City of Austin - JOB DESCRIPTION

Relay Technician II

Under general supervision, this position performs installation, testing, maintenance, and repair activities for protective relay systems and associated communication, measurement and control equipment required for the safe and reliable operation of Austin Energy’s (AE) Electric System.

1. Performs On-the-Job Training (OJT), participates in self-paced and instructor-led training activities, and helps maintain records to document progression in the Apprenticeship Program.
2. Performs installation, commissioning, testing, maintenance and repair of protective relaying equipment and schemes, metering, remote control, and data acquisition systems in electrical substations with voltages up to 345 kilovolts (kV).
3. Performs trip and function checks, point-to-point checks, circuit analysis, and protective relay logic verification through the functional testing of the relaying systems and in-service checks of substation equipment.
4. Installs, troubleshoots, and operates substation electrical equipment i.e., circuit breakers, transformers and switches including grounding.
5. Responds to on-call, emergency call-back, and after-hour outages due to weather-related events, system disturbances, equipment malfunction, and/or damage; and performs emergency electric system restoration as necessary.
6. Works with electrical engineers to identify, troubleshoot, and resolve issues. Answers customer questions and assists as needed.
7. Maintains documentation on systems for International Standards Organization (ISO), Electric Reliability Council of Texas (ERCOT), and North America Electric Reliability Council (NERC) compliance and maintains assigned vehicle, tools, stock, and parts inventories.
8. Assists with making recommendations on commissioning, testing, and maintenance procedures to accommodate new and existing protective relaying schemes.
9. Operates high-voltage transmission, substation, and distribution switching devices and equipment, using proper Personal Protective Equipment (PPE), to de-energize and isolate circuits.

None

• Knowledge of AE safety rules, regulations, work practices, standards, procedures, and hazards associated with electrical substations and protective relaying systems.
• Knowledge of safety rules, procedures, and hazards involved with working on and around energized electrical systems (lines and equipment/high and low voltage ).
• Knowledge of utility communication, relaying, and monitoring and control systems.
• Skill in data analysis and using mathematics, problem solving, and electrical power systems theory to solve protective relaying system problems or issues.
• Skill in handling and prioritizing multiple tasks.
• Skill in operating computers and related software applications.
• Skill in properly using, inspecting, maintaining, and safely storing PPE.
• Skill in operating switching devices and equipment used to de-energize and isolate circuits and devices on AE's electrical transmission, substation, and distribution system.
• Skill in inspecting and safely operating hand and powered tools, equipment, apparatus, and instruments used in the installation, maintenance, testing, and repair of protective relaying schemes, electrical substations, and related equipment.
• Skill in reading and understanding oral, written, and electronic instructions, technical manuals, profile plans, blueprints, sketches, diagrams, and drawings.
• Skill in drawing, sketching, or modifying diagrams, profile plans, drawings, and control circuit schematics to perform collaborative problem solving, communicate with other relay technicians, engineers, and management, and for making field corrections or as-builts on engineering drawings.
• Skill in wiring and troubleshooting of AC and DC control circuits associated with high-voltage utility protection schemes, electro-mechanical, electronic, and digital relays and devices, and associated equipment.
• Ability to climb ladders and work on and around elevated work positions/platforms and bucket trucks.
• Ability to apply knowledge and skills obtained from training in the classroom and on the job.
• Ability to meet and maintain driver eligibility standards in the COA Driver Safety Program.
• Ability to work flexible hours, weekends, holidays, and night work as needed.
• Ability to establish and maintain effective communication and professional working relationships with city employees, customers, and the public.
• Ability to drive, inspect, and maintain various electric utility vehicles.
• Ability to perform strenuous work in all types of weather conditions.
• Ability to work with frequent interruptions, changes in priorities, and rotating shifts.
• Ability to properly lift and carry equipment and supplies weighing up to 50 pounds.
• Ability to visually discern between different colors (i.e. red from green or blue from yellow, full color vision).
• Ability to safely work in and around electrical substations, and other work areas and equipment where high voltage, up to 345 kilovolts (kV), may be present.
• Ability to diagnosis relay event data when responding to system trouble.
• Ability to quickly recognize and analyze irregular events.

• Graduation with an Associate degree in Electrical Engineering, Electronics Technology, Engineering Technology, Avionics, or electronics/electrical-related field, plus two (2) years of experience in relay-protection for transmission and/or distribution systems, in an electric utility field.
• Electric utility experience in relay-protection, substation, distribution, transmission, generation, etc., or successful completion of a formal relay-protection training program, may substitute for education up to two (2) years.

• Valid Texas class C driver license or ability to obtain within ninety (90) days of employment.
• Ability to produce and maintain an acceptable driving record.