Senior Substation Technician / SwitchmanLocation: Roseville / Sacramento, CA
Employment Type: Full-Time/On-Site
Reports to: Site Manager
Pay scale: $50.00 - $55.00 per hour
You will be the substation resource on a large utility-scale solar plus battery storage plant north of Sacramento, interconnected at 230 kV with a 34.5 kV collection system. The substation has main power transformers, 230 kV and 34.5 kV breakers, disconnects and hook-stick switches, capacitor banks, station batteries, a control building and a full microprocessor relay and metering package. The role starts during commissioning and energization and carries into long-term operations.
This is a senior position for an experienced switchman who has held the job at transmission voltage, not a technician working toward it. You will carry out switching on 230 kV and 34.5 kV equipment under approved switching orders, keep the substation maintenance program on schedule, and be the person the rest of the site team goes to with a high-voltage question. You will need to show proof of your switching experience and competency during the hiring process.
Job DescriptionSwitching & Clearances- Execute approved switching orders on 230 kV and 34.5 kV equipment, including breakers, disconnects, hook-stick switches and capacitor banks with interlocks
- Establish and restore electrically safe work conditions: live-dead-live verification, grounding, LOTO and sign-on to clearances held by the controlling authority
- Review switching orders against one-lines and field conditions before execution, and stop and raise it when the order and the field do not match
- Serve as switchman or safety monitor on energization, back feed and outage work, working with the owner, EPC contractors and the interconnecting utility through the designated switching authority
- Coordinate outage timing and switching with the ROC, including remote breaker operations
Substation Preventive Maintenance- Perform monthly substation and control building inspections: debris, grounding connections, gas levels and overall condition
- Main power transformer oil sampling and dissolved gas analysis, monitor checks and inspections
- MV and HV breakers: cleaning, manual operations, electrical tests and gas leak checks
- Disconnect and knife switch operation, auxiliary transformer fuse inspection, and capacitor bank visual, torque and filter checks
- Station battery PM: voltage, ground checks, ohmic values and float, pilot cells, specific gravity and connection resistance
- Infrared thermographic scans of substation and connection points
- Gen-lead and transmission line inspections, including pole inspections
Protection, Metering & Controls- Verify relay functionality, trip breakers via coil and check telecommunications on microprocessor relays and lockouts
- Support PT and CT calibration, meter calibration and protection testing, and coordinate outside testing firms when the work calls for them
- Pull relay event records and support fault investigation with engineering and the ROC
Corrective Support & Reporting- First-response troubleshooting on substation and collection equipment; isolate, make safe, and escalate anything beyond field-repair scope with a clear plan
- Oversee specialty contractors for major repairs and testing
- Support punch list, QA/QC, turnover readiness and spare parts setup during the commissioning phase
- Produce a clear same-day field report: tasks completed, equipment condition, readings, parts used, follow-ups and hours
- Keep switching records, test results and inspection logs audit-ready to support NERC and warranty requirements
Safety & Compliance- Perform all work in accordance with NFPA 70E, OSHA, NEC / NESC and CES safety policies, including 29 CFR 1910.269
- Conduct job hazard analyses and tailboards before work begins, and exercise stop-work authority any time a task cannot be completed safely
- Apply lockout/tagout on every job: isolate, lock and tag, test before touch, and ground where required
- Report all incidents, near-misses and unsafe conditions, and keep your training and certifications current
Team Support- Serve as the high-voltage subject matter resource for the site team and help train PV and BESS technicians on MV switching and LOTO
- Work closely with the Site Manager, Senior Field Manager and CES ROC
- CES technicians support each other across disciplines. Your core role is the substation and high-voltage equipment. When your schedule permits, and for specific tasks that need additional support, you will assist the PV and BESS technicians on site, within your training and qualifications
- Report daily to the Site Manager on work status, priorities and schedule
- Other duties as assigned by the Site Manager
Required Qualifications- 8+ years of hands-on substation or utility high-voltage experience
- Documented experience as a switchman executing switching orders on 115 kV and above, plus medium-voltage switching at 34.5 kV class
- Experience on energization, backfeed or outage work, with clearance, grounding and live-dead-live procedures
- Qualified Electrical Worker able to show proof of high-voltage competency: at least four years of documented electrical experience, NFPA 70E, 29 CFR 1910.332 training, and First Aid / CPR / AED
- Hands-on PM experience on main power transformers, breakers, disconnects, capacitor banks and station batteries
- Comfortable with arc-rated PPE up to 40 cal/cmb2, Class 4 gloves, hot sticks and voltage detection
- Reads and works from single-lines, three-lines, relay schematics and switching orders
- Clear, professional communicator on the radio, on the phone and in writing
- Available for night work during HV outages and for evening, weekend and holiday response
- Lives within about one hour of the Roseville / Sacramento area, or willing to relocate
- Valid driver's license and clean driving record; ability to pass background check and drug screen
- Physically able to lift up to 50 lbs, climb, work at heights, walk uneven ground and work outdoors in all weather
Preferred Qualifications- Journeyman lineman, substation electrician or wireman credential; completion of a formal lineman or substation program
- Protective relay testing and NETA-type electrical testing (SEL, GE or equivalent)
- Experience on inverter-based solar or battery storage substations
- Experience working with California utilities, or NERC recordkeeping experience at a generating facility
- Writing switching orders and training other switchmen
- U.S. military electrical experience; veterans are strongly encouraged to apply
Schedule & Physical Requirements- On-site Monday through Friday, 8:00 AM to 4:30 PM once the plant is in long-term operations; 7:00 AM to 5:00 PM during the commissioning phase
- Hours move with HV and outage work, and high-voltage maintenance is generally done at night
- Field environment with energized equipment, heights and varying weather
What CES Offers- Tools, arc-rated PPE and laptop
- Full CES benefits package (medical, dental, vision, 401(k) and PTO)
- Equipment and OEM training and certification
- Growth within a fast-scaling solar and energy storage O&M team
How to ApplyApply through this posting with your current resume. Our team will reach out directly to schedule a call. Please do not visit or drive to any project site, and do not contact any site owner, operator or on-site personnel about this role.
