Senior Relay Protection and Controls Technician

Job Type: Skilled Trades & Craft

Pay Range $64.82

Location Colorado Springs, CO

Date First Posted 11/28/23

Applications are being accepted until: 4/30/24

*If no date is displayed, applications are being accepted on an ongoing basis; however, this job posting may close at any time after a minimum of 5 days of being posted.

Senior Relay Protection and Controls Technician

This job is eligible for relocation assistance to aid with the costs of relocating to the Colorado Springs area.

Do you have what it takes to join a team that thrives in maintaining the safety and performance of our electric systems? Note- our systems are comprised of 57 substations, 232 miles of transmission lines, AND 8 power generation plants. You will truly have the ability to lead and grow as an individual- where you will be able to manage your schedule, while also supporting a service territory… these territories can be accessible within a 30-minute drive. Work-life balance is SO IMPORTANT to us.

As a municipal four-service utility, Colorado Springs Utilities is both an owner and operator of our power generation and transmission equipment. Keep reading below to explore more about this opportunity…

The starting pay rate for a Senior Relay Protection and Controls Technician is $61.73/hr. Your pay rate will increase to $64.82/hr upon completing probation (typically 6 months).

A day in the life of a Senior Relay Protection and Controls Technician may include:

• Installing, calibrating, maintaining, testing, troubleshooting, tuning, and repairing critical protection and control systems, with an emphasis on quality assurance for relay and control systems and high-speed communication-assisted relay schemes

• Working on Transmission, Distribution, and Substation protection devices

• Interacting with Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition (SCADA) systems

• Interacting with control systems, logic controllers, and operating systems via serial and networked communications

• Utilizing system performance monitoring equipment (e.g., fault recorders, SERs, and power quality monitors)

• Protective relay and data channels via fiber optics, copper pair, and telecommunications carriers associated with various communication systems

• Programming, installing, testing, troubleshooting, maintaining, and repairing all protective relay equipment

• Ensuring compliance with mandated maintenance intervals on the bulk power system and submitting required documentation to demonstrate compliance

• Recommending, modifying, and installing new hardware and software components and/or systems

• Assisting design engineers in reviewing, developing, and maintaining detailed drawing packages and documentation as needed to modify circuitry for various installations, upgrades, and improvements

• Assuming a lead role in equipment installation during the commissioning of projects

Who You Are:

• Completion of a relay technician apprenticeship or training program or relevant work experience instead of formal training or certification

• Experience with transmission line and substation protective relay control systems

• Experience with SCADA system automation, installation, testing, and troubleshooting

The following knowledge, skills, and areas of expertise are highly valued for this role:

• Electric transmission and distribution protection systems and auxiliary equipment

• Electrical protection principles and theories

• Power system protective relaying and control schemes

• Electronics, pneumatics, electro-hydraulic, and electrical principles and theories

• Electronic, pneumatic, and computer-controlled systems and devices

• Programming languages and operating systems specific to tasks and equipment

• National Electrical and National Electric Safety Codes

• Relay and Control Operational and Safety Procedures

• Electric generation, transmission, and distribution systems, equipment, and safety procedures

Who We Are:

• One of the largest four-service public utilities in the nation (over 500,000 customers)

• A national leader in reliability (power on an average of 99.991% of the time)

• Diamond Designation recipient from the American Public Power Association – a utility leader in reliability, safety, workforce development, and system improvements

• Located at the base of the Rocky Mountains in one of the most desired cities to live in the United States (U.S. News & World Report, 2023)

Our Commitment to Our Employees:

Our people are the heart and soul of Colorado Springs Utilities. They keep the lights on, gas flowing, water coming in, and wastewater leaving. We do not just say people are important – we prove it! That’s why we are honored to invest in protecting the health and financial security of our employees and their families through our rich benefits program.

