Senior Substation Technician / Switchman

Clean Energy Services Career; Roseville (CA); Presencial; USD 69.000 - 76.000; Jornada completa

Ventajas ofrecidas por este puesto de trabajo

Tools provided

Arc-rated PPE

Laptop provided

Benefits package

Descripción de la vacante

Clean Energy Services (CES) is seeking a Senior Substation Technician / Switchman for a large utility-scale solar plus battery storage project north of Sacramento, CA. This on-site role requires 8+ years of high-voltage experience and proven switching ability on 115 kV and above.

You will perform switching, preventive maintenance, protection and metering tasks, and support safety/compliance while coordinating with the ROC and contractors.

Formación

• 8+ years of hands-on substation or utility high-voltage experience.
• Documented switching experience on 115 kV+ and 34.5 kV systems.
• Experience energization, backfeed or outage work with clearances, grounding, LOTO.
• Qualified Electrical Worker with NFPA 70E, OSHA training, First Aid/CPR/AED.
• Hands-on PM experience on transformers, breakers, capacitor banks, station batteries.

Responsabilidades

• Execute switching orders on 230 kV and 34.5 kV equipment, with interlocks.
• Establish electrically safe work conditions: live-dead-live verification, grounding, LOTO.
• Review switching orders against one-lines and field conditions; stop if mismatch.
• Serve as switchman or safety monitor on energization, outages, and backfeed work.
• Coordinate outage timing and switching with ROC and remote operations.
• Perform monthly substation and control building inspections and PM.
• Verify relay functionality, calibration, protection testing, and fault investigation support.
• First-response troubleshooting; oversee major repairs and testing.
• Produce clear same-day field reports and keep records audit-ready.

Conocimientos

High-voltage experience

Switching orders

Electrical experience

Reading schematics

Radio/communication

Night work availability

NFPA 70E training

Herramientas

Protective relay testing

PM experience

Descripción del empleo

Senior Substation Technician / Switchman

Senior Substation Technician / Switchman
Location: Roseville / Sacramento, CA
Employment Type: Full-Time/On-Site
Reports to: Site Manager
Pay scale: $50.00 - $55.00 per hour

Clean Energy Services (CES) is an independent, execution-first operations and maintenance (O&M) provider purpose-built to support complex, utility-scale solar, battery energy storage and hybrid assets. Our platform combines dedicated field teams, a 24/7 Remote Operations Center (ROC), and deep operating expertise to reduce operational risk, improve availability, and protect long‑term asset value.

You will be the substation resource on a large utility‑scale solar plus battery storage plant north of Sacramento, interconnected at 230 kV with a 34.5 kV collection system. The substation has main power transformers, 230 kV and 34.5 kV breakers, disconnects and hook‑stick switches, capacitor banks, station batteries, a control building and a full microprocessor relay and metering package. The role starts during commissioning and energization and carries into long‑term operations.

This is a senior position for an experienced switchman who has held the job at transmission voltage, not a technician working toward it. You will carry out switching on 230 kV and 34.5 kV equipment under approved switching orders, keep the substation maintenance program on schedule, and be the person the rest of the site team goes to with a high‑voltage question. You will need to show proof of your switching experience and competency during the hiring process.

Job Description

Switching & Clearances

• Execute approved switching orders on 230 kV and 34.5 kV equipment, including breakers, disconnects, hook‑stick switches and capacitor banks with interlocks
• Establish and restore electrically safe work conditions: live‑dead‑live verification, grounding, LOTO and sign‑on to clearances held by the controlling authority
• Review switching orders against one‑lines and field conditions before execution, and stop and raise it when the order and the field do not match
• Serve as switchman or safety monitor on energization, back feed and outage work, working with the owner, EPC contractors and the interconnecting utility through the designated switching authority
• Coordinate outage timing and switching with the ROC, including remote breaker operations

Substation Preventive Maintenance

• Perform monthly substation and control building inspections: debris, grounding connections, gas levels and overall condition
• Main power transformer oil sampling and dissolved gas analysis, monitor checks and inspections
• MV and HV breakers: cleaning, manual operations, electrical tests and gas leak checks
• Disconnect and knife switch operation, auxiliary transformer fuse inspection, and capacitor bank visual, torque and filter checks
• Station battery PM: voltage, ground checks, ohmic values and float, pilot cells, specific gravity and connection resistance
• Infrared thermographic scans of substation and connection points
• Gen‑lead and transmission line inspections, including pole inspections

