Substation Maintenance Specialist I

RWE; Goliad (TX); On-site; USD 55,000 - 85,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical

Dental

Vision

401(k) match

Paid time off

Job summary

RWE Americas, LLC is seeking a Substation Maintenance Specialist I in the United States. The role involves inspections, maintenance, and repairs on substation and collection system components at wind farm facilities.

Travel up to 30% to multiple North American sites is required and adherence to NFPA 70E and lock-out/tag-out procedures is essential. Ideal candidates will have a High School diploma, 3+ years in power operations/maintenance, and a technical degree or Master Electrician/Journeyman

Qualifications

• High School degree or equivalent required.
• 2- or 4-year technical degree in engineering, power, or related field preferred.
• Journeyman or Master Electrician license may substitute for 2 years of experience.
• Minimum 3 years in operations/maintenance in power generation, transmission, or distribution.
• Substation equipment knowledge (transformers, breakers, capacitors) preferred.
• Willingness to travel up to 30% to North American sites.

Responsibilities

• Ensure safe operations and maintenance per policies for wind farm electrical systems.
• Perform routine inspections, preventative maintenance and minor repairs on substation equipment.
• Execute high-voltage switching and grounding with proper lock-out/tag-out procedures.
• Use test equipment to collect readings and document results.
• Mentor newer hires and provide guidance on safe work practices.
• Travel to North American sites as needed and coordinate with contractors.

Skills

Safety awareness

High manual dexterity

Team collaboration

Travel readiness

Problem solving

Education

High School diploma

Technical degree preferred

Tools

IR cameras

Battery testers

Hand & power tools

Job description

RWE Americas, LLC

To start as soon as possible, full time, permanent

RWE Americas, LLC To start as soon as possible, full time, permanent

Functional area: Operations & Maintenance; Power Plants

Remuneration: Non-Exempt

The Substation Maintenance Specialist I assists with difficult transmission/substation engineering tasks that require extensive analysis of alternatives to reach decisions and make appropriate recommendations on technical issues. The role performs routine inspections, maintenance, and repairs on substation and collection system components.

Role Responsibilities

• Assures that all operations and maintenance activities are performed in a safe manner consistent with policies and procedures established for the electrical systems of the wind farms
• Performs routine inspections, preventative maintenance, and minor repairs on substation and collection system equipment (e.g., transformers, breakers, capacitors)
• Executes high-voltage switching and grounding under guidance, and follows established safety protocols (NFPA 70E, lock-out/tag-out)
• Uses standard test equipment (e.g., battery testers, IR cameras) to collect readings and document results
• Assists senior specialists in interpreting one-lines and basic schematics to complete assigned tasks
• Maintains accurate records to support compliance programs, including NERC documentation
• Begins mentoring newer hires and provides basic guidance on safe work practices
• Maintains substation equipment, collection system and transmission lines; works with RWE employees as well as contractors to insure proper maintenance and or repairs are performed on the electrical equipment in a safe and timely manner
• Performs high voltage switching and grounding of the electrical equipment, including writing switching orders, along with applying the appropriate lock and tag out needed for clearances
• Works with Compliance Officers to maintain NERC compliance at all times
• Reviews maintenance and repair test reports and propose follow-up actions as necessary
• Ensures work performed is correctly documented and conforms with the scope being performed and meets regulatory requirements as set forth by RWE compliance department
• Must be available for travel up to 30% of time; applicant must be available to travel to all RWE North American sites as the need arises
• Technical Training will be ongoing i.e. IR training, battery testing and maintenance; it will be the employee’s responsibility to learn these core fundamentals

Job Requirements and Experiences

• High School degree or equivalent required
• 2- or 4-year degree (preferred) from an accredited school, other than a correspondence or on-line in a technical hard science (Engineering, Physics, Power, or closely related field)
• Current Journeyman or a Master Electrician license may substitute for 2 years of experience
• Minimum 3 years’ work experience in Operations and/or Maintenance in power generation, transmission or distribution
• Prior High Line worker, substation, and relaying skills are preferredWorking knowledge of major substation equipment, i.e. power transformers, breakers, capacitors, current and potential transformers, and battery systems is preferred
• Applies working knowledge of substation and collection system components (transformers, breakers, capacitors)
• Uses basic to intermediate testing tools (IR cameras, battery testers) to support inspections and maintenance
• Understands safety standards (NFPA 70E, lock-out/tag-out) and follows procedures precisely
• Reads and applies one-line diagrams with guidance
• Handles routine inspections, preventative maintenance, and minor troubleshooting
• Identifies issues and escalates complex problems to senior staff
• Works under direction from senior technicians
• Communicates inspection results and progress clearly
• Begins providing guidance to less experienced technicians
• Completes assigned tasks independently with moderate oversight
• Manages own work across single-site maintenance activities
• Knowledge of and experience with the use of hand and power tools
• Knowledge of environmental and safety policies and procedures
• Ability to work within tight deadlines
• Ability to work independently and as part of a team
• Ability and willingness to travel to and from job sites as assigned

Physical Requirements

• Ability to push/pull/lift tools and equipment weighing up to 50 lbs.
• Ability to work safely in extreme environments (hot sun, cold, etc.)
• Ability to walk, climb, and stand extensively during the work day

Work Environment

• Working at night for testing of Substations
• Must be available for travel to all North America sites as the need arises
• Working in and around live Substation; receive and understand all requirements to meet NFPA 70e
• Travel to all sites will be necessary at any given time to support the sites
• Must be knowledgeable in safe work practices around energized equipment, including minimum approach distances

Applicants must be legally authorized to work in the United States. RWE Americas is unable to sponsor or take over sponsorship of employment visas at this time.

Benefits offered

• Medical
• Dental
• Vision
• Life Insurance
• Short-Term Disability
• Long-Term Disability
• 401(k) match
• Flexible Spending Accounts
• EAP
• Education Assistance
• Parental Leave
• Paid time off
• Holidays
• Eligible employees also participate in short-term incentives, in addition to salary.

All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, religion, national origin, disability, veteran status, or other legally protected status.

RWE Americas, a subsidiary of RWE, is a US-based energy company that is helping to meet the growing demand for energy across the United States. Backed by RWE's 125-year global legacy of managing diverse power assets, RWE Americas operates approximately 13 GW of power projects across 27 states. With a talented workforce of 2,000 employees, RWE Americas develops, constructs and operates wind, solar and battery storage projects that safely deliver affordable, reliable electricity to our customers. Committed to responsible development, RWE Americas invests in local and rural communities, creating jobs and partnering with stakeholders to support and strengthen the places where we live and work. Learn more about how RWE Americas is generating impact at americas.rwe.com.

At RWE Americas, we foster a culture defined by our Essential Behaviors – Have Courage, Create Impact and Actively Collaborate. We encourage bold thinking and continuous learning, and we value ownership, resilience and inclusion in everything we do. When you join us, you become part of a team that supports your development, respects your contributions and celebrates shared success. This is a place where you can grow your career and make a meaningful difference.