Advanced Level Distribution Line Apprentice 3 or 4 - (USW 7202) - Cherokee Operations

Duke Energy Corporation; Whittier (NC); On-site; USD 42,000 - 64,000; Full time

Job summary

Duke Energy Corporation is seeking Line Apprentices in North Carolina. Positions may be filled as Line Apprentice 3 or 4 depending on experience as shown on the applicant's resume.

The role supports distribution system operations, learning to operate, maintain, and troubleshoot equipment and procedures. On-call duties, day/night, weekends, and holidays may be required to support outages or emergencies, with safety as a priority.

Qualifications

• High School diploma or equivalent is required.
• Valid Class A CDL license is required.
• Experience as a climber and with secondary voltage as a lone worker is needed.
• Demonstrated safety leadership to prevent accidents and injuries.
• Residency within 40 minutes of the assigned site is required with relocation within 12 months.

Responsibilities

• Assist with construction and maintenance of the distribution system.
• Demonstrate understanding of overhead and underground insulation and isolation principles.
• Learn the Line and Service Training modules to understand the distribution system.
• Promote personal and work group safety practices to prevent accidents and injuries.
• Develop positive working relationships to coordinate work activities.
• Demonstrate effective oral and written communication, maintain records.

Skills

Experienced climber

Safety practices

Effective communication

Leadership

Team coordination

Education

High School diploma or equivalent

Tools

CDL

Tools & equipment operation

Job description

Important Application Submission Information

In order to ensure your application is successfully received before the job posting expires, please submit your application by 11:59 PM on Wednesday, August 26, 2026

• A resume is required for application to this job positng. Please make sure to include an updated resume detailing your previous employment and work experience duties*

Job Summary

This position can be hired as either a Line Apprentice 3 or a Line Apprentice 4 depending on experience as verified on the applicants resume

This position supports the operations process in providing and maintaining service to new and existing customers by learning a working knowledge of computer system, tools, equipment, and material. The position will be learning the day-to-day operations and specifications of the distribution system. In addition to normal work, position must be available to be on-call with a more experienced person as required and to work all hours as needed, day or night, weekends or holidays, to perform work required during planned outages or emergency situations (24/7). The position must learn to perform all duties in a safe manner and adhere to all Company safety rules and procedures.

Note: This position can be hired as either a Line Apprentice 3 or a Line Apprentice 4 depending on experience

Responsibilities

• Assist with construction and maintenance of the distribution system
• Demonstrate a proficient understanding of overhead and underground insulate and isolate principles
• Familiar with and understand the electrical distribution system by completing the Line and Service Training modules
• Know, adhere to, and promote personal and work group safety practices to prevent accidents and injuries
• Develop positive and respectful working relationships to effectively coordinate work activities
• Demonstrate effective oral and written communication skills
• Maintain accurate records and files
• Support the company's goals and represent the company positively and professionally

Basic/Required Qualifications For Line Apprentice 3

• High School diploma or equivalent
• Valid class A commercial driver’s license (CDL)
• Experienced climber
• Experience working on secondary voltage as a lone worker
• Exposure to work within MAD of single phase primary voltage
• Minimum of three (3) years of distribution line and service work: familiar with and understand the electrical distribution system and have troubleshooting skills and ability to assess level or repair required
• Know, adhere to, and demonstrate leadership in promoting personal and work group safety practices to prevent accidents and injuries.

Basic/Required Qualifications For Line Apprentice 4

• High School diploma or equivalent
• Valid class A commercial driver’s license (CDL)
• Proficient with tools, equipment, and vehicles necessary to perform line and service work.
• Experienced climber
• Experience working on secondary voltage as a lone worker
• Exposure to work within MAD of single phase primary voltage
• Minimum of five (5) years of distribution line and service work: demonstrated proficiency in constructing, maintaining, operating and troubleshooting the distribution system, and to ensure public safety and customer satisfaction
• Know, adhere to, and demonstrate leadership in promoting personal and work group safety practices to prevent accidents and injuries.

Desired Qualifications

• Exposure to work within MAD of three phase primary voltage
• Experience working with customers
• Proficient in using a work management system
• Clear written and oral communication skills
• Experience in leading and mentoring less experienced employees in all aspects of their jobs
• Experience serving as a first responder to electrical distribution system outages.

Specific Requirements

• Ability to successfully complete Mid-Level Skills Assessment Test (MSAT2) for Line Apprentice 3
• Ability to successfully complete Skills Assessment Test (SAT) for Line Apprentice 4
• Ability to attend various training classes, meet progression requirements and successfully complete a progression assessment qualification’ (PAQ)
• DOT Certification
• DOT Physical
• Successful background and drug screen
• Ability to stand a minimum of 5-6 hours; may be on ground, in a bucket on a line truck, or at the top of a distribution pole
• Ability to sit for a minimum of 2-3 hours; may be driving a truck or sitting in a manhole or an underground vault
• Ability to move frequently to unload equipment and to install/maintain/repair equipment
• Ability to lift up to 76 pounds
• Ability to push/pull weights up to 116 pounds
• Ability to carry up to 90 pounds
• Ability to frequently climb or use authorized equipment to reach various heights and breadths
• Ability to frequently and repetitively bend/stoop/squat
• Ability to differentiate between colors (color vision)
• Manual dexterity to operate small hand tools, turn small knobs, etc.
• Ability to obtain respirator clearance
• This position contains a weight restriction of 275 pounds as an essential function of the job. The purpose of this restriction is to ensure that all weight-rated equipment is used in an appropriate and safe manner within maximum allowed weight loading.
• This position has a residency requirement. You must reside within 40 minutes of the assigned operations site. In order to meet with aforementioned position requirement, you will be required to relocate from your current residence within 12 months of your start date. Relocation will be entirely at your own expense.
• Employees hired or rehired on or after October 1, 2022 within the Customer Delivery Line Organization, will have the ability to request to transfer to another operations center after completing five (5) years of service in the Line Organization.

Working Conditions

• Work schedule requires working various shifts as business needs arise
• Position has on-call responsibilities as scheduled and generally available at other times as needed (24/7), demonstrate the ability to work independently, and to work all hours as needed, day or night, weekends or holidays, and in all weather conditions to perform work required during planned and emergency outages
• Requires ability to travel and stay overnight to various locations and work extended hours to assist in major storm restoration
• Subject to confined spaces (manholes, vaults, etc.)

Travel Requirements

15-25%

Relocation Assistance Provided (as applicable)

No

Represented/Union Position

USW Local 7202

Visa Sponsored Position

No. This is not a Visa Sponsored Position. This role requires the ability to work lawfully in the U.S. without employment-based immigration sponsorship, now or in the future.