Protection, Metering & Controls

• Verify relay functionality, trip breakers via coil and check telecommunications on microprocessor relays and lockouts
• Support PT and CT calibration, meter calibration and protection testing, and coordinate outside testing firms when the work calls for them
• Pull relay event records and support fault investigation with engineering and the ROC

Corrective Support & Reporting

• First‑response troubleshooting on substation and collection equipment; isolate, make safe, and escalte anything beyond field‑repair scope with a clear plan
• Oversee specialty contractors for major repairs and testing
• Support punch list, QA/QC, turnover readiness and spare parts setup during the commissioning phase
• Produce a clear same‑day field report: tasks completed, equipment condition, readings, parts used, follow‑ups and hours
• Keep switching records, test results and inspection logs audit‑ready to support NERC and warranty requirements

Safety & Compliance

• Perform all work in accordance with NFPA 70E, OSHA, NEC / NESC and CES safety policies, including 29 CFR 1910.269
• Conduct job hazard analyses and tailboards before work begins, and exercise stop‑work authority any time a task cannot be completed safely
• Apply lockout/tagout on every job: isolate, lock and tag, test before touch, and ground where required
• Report all incidents, near‑misses and unsafe conditions, and keep your training and certifications current

Team Support

• Serve as the high‑voltage subject matter resource for the site team and help train PV and BESS technicians on MV switching and LOTO
• Work closely with the Site Manager, Senior Field Manager and CES ROC
• CES technicians support each other across disciplines. Your core role is the substation and high‑voltage equipment. When your schedule permits, and for specific tasks that need additional support, you will assist the PV and BESS technicians on site, within your training and qualifications
• Report daily to the Site Manager on work status, priorities and schedule
• Other duties as assigned by the Site Manager

Required Qualifications

• 8+ years of hands‑on substation or utility high‑voltage experience
• Documented experience as a switchman executing switching orders on 115 kV and above, plus medium‑voltage switching at 34.5 kV class
• Experience on energization, backfeed or outage work, with clearance, grounding and live‑dead‑live procedures
• Qualified Electrical Worker able to show proof of high‑voltage competency: at least four years of documented electrical experience, NFPA 70E, 29 CFR 1910.332 training, and First Aid / CPR / AED
• Hands‑on PM experience on main power transformers, breakers, disconnects, capacitor banks and station batteries
• Comfortable with arc‑rated PPE up to 40 cal/cm², Class 4 gloves, hot sticks and voltage detection
• Reads and works from single‑lines, three‑lines, relay schematics and switching orders
• Clear, professional communicator on the radio, on the phone and in writing
• Available for night work during HV outages and for evening, weekend and holiday response
• Lives within about one hour of the Roseville / Sacramento area, or willing to relocate
• Valid driver's license and clean driving record; ability to pass background check and drug screen
• Physically able to lift up to 50 lbs, climb, work at heights, walk uneven ground and work outdoors in all weather

Preferred Qualifications

• Journeyman lineman, substation electrician or wireman credential; completion of a formal lineman or substation program
• Protective relay testing and NETA‑type electrical testing (SEL, GE or equivalent)
• Experience on inverter‑based solar or battery storage substations
• Experience working with California utilities, or NERC recordkeeping experience at a generating facility
• Writing switching orders and training other switchmen
• U.S. military electrical experience; veterans are strongly encouraged to apply

Schedule & Physical Requirements

• On‑site Monday through Friday, 8:00 AM to 4:30 PM once the plant is in long‑term operations; 7:00 AM to 5:00 PM during the commissioning phase
• Hours move with HV and outage work, and high‑voltage maintenance is generally done at night
• Field environment with energized equipment, heights and varying weather

What CES Offers

• Tools, arc‑rated PPE and laptop
• Full CES benefits package (medical, dental, vision, 401(k) and PTO)
• Equipment and OEM training and certification
• Growth within a fast‑scaling solar and energy storage O&M team

Clean Energy Services (CES) provides equal employment opportunities (EEO) to all employees and applicants for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, disability, or genetics. In addition to federal law requirements, CES complies with applicable state and local laws governing nondiscrimination in employment in every location in which the company has facilities. This policy applies to all terms and conditions of employment, including recruiting, hiring, placement, promotion, termination, layoff, recall, transfer, leaves of absence, compensation, and training.

CES expressly prohibits any form of workplace harassment based on race, color, religion, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, national origin, age, genetic information, disability, or veteran status.

To the extent permitted by law, employees are subject to periodic random drug testing, and post-accident and reasonable suspicion drug and alcohol testing.