Apparatus Supervisor

Utili-Serve; Southern Pines (NC); On-site; USD 90,000 - 130,000; Full time

Job summary

Utili-Serve, LLC is seeking an Apparatus Supervisor for Transmission & Substation Maintenance to lead field crews on high‑voltage equipment installation, maintenance, and testing. You’ll ensure regulatory compliance, enforce safety protocols, and direct operations of the electrical grid.

The role requires extensive transformer experience with 115–500 kV assets, hands‑on supervision, and strong knowledge of oil processing and SF6 systems.

Qualifications

• Seven+ years of transformer field service work.
• Two+ years in lead tech or supervisor role.
• Experience with large power transformers and autotransformers (115 kV–500 kV).
• Experience with high‑capacity hot oil processing equipment.
• Oil sampling and dissolved gas analysis (DGA).
• Doble test equipment experience.
• Transformer turns ratio (TTR) testing.
• SFRA testing and leakage reactance testing.
• SF6 dead‑tank and live‑tank breakers preferred.

Responsibilities

• Supervise crews performing installation, maintenance, testing, and repair of power transformers up to 500 kV and 500+ MVA.
• Manage transformer vacuum‑fill operations with high‑capacity hot oil processing equipment.
• Oversee transformer assembly, bushing/conservator/radiator installation and related oil sampling.
• Coordinate electrical testing including insulation resistance, power factor, Doble, winding resistance, SFRA, and related tests.
• Review JHAs, switching orders, and lockout/tagout procedures for safety.
• Manage contractor activities, equipment scheduling, outages, and project execution for substations.
• Interpret drawings, manuals, and specs to ensure quality installations and maintenance.
• Train technicians on transformer assembly, oil processing, breaker maintenance, and diagnostic testing.
• Maintain project documentation, test records, oil processing logs, and maintenance reports.
• Direct field activities involving SF6 equipment and associated substation apparatus (preferred).
• Ensure SF6 gas handling, recovery, filtration, storage, and emissions compliance per EPA standards (preferred).

Skills

Transformer field service

Lead/Supervisor experience

High‑voltage transformer equipment

Oil processing equipment

DGA and oil sampling

Doble test equipment

Transformer turns ratio (TTR) testing

SFRA testing

SF6 breakers handling

Tools

GlobeCore

Baron hot oil processor

Vacuum Processing Equipment

Job description

Apparatus Supervisor – Transmission & Substation Maintenance

The Apparatus Supervisor for Transmission & Substation Maintenance at Utili-Serve, LLC oversees field crews performing installation, maintenance, and testing on critical high-voltage electrical equipment. This leadership role ensures regulatory compliance, enforces safety protocols, and directs the safe, reliable operation of the electrical grid.

Position Summary

The Apparatus Supervisor for Transmission & Substation Maintenance at Utili-Serve, LLC oversees field crews performing installation, maintenance, and testing on critical high-voltage electrical equipment. This leadership role ensures regulatory compliance, enforces safety protocols, and directs the safe, reliable operation of the electrical grid.

Core Responsibilities

• Supervise crew performing installation, maintenance, testing, and repair of power transformers up to 500 kV and 500+ MVA.
• Manage transformer vacuum-fill operations utilizing high-capacity hot oil processing equipment, ensuring moisture, gas, and particulate contamination levels meet manufacturer and utility specifications.
• Oversee transformer assembly, bushing installation, conservator installation, radiator installation, oil sampling, and commissioning activities.
• Coordinate electrical testing including insulation resistance, power factor, Doble testing, winding resistance, TTR, excitation current, sweep frequency response analysis (SFRA), and leak-reactance testing.
• Review job hazard analyses, switching orders, and lockout/tagout procedures to maintain a safe work environment.
• Manage contractor activities, equipment scheduling, outage coordination, and project execution for transmission and distribution substations.
• Interpret engineering drawings, transformer assembly manuals, and manufacturer specifications to ensure quality installation and maintenance practices.
• Train and mentor technicians on transformer assembly, oil processing, breaker maintenance, and diagnostic testing procedures.
• Maintain project documentation, test records, oil processing logs, and equipment maintenance reports.
• Direct field activities involving SF₆ circuit breakers, gas‑insulated equipment, disconnect switches, CTs, PTs, and associated substation apparatus (preferred but not required).
• Ensure proper SF₆ gas handling, recovery, filtration, storage, and emissions compliance in accordance with EPA and utility standards (preferred but not required).

Desired Experience And Qualifications

• Seven (7) years of Transformer Field service work
• Two (2) years of current or prior Lead Tech or Supervisor experience
• Large power transformers and autotransformers (115 kV–500 kV)
• High‑capacity hot oil processors (GlobeCore, Baron, Vacuum Process Engineering, etc.)
• Oil sampling and dissolved gas analysis (DGA)
• Doble test equipment
• Transformer turns ratio (TTR) test sets
• Winding resistance test equipment
• SFRA and leakage reactance test equipment
• SF₆ dead-tank and live-tank breakers (preferred but not required)