Under general supervision, performs complex maintenance, testing, troubleshooting, repair, and installation of protective relaying and control systems associated with SMUD's generating, transmission and distribution systems.
Scope of the job:
The Electrical Technician is a specialized class involving the performance of highly technical maintenance and test work on protection and control systems associated with SMUD's generation, transmission, and distribution system. This classification differs from that of Electrician in that the emphasis is on knowledge of what makes electrical systems work and the ability to locate malfunctions rather than the dexterity in making the mechanical repairs and/or replacements.
Note: This posting will be used to create an eligibility list for current and future full-time and limited term Electrical Technician vacancies. If you are interested in the Electrical Technician Advanced Apprentice position you will need to apply to that posting separately.
This posting will remain up until a sufficient number of qualified applicants have applied. This posting could be removed anytime after September 30th, 2020, so please apply early.
Major Duties & Responsibilities
Maintenance
- Inspect, evaluate, calibrate, test and set a wide variety of electro-mechanical and microprocessor based relays, and programmable logic controllers such as: generator protection and control, transmission or distribution line protection and control, power transformer protection and control, voltage regulators, power factor correction devices, motor and circuit breaker controls, and auxiliary systems.
- Operate (both manual and computer controlled) relay test sets and calibration equipment manufactured by AVO, Doble, Manta and others.
- Perform calibrations on analog and digital meters, transducers, SCADA inputs.
- Perform off line and on line function tests and take in service readings to monitor system performance.
Troubleshooting and Repair
- Check control and relay circuits, current and potential circuits, auxiliary control circuits, data and fault recorders to find, identify, and correct problems in generators, circuit breakers, power transformers, SCADA systems, and alarm systems.
- Repair electro-mechanical relays, wiring problems and failures.
- Make repairs to solid state and microprocessor based relay and control systems at the circuit board and component level; identify failed, faulted, and intermittent components and systems.
- Access, retrieve, display, and evaluate digitally recorded faults, oscillographs, fault records, and displays to locate problems and check system performance.
- Perform AC power-factor (Doble) testing, DC insulation resistance (Meggar), AC and DC high potential testing; use high current test sets, ammeters, voltmeters, watt-meters, varmeters, phase-angle meters, frequency meters, and power analyzers to find problems and failures.
Installations
- Review design drawings such as: electrical one-lines, schematics, elementaries, logic diagrams, wiring diagrams and schedules, and relay setting and coordination orders.
- Assist design engineers in checking circuit design integrity and effectiveness, coordinate installation plans and schedules, plan and implement acceptance tests, coordinate and perform function and start-up tests.
- Perform detailed acceptance tests on electro-mechanical and microprocessor based relays, programmable logic controllers, CTs and PTs, meters and transducers, SCADA and alarm systems.
Safety
- Use safe work practices, methods, and procedures to work on or around high-voltage (up to 230 kV) and low-voltage (600 volt or less) systems. Work safely and effectively without direct supervision, often alone and in isolated areas.
Minimum Qualifications
Knowledge Of:
Advanced Apprentice: Theory of operation of generation, transmission, distribution or industrial electrical systems including electrical symbols, electrical drawing fundamentals and conventions to read mechanical and electrical drawings such as wiring diagrams and schedules, schematics and elementaries, one-lines, logic diagrams, and layout drawings; electrical repair procedures to identify and correct problems with electrical equipment and circuits; electronic and electrical components to troubleshoot, repair, and conduct preventative maintenance; electrical test equipment such as DC insulation testers (Megger), voltmeters, and ammeters; basic computer operations in a Windows or DOS environment; basic electronics including AC and DC with an emphasis on AC polyphase electrical theory; math (including algebra and trigonometry) to solve electrical, electronic, and mechanical problems.
Journey-level: In addition to the above: Advanced AC and DC electrical theory to troubleshoot, repair, and conduct preventative maintenance on electrical equipment; electrical testing equipment such as AC and DC hi potential test sets, AC power factor test set (Doble), turns ratio test sets, CT test sets, power analyzers, transducer testers, oscilloscopes, recorders, phase-angle meters, hi current test set, and relay test sets (both manually and computer controlled); control circuitry for power transformers, transmission and distribution lines, circuit breakers, motors, valves, and generators to make necessary repairs and conduct preventative maintenance.
Skill To:
Advanced Apprentice: Read and interpret electrical schematics, logic, elementary, and wiring diagrams to troubleshoot electrical and electronic problems; troubleshoot electrical and electronic equipment, and control circuits to locate problems and provide necessary repairs; read and interpret technical information related to electronic, mechanical, and electrical equipment and circuitry; safely work around hazardous voltage without direct supervision when necessary; communicate orally with SMUD employees and contractors to discuss problems in the electrical or electronic field.
Journey-level: In addition to the above: Insulation testing such as DC high potential testing and AC power factor testing; calibrate meters, transducers, ammeters, voltmeters, varmeters, frequency meters, and protective relays used in generation, transmission, and distribution systems; perform tests to identify failures on power transformers, high voltage potential devices, generators, current transformers, and other equipment used in electric power generation, transmission and distribution systems.
Education and Experience:
Advanced Apprentice: Progressively responsible experience testing, installing, commissioning and maintaining electrical equipment used for protecting and controlling electric utility generation, transmission and distribution systems and training equivalent to at least the 24-month level of an Electrical Technician Apprenticeship (typically this type of experience would be gained through working as a journey-level electrician in a power production, heavy industrial, or utility setting) and 3-5 years of experience as a Journeyman Electrician.
Journey: Completion of an Electrical Technician apprenticeship program or 5-7 years of experience as a Journey level Electrical Technician (Relay Technician). Experience with testing, installing, commissioning and maintaining electrical protective relays used for protecting and controlling electric utility generation, transmission, and distribution systems.
Physical Requirements
Employees in this classification must demonstrate the skills necessary to perform the duties of this job with or without accommodation.
Job Code: 50051653 ELECTRICAL TECH
Sacramento Municipal Utility District
6201 S St
Sacramento
California United States
www.smud.org
