Electronics Technician II

Chugach Electric Careers; Anchorage (AK); On-site; USD 85,000 - 100,000; Full time

Job summary

Chugach Electric is seeking an Electronics Technician II to support and advance its telecommunications infrastructure across generation plants, substations, dispatch centers, and field sites.

The role combines field work, installation, configuration, testing, and maintenance of microwave, fiber, and IP networks, with emphasis on reliability, safety, and inter‑utility coordination. Mentoring and documentation are key parts of the job.

Qualifications

• Experience in telecommunications, carrier networking, and OT or electric utility communications.
• Familiarity with carrier-class microwave, fiber optic transport, IP routing, Ethernet transport, MPLS is highly desirable.

Responsibilities

• Maintain and support the operation, reliability, and continuous improvement of the telecommunications infrastructure.
• Analyze and interpret diagrams and schematics before starting work.
• Coordinate with Dispatch, SCADA, Operations, and vendors for system restoration and upgrades.
• Mentor Electronics Technician I personnel and contribute to design and documentation.

Skills

Telecommunications

Carrier networking

Operational technology

Industrial networking

Public safety communications

Military communications

Electric utility communications

IP routing

MPLS

Tools

Aviat IRU600

Nokia 7705 SAR

Job description

At Chugach Electric, our Telecommunications team designs, operates, maintains, and modernizes the operational technology infrastructure that enables the safe, reliable delivery of electric service to more than 100,000 member-owners across Southcentral Alaska.

Day in the Life

As an Electronics Technician II, you'll help maintain and support the communications systems that connect our power plants, substations, dispatch centers, communication sites, and field crews. This role combines field work, troubleshooting, maintenance, system administration, and project support across a wide range of utility communications technologies.

A Typical Day May Include

• Operating, commissioning, maintaining, and troubleshooting carrier-class microwave, fiber optic, and IP/MPLS transport networks.
• Monitoring network performance, responding to alarms, analyzing faults, and restoring service when issues occur.
• Installing, configuring, testing, documenting, and replacing communications and networking equipment.
• Supporting communications for SCADA/EMS, protective relaying, substation control, AMI, utility voice systems, land mobile radio, dispatcher communications, and commercial telecommunications services.
• Working alongside engineers, relay technicians, system operators, contractors, and field crews to improve the reliability, resiliency, and cybersecurity of Chugach's communications infrastructure.

What You’ll Bring

We're looking for candidates with experience in telecommunications, carrier networking, operational technology, industrial networking, public safety communications, military communications, broadband, or electric utility communications.

Experience with carrier-class microwave radio systems, fiber optic transport, IP routing, Ethernet transport, MPLS, or operational technology networking is highly desirable. Familiarity with Aviat IRU600 microwave systems, Nokia 7705 SAR platforms, or other carrier-grade communications platforms is a plus, but not required.

Summary

Job Description

Electronics Technician II personnel support the operation, reliability, and continuous improvement of Chugach’s telecommunications infrastructure, which forms the backbone of system operations, SCADA, substation, and generation communications, AMI field networks, land mobile radio, and enterprise voice and data services. Technicians in this role perform advanced installation, configuration, troubleshooting, and maintenance of microwave transport, fiber optic systems, RF networks, IP networking and MPLS platforms, digital telephony, backup power systems, and site security technologies used throughout the utility. The position requires strong technical judgment, field readiness, and the ability to restore critical communications under demanding conditions while coordinating with Dispatch, SCADA, Operations, and partner utilities. Electronics Technician II personnel also contribute to system design, documentation quality, vendor coordination, and mentoring of developing technicians, supporting both operational continuity and Chugach’s long term technology objectives.

Reporting Relationship

• Reports to: Manager Telecommunications.
• Directs: Electronics Technician II may be required to direct the work of lower classifications.

Essential Functions

• Maintain competency in testing, maintenance, and safety practices through training, study of manuals, and hands-on application.
• Observe safe work practices in performance of daily work, including work at heights and in adverse weather conditions.
• Assist in design, testing, and installation of new telecom equipment as assigned.
• Analyze and interpret AC and DC diagrams, interconnect drawings, and schematics before starting work.
• Prepare, update, and maintain drawings, records of inventory data, installation and commissioning test results, as‑builts and other relevant documentation as work is completed.
• Use computers and diagnostic software to test, configure, and maintain communications.
• Ensure compliance with applicable codes and standards including FCC rules, NESC, OSHA, and manufacturer specifications.
• Support inter‑utility coordination for shared telecommunications facilities, circuits, and system restoration.
• Installs and maintains Wide Area Network (WAN) equipment including hubs, switches, routers, term servers, and other IP devices in support of SCADA and telecommunications networks at generation plants, substations, and communications sites exclusive of the work performed by the SCADA/EMS Systems Engineer, Systems Analyst‑SCADA/EMS, and the Relay Department already being performed.
• Configure, operate, troubleshoot, calibrate, and maintain all types of advanced telecommunication systems, including:
  • Digital microwave including multiplexers, channel equipment, antennas, and waveguide
  • Digital telephone, teleconferencing systems, and related voice and data circuits.
  • VHF and UHF trunked two-way radio systems
  • Fiber optic transmission systems, including splicing, testing, and restoration.
  • Automated Metering Infrastructure (AMI), field communications, and other spread spectrum radio systems such as Multiple Address System (MAS)
  • UPS and DC battery and charger systems including DC to DC converters
  • LAN and WAN equipment including routers, switches, firewalls, terminal servers, and other IP devices that support SCADA and telecommunications networks, as well as MPLS networking platforms used in the utility environment and inter‑utility communications.
  • Site security systems including intrusion detection and video camera systems.
  • Provide technical input on system design, equipment selection, and vendor coordination for new installations and upgrades.
  • Coordination with commercial carriers for leased services including voice, data, and fiber transport, and support of Chugach’s commercial microwave leasing agreements.
• Use advanced diagnostic equipment including protocol analyzers, oscilloscopes, frequency counters, service monitors, spectrum analyzers, microwave power meters, transmission test sets, and optical test equipment to evaluate and repair systems.
• Provide mentorship and day‑to‑day technical guidance to Electronics Technician I personnel, modeling installation standards, documentation quality, and safe work practices.
• Performs Electronics Technician I duties when assigned.
• Performs other duties related to this classification as assigned.

Relationships

• Internal
• Manager Control & Communications Systems: reports to, receives work assignments from, discusses problems encountered in the work with, submits tests reports to, coordinates work assignments with.
• Senior Electronics Technician: Reports to, receives work assignments from, discusses problems encountered in the work with, submits tests reports to, coordinates work assignments with.
• Electronics Technician I: Provides technical assistance to, guidance to, coordinates work with.
• Other Chugach Electric Personnel -Coordinates work assignments and maintenance activities with as assigned by the Manager Control & Communications Systems
• Chugach Dispatch-Coordinates work with when working with critical systems or outage required work.
• External
• Equipment vendors, contractors, and service providers: provides technical support, commissioning, and maintenance.