HIGH VOLTAGE TECHNICIAN

Country/Region:  US
City:  Cantua Creek, CA
Company:  EDP Renewables North America LLC

EDP Renewables is a global leader in the renewable energy sector nad the world's third-largest wind energy producer. With a sound development pipeline, first class assets, and market-leading operating capacity, EDPR has undergone exceptional development in recent years and is currently present in 17 markets (Belgium, Brazil, Canada, Colombia, Chile, France, Greece, Hungary, Italy, Mexico, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Spain, the UK, US and Vietnam). 

EDPR is committed to furthering social advances in terms of sustainability and integration. This is reflected by the inclusion of the company in the Bloomberg Gender Equality index and the fact that it has been certified as a Top Employer 2021 in Europe (Spain, Italy, France, Poland, Portugal and Romania), both of which recognise its employee-driven policies.

What you will do

Role Overview:

The High Voltage Technician will provide electrical, high voltage (HV), and substation emergency response to operating wind farms across the Company with a primary focus in an assigned region.  You will lead maintenance, service, and repair of HV assets in conjunction with other technicians and HV Reliability Engineers.

Main responsibilities:

  • 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 machinery 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

Employment type

Full Time 

Work site

On Site- Scarlet Solar 

What are we looking for

Minimum Requirements:

  • High School diploma or equivalent, plus 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 
  • Understanding of Microsoft products and/or complementing products.  (Preferred)  
  • Competency in Analytical Problem Solving, Strong Communication, Customer/Partner Relationships, and Technology Expertise. (Preferred). 

Travel:

30%

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 schedule form 
  • Lifting: Ability to frequently lift items weighing up to 60 pounds and to occasionally lift items weighing between 60 and 100 pounds 
  • Climbing:   
  1. Ability to climb turbine towers in excess of 100 meters in height to access the work area 
  2. Weight must not exceed 275 pounds, excluding equipment/gear worn when performing job-related tasks, to be in accordance with the ANSI Fall Protection Standards. 
  • 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 

Among EDPR's principles we would like to highlight diversity and inclusion as a strength in our values and practices. Reinforcing these principles has a real impact on the satisfaction of commitment, increases talent and the quality of leadership of our professionals. To achieve all our objectives, it intends to attract, develop and retain different profiles, assuming diversity as a key factor and differentiator of fundamental innovation in our organisation. We welcome and value all people, and we are committed to the inclusion and sense of belonging of each person who is part of EDPR.

 

What makes us proud as an employer:

TOP Employer Europe 2021 certification.
Bloomberg Gender Equality Index 2021.
Top Workplaces US 2021.
Certification in Conciliation (Excellence) by the Más Familia Foundation;


Nearest Major Market: Fresno

Job Segment: High Voltage, Equipment Operator, Aerial Operator, Maintenance, Pipeline, Energy, Manufacturing, Engineering

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