Title: Electrical Technician Apprentice

Department: Substation Maintenance

Location:

Sacramento, CA, US, 95827-3824

Category: Skilled/Craft/Trades

Minimum Pay Rate: $50.25 per hour

Maximum Pay Rate: $73.54 per hour

Apply by Date: 01/24/2025

Posting Type: Open

The intent of this job posting is to establish an eligibility list which may be used to fill current and future, permanent and limited-term, vacancies for up to two (2) years.

COVER LETTER REQUIREMENT: In your cover letter, please be specific in describing your previous education, work experience, or hobbies relevant to the electrical trade that would make you a desirable candidate for our Electrical Technician Apprenticeship. Please include dates and lengths of time for each item listed.

You must clearly demonstrate, on your resume, that you possess the required knowledge and skills listed in this posting. The most qualified candidates may be invited to the written examination.

Written Exam Details:

• The onsite written exam is tentatively scheduled for March 14th and/or March 15th, 2025.

• A study guide will be provided approximately 2 weeks prior to the exam.

• Exams are strictly PASS/FAIL, results will be sent to each applicant approximately two weeks after completion of exam.

Note: All communication regarding this hiring process will be via email. SMUD is not responsible for mail that is directed to your junk mail inbox so please be sure to add SMUD to your safe senders list.

Purpose

Under guidance of journey-level Electrical Technicians or other authorized persons, performs complex maintenance, testing, troubleshooting, repair, and installation of protective relaying and control systems associated with the District's generating, transmission and distribution systems.

Nature and Scope

This series is assigned to distribution services. The Electrical Technician is a specialized class involving the performance of highly technical maintenance and test work on protection and control systems associated with the District'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.

Duties and Responsibilities

Work includes but is not limited to the following: Note: While in general all functions/duties are essential, individual positions within this class may not require all. This list is not intended to be complete or exhaustive. At the Apprentice level, incumbent is in a learning capacity and assists in the duties specified below for an Electrical Technician. It is expected that an apprentice will show achievement on a progressive scale for a normal apprenticeship period of 54 months, and advance to the journey level within 6 months to 1 year after reaching the top step apprentice.

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.

• 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.

Required Education

• High School diploma or equivalent

Knowledge Of

Theory of operation of generation, transmission, distribution or industrial electrical systems.

Skills To

Read and interpret electrical schematics, logic, elementary wiring diagrams, and use of computers in a Windows or DOS-based environment.

Desirable Qualifications

• Possess and maintain a valid California Driver’s License (CDL) and a satisfactory driving record (not more than two moving violations in the last two years).

• Ability to safely lift and carry 40 pounds

• Completion of an Electrical Apprenticeship

• Electrical Engineering Degree

• Substation high voltage electrician, construction, and maintenance experience

• Knowledge of:

• 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

Physical Requirements

Applicants must be able to perform the essential job functions with or without a reasonable accommodation.

Sacramento Municipal Utility District (SMUD) - Who We Are

As the nation's sixth-largest community-owned electric service provider, we're proud of our reputation as one of the best places to work in Sacramento. Our employees tell us in our engagement surveys they're "Happy, satisfied and engaged" which helps create a workplace that best serves our customers. Sacramento was named as the 2nd happiest place to work in America by Forbes Magazine. Lake Tahoe, San Francisco and the world-renowned Napa Valley are within easy driving distance of our locations.

Our Commitment to Diversity & Inclusion

SMUD celebrates diversity, and inspires an inclusive culture based on trust and respect to create belonging and connection among our employees, customers, and communities. By working together, we are powering positive, equitable opportunities for all. We aspire to be a workplace where you can be yourself, achieve your best, and thrive together.

An example of our commitment to Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Belonging is when SMUD signed the California Equal Pay Pledge in 2020. This requires equal pay for employees who perform “substantially similar work,” when viewed as a composite of skill, effort, and responsibility at the time those employees started within that classification. As such, initial hiring salary range is not subject to negotiation and salaries will vary over time based on performance.

SMUD is proud to be an equal opportunity employer. We do not discriminate in employment decisions on the basis of race, color, religion, gender (including pregnancy), national origin, political affiliation, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, marital status, disability, genetic information, age, veteran status, or any other applicable legally protected characteristic. All employment decisions are made on the basis of individual qualifications, merit, and business needs and interests.

Why Sacramento, California?

The capitol of California, Sacramento is the state's sixth-largest city, and the 35th largest in the U.S. Local universities include California State University, University of the Pacific's McGeorge School of Law, and the University of California, Davis and several competitive community colleges. The UC Davis Medical Center, a world-renowned research hospital, is one of more than a dozen hospitals and shared services centers in the Sacramento region. Part of the agriculturally-rich Central Valley, Sacramento is at the forefront of the farm-to-fork food movement. Northern California is home to some of the country's top technology companies, including Google and LinkedIn, and a multitude of startups in many industries. Sacramento is home to the NBA Kings, the River Cats (AAA baseball), the Republic FC (soccer) and the San Francisco Giants, NBA Warriors and NFL 49er's aren't far away. Sacramento offers an affluent liberal arts community with Broadway, Mondavi Center, Crocker Museum and summer musical theater to name a few.

On-site Work

This role will be an on-site role that will require being in person at one of SMUD's campuses daily to complete work tasks.

SMUD provides equal employment opportunities (EEO) to all employees and applicants for employment without regard to race, color, religion, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, national origin, age, disability, genetic information, marital status, amnesty, or status as a covered veteran in accordance with applicable federal, state and local laws. SMUD complies with applicable state and local laws governing non-discrimination in employment in every location in which the company has facilities. This policy applies to all terms and conditions of employment, including, but not limited to, hiring, placement, promotion, termination, layoff, recall, transfer, leaves of absence, compensation, and training.

SMUD expressly prohibits any form of unlawful employee harassment based on race, color, religion, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, national origin, age, genetic information, disability, or veteran status. Improper interference with the ability of SMUD employees to perform their expected job duties is absolutely not tolerated.

Req ID: 1925