Relay Technician

Job Summary

We are seeking a highly skilled Relay Technician to join our team at Green Mountain Power. As a Relay Technician, you will be responsible for the safe and successful completion of assignments related to the installation, maintenance, and repair of our power plant and substation high voltage electric distribution systems and low voltage control and communication systems.

Key Responsibilities

• Install, maintain, and repair electro-mechanical, solid-state, and microprocessor-based protective relays, SCADA NTUs and RTUs, data concentrators, digital fault recorders, communication processors, programmable logic controllers, panel meters, transducers, IEDs, control panels, and other related equipment.
• Program, install, test, commission, troubleshoot, repair, and maintain electro-mechanical, solid-state, and microprocessor-based protective relays, SCADA NTUs and RTUs, data concentrators, digital fault recorders, communication processors, programmable logic controllers, panel meters, transducers, IEDs, control panels, and other related equipment.
• Install, prepare, and terminate control cables, coaxial, and panelboard wire to required standards.
• Terminate, splice, repair, and install fiber optic cable.
• Responsible for the installation, calibration, and repair of all transducers, transmitters, and communication equipment associated with the SCADA LAN system.
• Install, maintain, and repair various forms of substation communications equipment, including digital multiplexer equipment, fiber, layer 2, and layer 3 networking switches and routers.
• Oversee the installation of equipment and other work performed by outside contractors on Company property as required.
• Diagnose emergency situations for proper restoration of service to customers based on understanding of the operation of all substations in the Company's system if the Controller is unavailable.
• Utilize protective relay test equipment for the calibration and testing of electromechanical, solid-state, and microprocessor-based protection systems.
• Understand and employ safe work practices associated with working in energized high voltage substations and generating stations.
• Perform protection and control work consistent with GMP Safety, Switching, and Tagging procedures by utilizing tailboard conferences, attending monthly safety meetings, and using and maintaining personal protective equipment.
• Qualified to perform switching and tagging duties in accordance with Green Mountain Power requirements.
• Construct and commission substation and generation facility protection and control systems consistent with project schedule and cost objectives, by reviewing and commenting on designs and commissioning procedures, installing equipment, performing commissioning, returning corrected prints and commission procedure notes for finalizing documentation.
• Maintain substation and generation protection, SCADA communication, and control equipment to provide system reliability and reduce operating costs, by performing scheduled preventative maintenance, calibration, operating tests, troubleshooting, and repairing protection, SCADA communication, and control equipment accurately completing all job and station-specific recordkeeping to support facility operation and maintenance.
• Provide support and feedback for Engineering during the installation, testing, and commissioning of communication equipment, protection, and control schemes as needed.
• Complete daily paperwork and provide job status as required to all effective work scheduling.
• Provide guidance and training to less experienced Relay Technicians and Relay Technician Apprentices.
• Ability to coordinate and take the lead on all projects related to the Relay Technician position.

Secondary Responsibilities

• Assist in storm restoration efforts, including storm damage assessment, line patrolling, contract crew guide, and operating distribution protective devices.
• May install, maintain, troubleshoot, and repair AMI gatekeepers, 900MHz meter mesh, in-building cell repeaters, satellite phones, landline phones (POTS), Multiplexed (JMUX) phone extensions, and communication antennas.
• May assist the Communication Technicians to install, maintain, and repair various additional forms of communications equipment, including digital point-to-point radio, VHF, UHF, 200MHz 2-way radios, and radio dispatch consoles.
• Insure radio equipment is programmed and operated in compliance with FCC rules, including posting individual FCC site license.
• Perform occasional cross-functional work with the EMAC department.
• Assist other utilities and businesses with the maintenance and operation of their high voltage electric protection and control systems for substation and generating facilities.
• Assist in maintenance and repair of GMP's wind turbines and associated equipment.
• Conduct infrared inspections on Green Mountain Power and customer equipment.
• Required to act in a safe and courteous manner conducive to good public relations.

Knowledge, Skills & Abilities

• Attained, at a minimum, an Associate's degree in Electronics Technology or equivalent.
• Obtained a passing score on GMP's Relay Technician Class 1 test.
• Worked as a Relay Technician Class 2 for a minimum of 2 years, or equivalent.
• Must live within a 35-minute commute of their operating headquarters.
• Demonstrates a comprehensive knowledge of protection, control, and communication equipment installation and maintenance principles, including safety and an understanding of regulatory requirements.
• Experience or specialized training in electronic equipment maintenance, including protective relaying, SCADA, communications, PLCs, and DFRs.
• Requires FCC General Class License when working on any licensed radio equipment.
• Demonstrates proficiency in the techniques, procedures, and use of equipment, tools, and methods employed in the installation, maintenance, and repair of protection and control systems.
• Strong knowledge and understanding of the Company's safety rules and practices and perform the duties of this job accordingly, including observing and ensuring that employees in the crew(s) are properly following safety rules, practices, and use of protective equipment.
• Qualified to perform switching and tagging duties for Green Mountain and, if needed, VELCO.
• Possess valid Drivers' license with a driving record suitable for insurability.
• Must possess DOT medical card.
• Advanced computer skills and experience with Microsoft Office applications, including Excel, Word, and Outlook.
• Advanced written, oral, and interpersonal communication skills with the ability to train other employees.
• Must have the ability to serve and satisfy internal and external customers and be a strong customer service advocate for the company.

Working Conditions

Internal Work is normally performed in a plant or substation environment, where exposure to conditions of extreme heat/cold, poor ventilation, fumes, and gases is limited. Noise level is occasionally high and includes sounds of turbines, engines, and power equipment (tools, etc.). Work involves potential exposure to bodily injury from moving mechanical parts, electric shock, and toxic or caustic chemical agents while performing preventive maintenance to building or equipment. Occasionally work is performed in small cramped workspace, at heights up to 75 feet, and around water.

External Work is routinely performed where there is exposure to outside atmospheric conditions or extreme heat/cold or moisture and exposure to traffic while performing line work functions, telecommunications installation or repair. Work is frequently performed at heights up to 75 feet and on uneven and slippery terrains and occasionally, at heights up to 150 feet for wind turbine. Occasionally work is performed in small cramped workspaces and at heights up to 250 feet on lattice tower structures. Operating and maneuvering vehicles (e.g., 4-wheel drive trucks, snow traversing vehicles, trailers, etc.) in all weather and hazardous conditions throughout the state (e.g., extreme temperatures, snow, ice, steep or narrow unimproved roads, etc.) at all times of the day and night.

Special Work requires scheduled and unscheduled overtime including responding to emergency calls and/or service restoration purposes. Employees may be on call after hours and on weekends. May also be required to work out of town, staying overnight for a period of time, as the job requires.

Physical Demands

Work involves standing, walking, and kneeling for most of the time, and occasional work at heights up to 250 feet above ground. Work may occasionally include pushing, pulling, lifting, or carrying objects weighing up to 80 pounds floor to bench, 50 pounds floor to overhead, and holding 35 pounds extended at shoulder height such as tools and materials overhead. Working conditions, equipment failure, and workloads during peak periods may cause increased stress levels.

Working Relationships/Contacts

Internal Field crews from all departments, Engineering, Accounting, Purchasing, Control Center, Power Production, Fleet, Facilities, IT External Customers using GMP services, manufacturers, other utilities, and service engineers. Supervision of Others less experienced members of the crew, persons assisting from other departments.

Accountability

This position is directly responsible for the safe and successful completion of assignments related to the installation, maintenance, and repair of GMP's power plant and substation high voltage electric distribution systems and low voltage control and communication systems.

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