GENERAL DESCRIPTION
The HV Technician will provide electrical, high-voltage (HV), and substation emergency response to operating wind farms across the Company with a primary focus on an assigned region. You will lead the maintenance, service, and repair of HV assets in conjunction with other technicians and HV Reliability Engineers.
Main Accountabilities:
* Monitor and provide electrical, high-voltage, and substation support to operating wind farms in an assigned region, including 24/7 on-call support
* Perform testing, repairs, switching, and construction activities as requested
* Provide technical expertise for commissioning, start-up, and initial operating activities
* Maintain HV spare parts inventory and warehouse
* Perform HV switching of step-up transformers, feeder breakers, gang-operated switches, and other related components
* Operate heavy machineries such as bucket/line trucks, forklifts, aerial lifts, and overhead cranes
* Analyze and report on infrared inspections, battery maintenance, and dielectric oil and SF6 sampling
* Lead substation maintenance via Orders to Operate (OTOs) and outage planning
* Perform substation and transmission inspections in accordance with NERC compliance requirements
* Work closely with site Operations Managers to ensure day-to-day reliability
* Serve as the first responder for emergency and routine repairs on HV equipment, including transmission lines, HV cable terminations, and splices
* Provide remote HV support to the HV Reliability Engineers for complex troubleshooting, component testing, and proof checking
* Ensure adherence to all pertinent HV OSHA safety requirements
* Provide detailed written reports to management including root-cause analyses
* Maintain HV vehicle in ready-to-respond order
* Perform critical HV test equipment calibrations
* Additional duties as required
Direct reports: None
Travel: 30%+
Minimum qualifications:
* Continuing education in the electro-mechanical field
* 5+ years of relevant technical experience; experience in power generation or distribution preferred
* Necessary qualifications to operate HV equipment
* Strong knowledge of medium- and high-voltage substation electrical equipment, collection systems, transmission design, and operations; familiarity with power factor test sets, AC/DC hi-pots, low res ohm meters, and transformer turns ratio test units preferred
* Familiarity with electronic communication systems (SCADA)
* Familiarity with Order to Operate (OTO) and Lock-Out Tag-Out (LOTO) procedures
* Ability to operate a motor vehicle and possession of a valid driver's license
Behavioral requirements:
* Strong problem-solving ability
* Ability to be self-motivated and work with minimal supervision
* Ability to multi-task in a complex, dynamic environment
* Ability to perform basic electrical mathematical calculations
* Ability to read and understand plans, specifications, drawings, and documents relating to engineering and construction, including one-line, three-line, and wiring diagrams
* Ability to work with other crews performing high-line maintenance and repair
* Familiarity with the operation of capacitor banks, transformer load tap changers, and motor-operated air breaks
* Willingness and ability to travel at least 30%
* Ability and willingness to respond to site emergencies 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, as needed
Physical Demands & Working Conditions:
* Sitting/Standing/Flexibility: Ability to frequently perform physical tasks including standing, sitting, walking, kneeling, bending, twisting, squatting, and reaching approximately 75% of the time while on wind farm sites. Ability to stand and sit for 8 or more hours when in an office environment.
* Walking: Ability to walk .25 to .5 miles per day, including across unpaved and rough surfaces when on wind farm sites
* Speech/Reading: Ability to speak, read, and write English proficiently and deliver a variety of instructions furnished in written, verbal, diagram, or scheduled form
* Lifting: Ability to frequently lift items weighing up to 60 pounds and to occasionally lift items weighing between 60 and 100 pounds
* Climbing:
* Vision/Hearing: Ability to interpret and follow a variety of instructions furnished in written, verbal, diagram, or schedule form
* Tolerance to Extreme Weather Conditions: Ability to work in adverse weather conditions 25% of the time while on wind farm sites
* Safety: Ability to understand and communicate safety precautions when necessary