakers (OCBs), Gas Circuit Breakers (GCBs), switches, motors, battery chargers, battery banks, protective devices, electronic monitoring equipment, etc.) and replace faulty or worn parts as necessary.
• Assists with trouble call response, and installation, maintenance, and repair of AE's electrical substations.
• Inspects and monitors AE's electrical substations and records data on appropriate forms and/or maintenance logs.
• Pulls, installs repairs, or moves wire, cable, conduit, and other material in and around AE's electrical substations, which may include splicing electrical wires and connecting power cables to equipment.
• Responds to on-call, emergency call-back, and after-hour outages due to weather-related events or system disturbances.
• Sets up and operates electric utility aerial equipment (i.e. cranes, boom trucks, bucket trucks, manlift, etc.) and other equipment (i.e. wire puller, cable trailer, skid-steer loader, and forklift).
• Performs testing, calibration, and troubleshooting of substation electrical systems using electronic test equipment (i.e. Transformer Turns Ratio (TTR) Tester, Breaker Tester, Multi-Range Voltage Detector (MRVD), phasing sticks, rotation meters, Digital Multi-Meters (DMM), and clamp-on amp meters).
• Operates high-voltage transmission, substation, and distribution switching devices and equipment, using proper Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) and Personal Protective Devices (PPD), to de-energize and isolate circuits.
• Orders, stores, receives, issues, and distributes equipment, parts, tools, and supplies essential to the construction, maintenance, and repair of AE's electrical substations.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities:

• Knowledge of AE safety rules, regulations, work practices, standards, and procedures associated with electrical substations and high voltages.
• Knowledge of hazards involved with working on and around energized electrical systems (lines and equipment/high and low voltage).
• Knowledge of the electrical theory and principles related to electricity, magnetism, and electrical equipment.
• Skill in handling conflict and uncertain situations.
• Skill in handling multiple tasks and prioritizing.
• Skill in operating computers and related software applications.
• Skill in properly using, inspecting, maintaining, and safely storing PPE (Personal Protective Equipment) and PPD (Personal Protective Devices).
• Skill in using tools and equipment to troubleshoot and then repair or replace electrical/electronic devices/components.
• Skill in setting up and operating electric utility aerial equipment.
• Skill in using the necessary air monitoring equipment prior to entering enclosed or confined spaces.
• Skill in operating switching devices and equipment used to de-energize and isolate circuits and devices on AE's electrical transmission, substation, and distribution system.
• Skill in performing various connections, configurations, procedures, and phasing of circuits to transformers, breakers, and disconnects.
• Ability to climb ladders, work on and around elevated work positions/platforms, work in enclosed/confined spaces, and work as an enclosed space attendant.
• Ability to apply knowledge and skills obtained from classroom and OJT to daily work activities.
• Ability to read and understand oral, written, and electronic instructions, technical manuals, blueprints, sketches, diagrams, and drawings.
• Ability to modify blueprints, sketches, diagrams, and drawings as needed for field corrections and as-builts for engineering.
• Ability to establish and maintain effective communication and professional working relationships with City employees, customers, and the public.
• Ability to organize, inspect, and safely use various hand and powered tools, equipment, and materials used in the installation, maintenance, and repair of electrical substations and related equipment.
• Ability to perform strenuous work in all types of weather conditions.
• Ability to work with frequent interruptions, changes in priorities, and rotating shifts.
• Ability to properly lift and carry equipment and supplies weighing up to fifty (50) pounds.

Minimum Qualifications:

• Graduation from an accredited high school or equivalent, plus two (2) years of experience in a related electric utility field.

Licenses and Certifications Required:

• Valid Texas Class A Commercial Driver License (CDL) or ability to acquire license and/or endorsements within 120 days of employment.
• Produce and maintain an acceptable driving record.