Control Technician Jr. - Sr.

American Electric Power•Winfield, WV

23h

About The Position

American Electric Power is hiring Control Technician personnel at Jr., regular, and Sr. levels to perform technical work involving electrical and control systems. The work includes detecting and repairing control-system defects; maintaining, inspecting, calibrating, and testing instrumentation and electrical equipment; analyzing system performance; and documenting results. Duties and scope vary by level, with senior technicians handling complex systems and diagnostics, directing others, and working with limited direction. Technicians work with electrical, electronic, mechanical, pneumatic, and hydraulic components, instrumentation, control loops, circuit breakers, motors, relays, distributed control systems (DCS), programmable logic controllers (PLC), and related plant equipment. They use diagrams, prints, specifications, computer interfaces, monitoring systems, and test equipment. Work must follow applicable company standards and environmental, safety, and health regulations. The job has a medium physical demand level and involves work in varied plant areas and heights, including exposure to cold, heat, dust, and fumes. Education qualifications may be met with a two-year associate degree in electronics or a qualifying engineering or science field; a high school diploma and two or more years of related military experience; or a high school diploma and five or more years of related industrial technical electrical or controls experience. Higher technician levels additionally require qualifications and duties from the preceding level. The Senior level requires 10,000 hours of power plant experience, including 6,000 hours as a Control Technician or equivalent. Hourly ranges listed are $34.61–$36.96 for Control Technician Jr., $40.68–$50.96 for Controls Technician, and $52.31–$53.00 for Controls Technician Sr. AEP states that it offers a comprehensive benefits package but does not specify individual benefits in the posting.

Requirements

Qualifying education: a two-year associate degree in electronics or a qualifying engineering or science field; or a high school diploma with two or more years of related military experience; or a high school diploma with five or more years of related industrial technical electrical or controls experience.
Jr. candidates must have the knowledge and skill to install, inspect, repair, adjust, calibrate, and service instruments and controls; read and interpret simple prints, sketches, and specifications; work effectively with employees; and learn to instruct and direct others.
Jr. candidates must demonstrate the physical and mental ability to perform work in all required areas and at required heights.
Regular-level candidates must have performed the duties of Control Technician Jr., maintained its qualifications, and pass a company examination and/or qualification demonstrations.
Regular-level candidates must have sufficient power-industrial-instrumentation experience to understand process control and inspect, repair, tune, and modify single-element control loops; calibrate and adjust plant instruments and controls; and detect and repair control-system issues.
Regular-level candidates must be able to perform engineering calculations, interpret moderately complex prints and specifications, understand equipment and clearance procedures and applicable safety practices, and lead and direct employees to achieve satisfactory work results.
Senior candidates must have performed the duties of Control Technician and maintained its qualifications, and pass a company examination and/or qualification demonstrations.
Senior candidates must have 10,000 hours of power plant experience, including 6,000 hours as a Control Technician or equivalent, and be able to work with complex systems and problems with little or no direction.
Must possess the appropriate state driver's license.
Jr. candidates must successfully complete the Plant Maintenance Selection System (MASS) test and a physical abilities assessment.
Must comply with federal, state, local, and company environmental, safety, and health regulations, policies, procedures, rules, and practices; report unsafe conditions and stop unsafe work.
Must become knowledgeable of applicable OSHA, regulatory, and environmental guidelines, policies, and procedures.
Physical demands include lifting up to 50 pounds, carrying 35 pounds, pushing or pulling up to 65 pounds, frequent walking and standing, and climbing ladders and stairs, squatting, and kneeling.
Must be able to use hand tools and motorized equipment and work in cold, heat, dust, and fumes.

Responsibilities

Assist with locating and repairing control-system defects using diagrams at the Jr. level; locate and repair defects at the regular level; diagnose and repair complex control systems at the Sr. level.
Inspect, adjust, repair, calibrate, and service instruments and control equipment, including pressure, temperature, flow, gas-analysis, and related devices.
Perform control-system monitoring, diagnostics, and program modifications using computer interfaces, DCS, PLC, and data collection systems, according to level; document changes.
Inspect, repair, and adjust circuit breakers and their electrical or mechanical interlocks, including low-, medium-, and at the Sr. level high-voltage systems.
Perform preventive maintenance and repairs on plant equipment such as batteries, motors, compressed-air systems, forklifts, heaters, and HVAC systems, as applicable to level.
Make equipment checks and inspections; record data; perform tests; compile project and investigation data; and prepare reports, graphs, sketches, curves, and other documentation.
Assist with or prepare engineering layouts and supporting data for procedures, specifications, contracts, bills of materials, and requisitions.
Complete control-loop and input/output checks on new and replacement equipment at the regular level; install and functionally test new or replacement equipment at the Sr. level.
Use the work-management system to locate or request parts, create work requests or orders, and search or record work histories, when applicable.
Request and accept permits and ensure equipment is cleared and tagged; install and remove grounds as directed or required.
At the Sr. level, troubleshoot electrical equipment and power-distribution systems, perform circuit and power calculations, assess equipment operation against standards, and prepare reports documenting changes and their rationale.
At the Sr. level, direct assisting employees, provide instruction and training, complete job demonstrations, and train for emergency-response situations as required.
Follow applicable safety, health, environmental, regulatory, and company requirements; report unsafe or abnormal conditions and stop unsafe work.
Perform other assigned duties, including similar or less-skilled work as applicable.