APPRENTICE OR JOURNEYMAN SUBSTATION ELECTRICIAN (DOT-FMCSA)

Basin Electric Power Cooperative; Williston (ND); On-site; USD 150,158,000 - 179,088,000; Full time

Job summary

Basin Electric Power Cooperative in Williston, ND is seeking a Journeyman Substation Electrician to operate, maintain, test, and inspect high- and medium-voltage equipment across transmission substations. You will coordinate outages, perform commissioning, and ensure safe switching with proper tagging and grounding.

The role requires an electrical apprenticeship or equivalent, and a Class A CDL with required endorsements.

Qualifications

• Associate’s degree in electrical technology, or related field; or a high school diploma with 4 years of related electrical training or military experience.
• Must complete apprentice training within four years to become a Substation Electrician Journeyman.
• Valid Class A CDL with air brakes and required endorsements; FBI background check post-offer.
• DOT qualified position with overnight travel 15–50%.
• Able to work nights and weekends as needed.

Responsibilities

• Operate, maintain, repair, test, and inspect substation equipment across voltage classes.
• Coordinate outages, switchgear clearances, and tagging with proper grounding.
• Prepare test forms, reports, and paperwork for supervision.
• Maintain facilities and vehicles and support other trades.

Skills

Electrical theory

Mechanical aptitude

Data analysis

Education

Associate degree in electrical technology

High school diploma + 4 years electrical apprenticeship or military training

Tools

Microsoft Word

Outlook

Excel

Job description

POSITION PURPOSE

This position is at our TSM Williston location in Williston, ND.

Responsible for operating, maintaining, repairing, inspecting, and testing substation apparatus, including circuit breakers, power transformers, reactors, capacitors, voltage transformers and potential devices, current transformers, circuit switchers, switches, bus work, lightning arresters, etc., and associated alternating current (AC) and direct current (DC) service systems, control systems, compressor systems, etc.

Essential Duties

• Complete on-the-job training and assigned academic work to become proficient in the maintenance and repair of substation apparatus equipment to attain the level of Journeyman.
• Take work direction from other Journeyman and Lead Substation Electricians.
• Assist other Substation Electricians operating, maintaining, testing, inspecting, and commissioning of substation apparatus equipment.
• Operate, maintain, repair, test, and inspect the Transmission System Maintenance (TSM) substation apparatus and related equipment, including all voltage classes of breakers, power transformers, reactors, capacitors, voltage transformers and potential devices, current transformers, switchers, switches, bus work, lightning arresters, etc., and associated AC and DC service systems, control systems, compressor systems, etc.
• Maintain control buildings, security fences, lighting, and landscape surfaces inside and outside the substations; heating, ventilation, air conditioning (HVAC) systems; and other items as needed to ensure proper operation of the facilities.
• Commissioning of new equipment in new or existing facilities to provide the best possible assurance that the equipment is ready for service and will perform its designed functions.
• Complete the appropriate test forms, reports, timecards, mileage logs, receiving reports, and all other assigned and required paperwork for submission to the appropriate personnel.
• Maintain assigned vehicles, equipment, tools, and assist other trades in operating and maintaining the assigned TSM shops and adjoining BEPC property.
• Attain proficiency in securing outages for equipment; determining the proper clearance points; taking switching orders; and properly tagging and grounding equipment, as required, for general switching, equipment clearances, and hot line holds.
• Perform other duties as assigned.

Minimum Qualifications

• Associate’s degree in electrical technology, or related field; or
• A high school diploma or equivalent (GED or HSED) and either 4 years of experience with an accredited Electrical Apprenticeship program, including a Journeyman status or 4 years of related military training/experience.
• Must complete the apprentice training program within the first four years of employment to obtain the qualifications necessary to be a Substation Electrician Journeyman.
• A valid driver’s license.
• The incumbent must have a class A Commercial Driver’s License (CDL) with air brakes and no CDL restrictions other than a medical variance (V), including the following endorsements: liquid or gaseous materials / tanker (N), and hazardous materials (H) or combination tanker/hazmat (X), which requires the successful completion of an FBI background check post-offer. If the incumbent does not have a CDL, after six months in the position, the incumbent will be required to complete CDL theory, obtain a CDL permit, complete Behind the Wheel, and obtain a passing grade on the CDL test by the end of the first year of employment.
• This is a Department of Transportation (DOT) (FMCSA) (CDL) qualified position.
• Overnight travel is required from 15-50% of a given year and more can be expected for construction projects. May be called to work anytime during nights and weekends.

This position is identified as a Critical Infrastructure Protection (CIP) related position, which may allow physical and/or logical access to Bulk Electric System (BES) cyber related assets or systems. This position may allow access to privileged information relating to such assets or systems. This position will be required to strictly adhere to all Basin Electric policies, procedures, and programs applicable to the Critical Infrastructure Protection (CIP) requirements.

PHYSICAL AND ENVIRONMENTAL DEMANDS

This position requires continuous standing; frequent walking and climbing ladders; and occasional sitting, bending, climbing stairs, kneeling, reaching, crawling, turning valves, use of keyboard/computer, lifting up to 50 pounds, and pushing/pulling up to 100 pounds. Equipment operated and tools used include test equipment, reel stands, ladders, steel post driver, electric ratchet wrenches, hammer drills, jigsaw, Sawzall, circular saw, 10-pound mall, bucket trucks, small cranes, tractors, pickups, and hand tools. The incumbent works with large power circuit breakers (oil, gas, and air), power transformers, shunt reactors, circuit switchers, disconnect switches, potential and current transformers, and other low voltage (LV), high voltage (HV) and extra high voltage (EHV) substation equipment. Requires finger dexterity, good hearing and color vision. Over 50% of the incumbent's day is spent outdoors. Frequently works in conditions of dirt and dust, extreme heat and cold, vibration, noise, and electrical risks. The incumbent will also be required to work at heights up to 100 feet, which requires the use of safety equipment, including a harness, in accordance with ANSI Z359 standards. Harness rating usually 300 lbs, including tools, clothing, and the individual. Occasionally works around chemicals, poor ventilation, and in confined spaces. Must remain fit for duty.

Key Skills

• Knowledge of electrical theory and its application, electrical blueprint reading, and a mechanical aptitude.
• Proficient in Microsoft Word, Outlook and Excel.
• Ability to communicate, perform close work, and analyze data and reports.

Wage: $52.38 - 62.36/hour

Basin Electric is an Equal Employment Opportunity Employer regarding race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, and veterans status.