Principal Engineering Technician

Western Power; Western Australia; Hybrid; AUD 140,000 - 180,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Flexible work arrangements

Up to four weeks of additional leave

Wellness leave days

Parental leave (22 weeks)

Salary packaging

Employee recognition program

Job summary

Western Power in Perth seeks a Principal Engineering Technician to provide specialist technical advice and leadership across transmission primary plant assets. You will inspect, report, and guide actions on newly installed network assets while coordinating complex HV activities, ensuring safety and reliability.

The role emphasizes mentoring, standards compliance, and lifecycle readiness, with opportunities to influence asset management and drive improvements across the network.

Qualifications

• Extensive HV network experience with transmission maintenance.
• Certificate III in ESI Distribution or Electrical Trade Certificate.
• Current Electrical Workers Licence and relevant licences.
• Strong knowledge of transmission standards and regulations.
• Ability to mentor and lead technically.

Responsibilities

• Perform technical inspections, prepare reports, and coordinate corrective actions.
• Plan, supervise, and undertake complex activities for installation, commissioning, operation, maintenance, and repair of primary plant equipment.
• Evaluate and document test reports for new equipment and support transition into operation.
• Provide expert technical advice across Substation Maintenance and Engineering teams.
• Support asset life cycle readiness through documentation, audits, and design changes.

Skills

High-voltage expertise

Technical leadership

Mentoring others

Technical reporting

Education

Certificate III in ESI Distribution

Electrical Trade Certificate

Job description

Principal Engineering Technician – Permanent Full Time – Perth

Bring your high-voltage expertise to the next phase of Western Australia’s energy transition.

We’re seeking an experienced Principal Engineering Technician to provide specialist technical advice and leadership across Western Power’s transmission primary plant assets.

This newly created role within our Asset Performance team comes at an exciting time for Western Power’s transmission network, with a growing pipeline of work over the coming years. You’ll apply your expertise across major primary plant including, circuit breakers, disconnectors, switchboards, instrument transformers and reactors, supporting the safe and reliable performance of critical new network assets , and their Life cycle readiness .

For an experienced HV professional, this is an opportunity to stay close to the technical work while stepping into a role with broader influence, providing specialist guidance, mentoring others and contributing to how primary plant assets are managed across the network.

Your Role in Action

Carry out technical inspections, prepare reports and recommendations, and coordinate the actions required to address identified issues , on newly installed transmission network assets.

Plan, supervise, coordinate and undertake complex technical activities associated with the installation, commissioning, operation, maintenance and repair of primary plant equipment.

Evaluate, analyse , accept and document test reports for new equipment, providing recommendations to secure transition into operation, improve performance and safety.

Provide expert technical advice and support across Substation Maintenance, Engineering and other key stakeholders.

Support primary plant equipment life cycle readiness through technical documentation, operational support, audits and design modifications.

Champion safety, technical standards and continuous improvement across transmission assets and asset management .

Provide technical leadership and mentoring, sharing your specialist knowledge and experience across the immediate and wider teams.

System updates and documentation verification of assets including but not limited to equipment register updates, circuits ratings and test results.

What Makes You a Great Fit

You’ll bring extensive technical experience within a network or high-voltage environment, together with strong knowledge of primary plant and transmission maintenance.

A Certificate III in ESI Distribution, Transmission Overhead or Power Systems Distribution Cable Jointing and/or an Electrical Trade Certificate.

A current Electrical Workers Licence, together with the relevant industry licences or certificates of competency required under applicable requirements.

Comprehensive and broad technical experience within a networks environment, with experience in transmission construction and maintenance of primary plant.

Strong knowledge of standards and regulations applicable to transmission assets.

Knowledge across associated transmission disciplines including substations, protection, SCADA and communications.

Strong technical reporting and communication skills, with demonstrated experience mentoring others and providing technical leadership.

A strong safety, customer and continuous improvement mindset.

This is an opportunity to bring your depth of HV experience into a Principal-level technical role where you can broaden your influence while remaining connected to the assets. You’ll work across a diverse primary plant portfolio, provide specialist advice on complex technical matters and share your expertise with teams across Western Power.

By joining Western Power, you will contribute to powering a cleaner energy future. We are dedicated to fostering career development and promoting a healthy work-life balance, empowering you to drive innovation as we develop a network that will serve the Western Australian community for generations. Y ou will also benefit from a range of perks and opportunities, including:

• Over 50% of our employment opportunities are driven by career progression.
• Flexible work arrangements , supporting flexibility in how and when you work where the role allows .
• The opportunity to purchase up to four weeks of additional leave per year.
• The opportunity to purchase up to four additional weeks of leave each year.
• Three wellness leave days each year.
• 22 weeks paid parental leave and five days of First Nations cultural leave.
• Access to salary packaging, social club activities and discounted health insurance and gym memberships.
• An award-winning employee recognition and benefits program.
• An innovative team culture contributing to the transition to renewable energy and decarbonisation.

Applications close on 24 November 2026.

We value diversity and inclusivity, encouraging applications from all backgrounds, including women, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people, and LGBTQIA+ communities.As a WORK180 -endorsed employer for women, we are proud of our commitment to inclusion. You can learn more about this through our Reconciliation Action Plan and Disability Access and Inclusion Plan.

Join us and play a part in powering the future of Western Australia.