Substation and Engineering Technician

Job Description

This position is a senior engineering technician position reporting to the Electrical Engineering Manager, the Substation and Engineering Technician is responsible for monitoring substation and VTES system performance. The Technician must have a thorough knowledge of the methods, principles, and practices of electrical transmission and distribution system design and operation; general knowledge of regulations governing the location and placement of electrical facilities and equipment; general knowledge of materials and methods used in construction of electrical systems; general knowledge of ordinances and policies pertaining to electric utilities. As such, this role requires considerable utility experience with electrical distribution equipment. Technician executes routine substation maintenance and basic VTES system maintenance as-needed. Technician performs basic wiring as-needed and has the ability to work from drawings. Capabilities include but is not limited to service equipment installations, substation wiring, and elementary drawings. Technician performs installation, configuration, and troubleshooting of various substation controls, SCADA equipment, networking, metering, and data collection equipment. Technician maintains power and communications systems that include SCADA, Ethernet, serial, DSL, and fiber. Installs and/or maintains configuration of data collection equipment including RTUs (Remote Terminal Units) and SCADA master station software. Technician may troubleshoot, install, and/or repair metering installations as-needed. Technician often coordinates work with multiple stakeholders including engineering, billing and metering various staff, power line workers, and customers. Technician will often verify that metering installations including PT and CT services are installed and functioning correctly. Utility planning and estimating for town and/or campus installations is often required. Technical knowledge and expertise is used to develop safe, cost effective, operational, and maintenance needs. The Technician must have the ability to communicate effectively in oral and written form; ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with engineers, consultants, officials, business owners, customers, and the general public as the Technician will coordinate and/or communicate various permits, easements, and schedule-related issues between VTES and customers. Technician performs service inspections for switches, substation equipment, substation transformers, nitrogen blanket systems, cooling systems, oil systems, water pumps, and other system related equipment regularly and as-needed. Training of junior-level technicians and/or engineers may be required as-needed. Basic electrical and/or lighting repair work or installation for control rooms, vaults, or other locations as-needed. Role also performs routine inspections of grounding cables, AED's, fire extinguishers, eye-wash stations, exit signs, and other varying forms of safety equipment. Role is critical, essential, and vital to the operational capabilities of VTES and during outage events. Other duties will be assigned as-needed.

Required Qualifications

• Associate degree in Electrical Engineering Technology or related field or equivalent experience in electric power systems.
• Notary public.
• Must have a valid driver's license.
• Ability to safely move and handle heavy objects weighing 50 pounds or more; and stand, sit, bend and walk on uneven terrain.
• Ability to perform repetitive motion tasks such as keyboarding and use of tools.
• Must be able to work in all types of weather conditions, including extreme temperatures.
• This position is designated as Emergency Personnel.
• May be required to work additional hours/shifts to meet the needs of the department.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience working around energized electrical equipment up to 600 volts.
• GPS experience.
• Programmable Logic Controller, SEL relay, or similar equipment programming experience.
• Experience with electric utility distribution systems.
• Electrician certification is preferred.
• CAD experience with AutoCAD preferred.

Pay Band

4

Appointment Type

Regular

Salary Information

$60,000 - $70,000

Review Date

September 5, 2024; open until filled

Additional Information

The successful candidate will be required to have a criminal conviction check.

About Virginia Tech

Dedicated to its motto, Ut Prosim (That I May Serve), Virginia Tech pushes the boundaries of knowledge by taking a hands-on, transdisciplinary approach to preparing scholars to be leaders and problem-solvers. A comprehensive land-grant institution that enhances the quality of life in Virginia and throughout the world, Virginia Tech is an inclusive community dedicated to knowledge, discovery, and creativity. The university offers more than 280 majors to a diverse enrollment of more than 36,000 undergraduate, graduate, and professional students in eight undergraduate colleges , a school of medicine , a veterinary medicine college, Graduate School , and Honors College . The university has a significant presence across Virginia, including the Innovation Campus in Northern Virginia; the Health Sciences and Technology Campus in Roanoke; sites in Newport News and Richmond; and numerous Extension offices and research centers . A leading global research institution, Virginia Tech conducts more than $500 million in research annually.

Virginia Tech endorses and encourages participation in professional development opportunities and university shared governance . These valuable contributions to university shared governance provide important representation and perspective, along with opportunities for unique and impactful professional development.

Virginia Tech does not discriminate against employees, students, or applicants on the basis of age, color, disability, sex (including pregnancy), gender, gender identity, gender expression, genetic information, ethnicity or national origin, political affiliation, race, religion, sexual orientation, or military status, or otherwise discriminate against employees or applicants who inquire about, discuss, or disclose their compensation or the compensation of other employees or applicants, or on any other basis protected by law.

If you are an individual with a disability and desire an accommodation, please contact Facilities HRat opshr-g@vt.edu during regular business hours at least 10 business days prior to the event.