High Voltage Technician

Reporting to the Manager, the High Voltage Technician will oversee the operation, maintenance, and repair of MV & HV electrical equipment for wind energy projects. This person must possess a minimum of five years’ experience in the troubleshooting, repair and maintenance of high voltage systems at a power generating facility, or similar industrial setting.

This position will be located at our Alta site in Mojave, CA.

• Support high voltage maintenance and troubleshooting. Ensure compliance to national/local electrical standards and company objectives.
• Review, assist and/or perform high voltage switching, and grounding using approved switching orders and procedures.
• Service, troubleshoot and repair high voltage collective systems, including overhead power lines, underground cable systems, substation switching equipment, power instrumentation and transformer equipment up to 230KV.
• Instruct, train, and assist site personnel in safe work practices. Ensure compliance with industry safe work practices by wind site employees and contractors performing Balance of Plant work activities.
• Review specific work for site planned outages. Ensure work includes time based or condition-based maintenance. Verify the availability/accuracy of permits, LOTOs, contractors, test equipment, repair parts and tools.
• Be onsite during planned outages to assist and supervise as needed. Follow contractor work progress. Ensure unsatisfactory test results/conditions recorded are resolved, verified and addressed before contractor demobilization and restoration of equipment.
• Track site discrete relay calibration due dates for assigned sites. Supervise the implementation of Company procedures by contracted testing personnel. Review and file final relay test reports.
• Ensure modifications made to site equipment are documented for future reference. Maintain test logs.
• Review site-specific equipment manuals for maintenance and repair requirements.
• Maintain log books, work orders, procedures, timesheets, expense reports, requisitions and other documentation as required.
• Work alternate shift schedule on short term basis and overtime as required.

• Must possess a high school diploma or GED
• Five years of relevant experience is required
• Completion of a formal apprenticeship program or equivalent combination of work experience and technical training required

  Knowledge & Skills

  • Must have an understanding of electrical power generation, distribution, and possess a thorough knowledge of MV and HV systems including overhead, underground and substation systems.
  • Must possess a good understanding of operating procedures, environmental and safety rules and regulations, and first aid procedures.
  • Must possess a valid driver’s license – Class B, or Class A preferred.

  Must be skilled in:

  • The use of a variety of electrical test equipment and hand tools
  • Interpreting and following technical instruction furnished in verbal, written, diagrammatic and schedule formats
  • Reading and interpreting electrical drawings, technical manuals, and test reports
  • Using test gauges, digital multi-meters, oscilloscopes, and specialized test equipment to test overhead, underground, and substation equipment

  Specific areas of knowledge/familiarity:

  • NFPA 70E and Arc Flash hazards
  • Proper use of PPE, grounding equipment and switching equipment
  • Underground cable fault locating and repair
  • Battery maintenance, testing and documentation
  • Protective Relay purpose, operation, fault analyzing and event reports
  • Transformer maintenance; cooling, oil sampling and DGA analysis
  • Thermography- use, training, reporting and analysis
  • MV/HV breakers and disconnect operation, maintenance and testing
  • Must successfully function as a member and/or leader of a team
  • Proficiency in operation…