Relay Protection Electrical Technician (IBEW)

Pacific Gas and Electric Company; Newark (CA); On-site; USD 165,000 - 182,000; Full time

Job summary

Pacific Gas and Electric Company in Newark is seeking an Electrical Technician for Relay Protection to calibrate, install, maintain, and troubleshoot protective relays and associated equipment across substations and transmission networks. This IBEW Local 1245 role requires working near energized gear outdoors and adhering to strict safety and NERC standards.

You will perform testing, commissioning, SCADA/EMS configurations, and document test results, with travel to job sites as needed and a

Qualifications

• High school diploma or GED required.
• California driver’s license required or ability to obtain on first day of hire.
• 3 years’ experience testing protective relay equipment in power stations or high voltage substations or related training/education.
• Ability to work outdoors in all weather and around energized equipment.

Responsibilities

• Complete documentation and test reports to meet regulatory requirements.
• Perform electrical power switching and system testing.
• Configure and troubleshoot SCADA/EMS equipment and data acquisition systems.
• Plan work and submit clearance requests; coordinate with Operations Control Center.
• Test and commission switchgear, relays, and protection systems.
• Mentor and guide Electrical Technician apprentices; may direct electricians.

Skills

Electrical testing

Relay protection

SCADA/EMS knowledge

Safety compliance

Team collaboration

Travel readiness

Education

High School diploma or GED

Electrical Engineering degree

Associates in Electrical Engineering Technology

Tools

MS Word

MS Excel

Job description

Requisition ID# 174105

Job Category: Maintenance / Construction / Operations

Job Level: Individual Contributor

Business Unit: Energy Delivery

Work Type: Onsite

Job Location: Newark

Department Overview

Electric Operations ensure the delivery of safe and reliable electric service to our customers. Electric Operations is responsible for every aspect of PG&E’s electric distribution and transmission operations, including planning, engineering, maintenance and construction, asset management, business planning, restoration and emergency response.

Position Summary

The Substation Maintenance and Construction Team is an integral part of our Energy Delivery organization. They are responsible for safely and reliably maintaining and constructing our high voltage substations throughout the PG&E service territory of northern and central California.

This is an IBEW Local 1245 represented classification, which has over 100 years of experience representing employees at PG&E. This job is subject to collective bargaining.

Relay Protection Electrical Technician is expected to be proficient in the calibration, installation, maintenance, and operation of the following: protective relays and associated equipment which will ensure the efficient, safe, reliable, and NERC Reliability Standards compliant operation of PG&E generating plants and transmission networks. Responsible for performing work involving an extremely high degree of complexity, including troubleshooting, repairing, overhauling, calibrating, and maintaining components of protective relay systems(microprocessor and electro-mechanical); substation and electric utility protection systems; station automation and supervisory control and data acquisition (SCADA) systems.

The individual will work near energized and rotating equipment and be exposed to loud noises and vibrations. This job requires the individual to comprehend various types of equipment labels, safety signs, learn and apply technical materials and complete daily logs.

Work is predominantly outdoors and in all weather conditions. The individual must be able to drive safely, work extended hours; travel/transfer to new headquarter upon request at any time, and wear company provided Personal Protective Equipment.

This position may be subject to Joint Apprentice Training Committee (JATC) review and approval.

PG&E is providing the hourly rate that the company in good faith believes it might pay for this position at the time of the job posting. This position is subject to collectively bargained hourly wage rates and increases. The starting wage rate for this position is $81.55 per hour. This wage rate is specific to the locality of the job. The wage rate is based on multiple factors, including, but not limited to, specific skills, education, licenses or certifications, experience, market value, geographic location, collective bargaining agreements, and internal equity.

Job Responsibilities

• Completes all applicable documentation and test reports required to meet internal and Federal, State and local regulatory compliance.
• Performs electrical power switching.
• Performs applicable testing and troubleshooting, and applies configurations to remote control and data acquisition systems. (i.e. SCADA, EMS).
• Plans and schedules work, including submitting clearance applications to the Operations Control Center.
• Tests and commissions integrated and non-integrated electrical systems, i.e. switchgear, network relays.
• Directs and trains Electrical Technician apprentices. May direct Electricians.
• Performs programming, installation, calibration, testing, troubleshooting, maintenance and installation of electromechanical, solid state and microprocessor protective relays, automation and control systems, including synchronized end to end protection systems.
• Maintains and makes field revisions to engineering documents and drawings.
• Lift, carry, and install various tools, parts and equipment weighing up to 100 pounds on mountainous terrain, dams, canals, stairways and ladders.
• Maneuver frequently on stairs and ladders, over rock, gravel, concrete, metal grating, scaffolding and wood; which may include narrow and uneven surfaces; possibility of ice, oil, and/or water on surfaces.
• Work on ladders and other elevated structures with the use of Personal Protection Equipment.
• Operate a company vehicle.
• Pack and move from ground, trucks or platforms, equipment, power/hand tools and other materials.
• Ability to work with other technicians on testing and installing equipment.
• Recording and filing of test results.
• Ability to work in a team environment.
• Ability to work safely as defined by PG&E’s safety standards and procedures.
• Other responsibilities may be assigned based on business need.

Qualifications

Minimum:

• Must be at least 18 years of age
• Must possess a High School diploma, GED or equivalent work experience
• Must possess and a maintain a valid California Driver's License or ability to obtain on 1st day of hire
• Ability to work in all types of weather extremes
• Ability to drive safely in all weather and road conditions
• Ability to work extended hours, nights, weekends and holidays
• Must be able to wear company provided Personal Protective Equipment (PPE)
• Must be able to lift 100 pounds a minimum of one time a day
• 3 year experience testing protective relay equipment in a power station or high voltage substation or electrical technician specific training and education

Desired:

• A four year degree in Electrical Engineering OR a two year Associates Degree in Electrical Engineering Technology and two years of experience in relay and control
• Previous Journeyman Electrical Technician experience with two or more years of experience in relay and control.
• High voltage electrical experience
• Ability to navigate and read information in MS Word and MS Excel
• Previous military experience in Power Production

Pre-Employment Testing

PG&E Employees: You must have qualified on all prerequisite tests prior to submitting an application, and all secondary tests prior to interviewing. For more information on prerequisite and secondary exams, including study guides, please visit the Pre-employment testing program website.

• Apprentice Electrical Technician Test - ETT Test
• Physical Test Battery
• Work Orientation Inventory-Physical/Technical Driving