• Time Off – Because everybody needs time off to recharge

• Vacation – New employees accrue 13 days of paid time off to start, while our more tenured employees accrue 24 days per year

• Personal Leave –3 days per year of personal leave

• Paid Holidays –12 paid holidays per year

• Sick Leave – Accrue 12 days of sick leave annually for those days when you or a family member is feeling under the weather

• Vacation Buy – Purchase up to 40 hours of additional vacation time

• Pension Plan – Looking forward to a comfortable lifestyle once you’re done working? The Colorado Public Employees’ Retirement Association (PERA) provides you with retirement benefits and peace of mind when you retire

• Medical – Select from three comprehensive medical plans, starting at $10.00 a month. Employees also enjoy access to a Health Savings Account (HSA) and Flexible Spending Account (FSA)

• Wellness Program – Voluntary wellness program that allows you and your spouse to each earn up to $500 to use towards healthcare expenses, $100 in Visa gift cards, and up to $400 in gym membership reimbursements

• Dental – Select from two dental plans, with in-network PPO preventive care covered at 100% and access to orthodontia coverage

• Vision – Voluntary plan that covers full vision care services and discounts on LASIK eye surgery

• Retirement Saving Programs – Supplement your pension plan with voluntary retirement programs such as the PERAPlus 401(k) and MissionSquare’s Roth IRA and 457 plans

• Disability Coverage – Short-Term (STD) and Long-Term Disability (LTD) insurance available for purchase

• Employee Assistance Program (EAP) – Makes the going a little easier by aiding with mental health, stress management, work-life balance, financial and legal matters, and much more

• Long-Term Care Insurance (LTC) – Whether it's due to an accident or a serious illness, LTC insurance is available for purchase to help you and your loved ones

• Life Insurance – Company-paid life insurance and supplemental coverage available

• Tuition Reimbursement – Employees are eligible to receive up to $5,250 annually for Tuition Reimbursement

• Qualifying Public Service Employer – Payments made towards student loans may qualify for the Public Service Loan Forgiveness Program

ATTENTION :

• All positions will be posted for a minimum of 5 calendar days.

• Starting pay will be determined within the posted pay range based on the experience, education, and training of the successful candidate; if there is a single pay rate posted, the job starts at that rate.

• Colorado Springs Utilities does not sponsor work visas of any kind (including but not limited to F-1, H-1B, or TN visas to include those with a STEM OPT extension ). Eligible applicants must be authorized to work in the United States.

Colorado Springs Utilities is an Equal Employment Opportunity/Affirmative Action employer. Our differences make us richer. Learning and growing from one another makes us more than what we were. We want our workforce to be as diverse as our business and recognize the limitless benefits of this commitment. Our desire is to have the organization reflect the diversity of the Pikes Peak Region. As an Equal Employment Opportunity employer, it is our commitment that no person shall be unlawfully discriminated against because of race, color, national origin or ancestry, sex, age, religious convictions, veteran status, disability, political beliefs, sexual orientation, or gender identity. Affirmative Action is Colorado Springs Utilities’ effort to ensure positive steps are taken to have a representative workforce reflective of the relevant available labor force.

For more information regarding applicant rights, visit https://www.dol.gov/ofccp/regs/compliance/posters/ofccpost.htm

Accessibility Accommodations . If you are an individual with a disability or disabled veteran who is unable to use our online tools to search and apply for jobs, you may request a reasonable accommodation by contacting us at accessibility@csu.org or by calling 719-668-7500. This option is reserved for individuals who are unable to use or require assistance with the online tools as the result of a disability and is not intended for other purposes.

E-Verify and Right to Work Notice . Federal law requires all employers to verify the identity and employment eligibility of all persons hired to work in the United States. Colorado Springs Utilities participates in E-Verify. For more information on your rights and responsibilities as an applicant, please visit: http://coloradospringsutilities.jobs/applicants-rights-and-responsibilities/ . If you have a legal right to work in the United States, there are laws to protect you against discrimination in the workplace. You should know that no employer can deny you a job or fire you because of your national origin. Unless mandated by law or government contract, employers cannot require you to be a U.S. Citizen or permanent resident or refuse any legally acceptable documents. If any of these things have happened to you, you may have a valid charge of discrimination that can be filed with the OSC. Contact the OSC for assistance in your own language. Call 1-800-255-7688. TDD for the hearing impaired is 1-800-237-2515. In the Washington, D.C., area, please call 202-616-5594, TDD 202-616-5525 Or write to: U.S. Department of Justice Office of Special Counsel NYA 950 Pennsylvania Ave., N.W. Washington, DC 20530.

Have a question? If you have a question about a position or need assistance from a recruiter, email us at csurecruiting@csu.org or call 719-668-7500.

Job Type: Skilled Trades & Craft