Electrical Technician

Pacific Gas And Electric Company•Chico, CA

27d•Onsite

About The Position

The Electrical Technician works in PG&E Power Generation, supporting the safe operation and maintenance of hydroelectric powerhouses and related facilities, as well as construction and infrastructure replacement projects. The role involves installing, field-testing, calibrating, troubleshooting, repairing, overhauling, and maintaining protective relay equipment and related systems, including microprocessor and electromechanical relays, substation and utility protection systems, station automation, and SCADA systems. Work must support efficient, safe, reliable, and NERC Reliability Standards-compliant operation of generating plants and transmission networks. The position requires proficiency in electrical drawings and schematics, technical materials, equipment labels and safety signs, and daily documentation. The technician works with other technicians, records and files test results, and operates a company vehicle. Work is performed predominantly outdoors, at remote hydro facilities and other sites across the service region, with travel between locations during work hours. The role is represented by IBEW Local 1245 and is subject to collective bargaining. The work may involve heights, energized equipment, loud or vibrating rotating machinery, confined or awkward positions, stairs and ladders, uneven or narrow terrain, scaffolding, and extreme weather. Outdoor conditions may include exposure to poison oak, wildlife, insects, and chemicals or other substances. The technician must use company-provided PPE and may be required to work extended hours, nights, weekends, and holidays and to travel or transfer to a new headquarters or hydro facility upon request.

Requirements

Must be at least 18 years of age.
High school diploma, GED, or equivalent work experience.
Valid California Driver's License.
Ability to work in all types of extreme weather and drive safely in all weather and road conditions.
Ability to work extended hours, nights, weekends, and holidays.
Ability to lift 100 pounds at least once per day.
Ability to wear company-provided Personal Protective Equipment (PPE).
Previous journeyman Electrical Technician experience, with at least two years of experience in relay and control.
Two years of experience testing protective relay equipment in a power station or high-voltage substation.
Certified journey-level Electrician.
Ability to work at heights and around energized and/or large, loud, vibrating rotating equipment; maneuver frequently on stairs, ladders, uneven surfaces, and varied terrain; and work in confined or awkward positions.
Ability to comprehend equipment labels, safety signs, and technical materials and complete daily logs.
Ability to travel between site locations during work hours.

Nice To Haves

Four-year degree in Electrical Engineering, or a two-year Associate degree in Electrical Engineering Technology and two years of experience in relay and control.
Successful completion of an apprentice electrical technician program.
Demonstrated experience with electromechanical and microprocessor protective relay devices in substations or powerhouses.
Proficiency in understanding and deciphering electrical drawings and schematics.
Demonstrated ability to perform detailed, intricate work requiring hand-eye dexterity, such as work on circuit boards and meter and relay movements.
Ability to travel and transfer to new hydro facilities within the PG&E service region upon request.

Responsibilities

Install, field-test, and maintain protective relay equipment, relay carriers, supervisory equipment, station apparatus, instruments, remote and local control devices, and associated wiring.
Read electrical prints, including schematics and diagrams of connections.
Calibrate electromechanical and microprocessor relays, including distance, directional overcurrent, overcurrent, overvoltage, undervoltage, differential, frequency, phase-unbalance, negative-sequence, and loss-of-excitation relays.
Test current transformers, including saturation, primary and secondary current ratio, voltage ratio, and insulation resistance.
Test power and potential (instrument) transformers, including polarity, transformer-turn ratio, voltage ratio, insulation resistance, oil dielectric, oil acidity, sudden pressure, and moisture tests.
Test transducers, including voltage, watt, var, current, and millivolt types.
Pack, move, lift, carry, and install tools, parts, and equipment weighing up to 100 pounds across varied terrain and structures.
Use required safety equipment, including eye, ear, foot, and hand protection and fall-protection equipment.
Work around chemicals, fuels, solvents, oils, acids, paints, and certain substances identified in Proposition 65.
Work with other technicians to test and install equipment.
Record and file test results.
Operate a company vehicle and travel between site locations during work hours.
Follow PG&E safety standards and procedures at all times.