Senior Relay Technician - Utility & High-Voltage Protection - Union

Asplundh Electrical Testing; Bakersfield (CA); On-site; USD 90,000 - 120,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical, dental, and vision benefits

Retirement plan

Life insurance

Job summary

Asplundh Electrical Testing seeks a Senior Relay Technician to ensure safe, reliable operation of medium- and high-voltage substations through protective relay testing, commissioning, and maintenance.

You will lead field crews, guide outages, and reinforce our reputation for safety and precision in protection and control, relay schemes, and substation energization.

Qualifications

• 5+ years of hands-on experience in protective relaying for utility substations.
• Experience testing medium-to-high-voltage protection systems (5kV–500kV).
• Strong knowledge of microprocessor-based relays and relay schemes.
• Experience with field testing, commissioning, and maintenance.
• Ability to interpret protection diagrams and AC/DC schematics.

Responsibilities

• Lead job briefings and safety tailboards in the field.
• Perform protective relay testing, calibration, troubleshooting, and commissioning on MV‑HV systems.
• Test and validate transmission and distribution protection schemes (distance, differential, overcurrent, etc.).
• Verify control/protection circuits for transformers, breakers, feeders, capacitors.

Skills

Protective relaying

Substations

High‑voltage testing

Relay test platforms

Lockout/tagout

Education

NETA Level III or IV preferred

Technical degree or apprenticeship

OSHA 10 or OSHA 30

Valid driver’s license

Tools

Modern relay test equipment

Job description

• Feeder relays
• Protection diagrams
• AC/DC schematics

Description

About the Role

At Asplundh Electrical Testing, safety is not a priority—it is our foundation. The Senior Relay Technician plays a critical role in ensuring the safe, reliable operation of medium‑and high‑voltage utility substations through advanced protective relay testing, commissioning, and maintenance activities.

This position is ideal for professionals with a utility background who have hands‑on experience testing and commissioning transmission and distribution protection systems. You will serve as a technical lead in the field, guide crews through complex outage work, and reinforce Asplundh’s reputation for safety, precision, and service excellence.

We are experiencing strong growth and are immediately hiring Senior Relay Technicians with deep expertise in protection and control, relay schemes, and substation energization. If you enjoy solving complex protection challenges, leading safe work execution, and influencing system reliability at scale, we’d like to speak with you.

As a NETA‑accredited, independent electrical testing and engineering organization, Asplundh Electrical Testing sets the benchmark for technical excellence and unwavering safety across the utility, renewable energy, data center, and industrial sectors.

Candidates must be authorized to work in the United States for any employer at the time of hire. This position is not eligible for visa sponsorship.

What You’ll Do

• Lead job briefings and safety tailboards, reinforcing a "Safety First, Always" field culture
• Perform protective relay testing, calibration, troubleshooting, and commissioning on medium‑and high‑voltage systems
• Test and validate transmission and distribution protection schemes, including:
  • Distance, differential, overcurrent, breaker failure, and bus protection
• Verify control and protection circuits for:
  • Power transformers
  • Medium‑and high‑voltage circuit breakers
  • Feeder relays
  • Capacitor banks and reactors
• Support outage planning, switching coordination, energization, and restoration activities
• Perform event analysis, relay target review, and disturbance investigations
• Lead and mentor onsite technicians; coordinate work execution with project managers, system operators, and utility customers
• Create and maintain accurate test reports, as‑left settings, and field documentation
• Participate in job walks, project estimating, and customer technical discussions
• Serve as a technical resource and trainer for developing relay technicians

Travel Requirements

Work is performed at customer sites throughout the assigned region. Regular regional travel is required, with opportunities for extended assignments outside the region as needed.

Company vehicle provided for regional work‑related travel.

What You Bring

• 5+ years of hands‑on experience in protective relaying for utility substations
• Demonstrated experience testing medium‑to‑high‑voltage (5kV–500kV) protection systems
• Strong working knowledge of microprocessor‑based relays
• Experience with modern relay test platforms
• Solid understanding of utility safety rules, energized work practices, and lockout/tagout procedures
• Ability to interpret:
  • Protection diagrams
  • AC/DC schematics
  • Wiring and logic drawings
• Valid driver’s license; ability to work outdoors, travel, and lift up to 70 lbs

Education & Credentials

• NETA Level III or IV Certification preferred for Senior roles (Candidates at other NETA levels are encouraged to apply for opportunities across the organization)
• Experience with:
  • Circuit breakers
  • Power transformers
  • Switchgear
  • RTUs and substation communications
• Technical degree, apprenticeship, or military electrical training
• OSHA 10 or OSHA 30
• Valid driver’s license with a clean driving history

What We Offer

At Asplundh Electrical Testing, we invest in the well‑being of our people. Eligible employees enjoy a comprehensive benefits package designed to support their health, financial security, and work‑life balance, including:

• Medical, dental, and vision coverage starting on day one
• Retirement plan to help you secure your future
• Company‑provided life insurance for added peace of mind
• Supplemental life insurance options, including spouse and child coverage
• A variety of voluntary Aflac supplemental insurance programs
• Long‑term disability coverage
• Pre‑paid legal plan
• Employee Assistance Program (EAP) to support personal and professional well‑being
• Paid time off to recharge and refresh
• Paid holidays
• Access to employee discount programs and helpful resources
• Benefits listed above are available to eligible employees. Eligibility requirements and plan provisions apply

Please note:

For roles that fall within union‑represented territories, certain benefits and employment terms may differ from what’s listed here. In those cases, the applicable local union agreement will guide the specific benefits and provisions. We’re committed to transparency and will walk you through what applies to your location during the hiring process.

Who We Are

Asplundh Electrical Testing (AET) has been a leading provider of independent electrical testing services since 1981. Headquartered in Foxboro, MA, with regional offices across the country, AET specializes in substation commissioning, acceptance testing, and maintenance for clients in electrical transmission, distribution, and generation. As a NETA-certified company and a member of Asplundh Engineering Services—a subsidiary of Asplundh Infrastructure Group—AET is committed to delivering reliable, high-quality services at competitive prices.

An Asplundh Company

As part of the Asplundh family, AET benefits from extensive resources and a century of experience. Together, we provide utilities with comprehensive end‑to‑end services, from design to construction, testing, and maintenance, ensuring reliability and peace of mind.

Our Commitment

At AET, we believe in tackling challenges together with our customers, leveraging our collective experience and resources to achieve success in every project.

Benefits

We offer a competitive range of benefits to support our employees’ health, well‑being, and financial security. Medical, dental, and vision benefits are available to all eligible employees on the first day of employment. For more information on the benefits available for this role, please contact the recruiter or hiring manager.

Individuals with a disability who desire a reasonable accommodation can contact the ADA Coordinator by calling 1-833-222-3066.

We partner with the Department of Homeland Security/U.S. Customs and Immigration Service to e-Verify all newly hired employees.

An Equal Opportunity Employer.

Please Note

• All job offers are subject to pre-employment drug screening and a background check.
• Unless otherwise noted, we do not sponsor employees for work authorization in the U.S. for this position.