Senior Protection & Control Technician | Power Generation

APS•Phoenix, AZ

5d•Onsite

About The Position

Arizona Public Service generates reliable, affordable and clean energy for 2.7 million Arizonans. As the state’s largest and longest-serving energy provider, our more than 6,000 dedicated employees power our vision of creating a sustainable energy future for Arizona.SummaryThe Senior Protection & Control Technician | Power Generation performs and/or direct personnel in the installation, shakedown, testing, maintenance and repair of protection, metering, and control system equipment to ensure safe and reliable operation of the Company's transmission and distribution facilities and/or Fossil power plants. May be responsible for project leadership and/or field-engineered plant and/or substation construction projects involving the installation and/or modification of facilities. Coordinates project activities with other APS personnel or departments as needed.

Requirements

BS EE degree or equivalent training
And minimum of five (5) years related Protection and Control Commissioning experience.
Ability to work and communicate effectively with contractors, and other associated department personnel.
Must have an understanding of the Accident Prevention Manual and Human Performance Tools.
The ability to apply and solve mathematical formulas using algebra and trigonometry.
A thorough understanding of electronic circuit fundamentals.
Requires advanced personal computer skills including working knowledge of both hardware and software applications (Dranitz, Fluke, Omicron, serveron, APT, Microsoft office, Maximo, acSELerator quickset, Hyperterminal, TOA preferred).
A thorough understanding of three phase AC theory and the ability to use vectors.
Understands zones of protection and considers potential implications to the system.
Demonstrate the ability to read and comprehend protection and electrical wiring diagrams related to the functionality of control schematics.
Requires proven technical expertise with little to no oversight.
Requires experience in substation design concepts/protection scheme and electrical wiring practices relating to all substation controls.
A comprehensive understanding of protection, metering, and control concepts for substation equipment including but not limited to breakers, transformers, CCVT, PT, Reactors, Capacitor banks.
Ability to work on all types of relaying including electromechanical and microprocessor from manufactures including but not limited to Westinghouse, Basler, GE, SEL and Beckwith.
Ability to work with communication devices, transducers, temperature monitors, busing monitors, and other communication devices. This also includes knowledge of supervisory equipment (SCADA) used by APS (examples: Orion, RTAC, D20, status and control modules).
Job requires travel statewide, majority of activities (80%) are field related and must be capable of working extended workdays as well as overnight out of town assignments for extended periods.
Must have a valid AZ driver's license.

Responsibilities

Perform site evaluations using one-line diagrams to validate field conditions. Interpret Engineering drawings, Construction Standards Manual, survey notes, Accident Prevention Manual, and other drawings
Work in coordination with operations for outage scheduling in Transmission Outage Application (TOA) system and switching order development.
Develop new and/or redline existing control drawings for field engineered plant, substation and/or supervisory or automated transmission and distribution line equipment construction projects. Assist project coordinator by yellow lining and modifying (if necessary) primarily complex projects. Must have ability to field engineer, modify diagram prints/schematics per design standards as it relates to actual field conditions. Respond to emergent call outs, troubleshoot protection and control systems, and restore system(s) back to a normal state for distribution, EHV and fossil generation systems. Provide protection, metering, and control technical services that are integrated with planning and operational needs, reliably and cost effectively: troubleshoot protection, metering, and control system failures and problems.
Conduct shakedown, modify, calibrate and functional test new and existing power plant, substation and/or supervisory or automated transmission and distribution line equipment electrical equipment.
Lead evaluation and integration projects of new technology in order to reduce capital and O&M costs and improve overall system reliability.
Install and integrate new electrical equipment into new or existing energized substation of transmission and distribution lines for primarily complex jobs.
Assume a leadership role in the continuous development and application of company and industry standards wherever appropriate and maintain thorough documentation of all system designs and field changes. Demonstrate leadership with the ability to Project Manage resources and scope of work independently and document work performed and communicate progress updates, including administrative tasks.
Responsible to perform as site superintendent or inspector for multiple construction workgroups, maintenance of substation equipment and fossil power plant equipment. Independently plan and conduct work to meet required deadlines. Strong organizational skills with ability to optimize resources reducing costs and outage schedules.
Responsible for the planning, scheduling and testing of activities on-time without service interruptions. Inspection and Commissioning activities of all substation and fossil power plant equipment used in the delivery and control of power from AC/DC control voltage to EHV.
Perform electromechanical and microprocessor functional testing per regulatory requirements. Provide all testing and commissioning necessary to safely and effectively energize and release equipment to operations for remote control.
Functional test new and modified control schemes in preparation for energizing new or simple and complex retrofitted electrical equipment. Assure operations personnel that new substation and supervisory or automated transmission and distribution line electrical equipment can be safely energized and placed in normal operation.
Participate on project teams to assist in the development of project scope, schedules, and cost estimates for construction.
Effectively communicate with our internal customers to assess their needs and facilitate their understanding of any technical opportunities or limitations that may exist.