Electrical System Controller

  • City of Austin, TX
  • Austin, Texas
  • Sep 13, 2024
Full Time Accounting and Finance Engineering

Job Description

Minimum Qualifications
Education and/or Equivalent Experience:
  • Graduation from an accredited high school or equivalent, plus two (2) years experience in a field related to performing electric generation, distribution, substation, construction tasks.
  • Associates Degree focused on GIS , Power, and Computer Technology or other related field may substitute for one (1) year of experience.


Licenses or Certifications:
Must obtain NERC Operator’s certification within two years.
Notes to Applicants
The position is critical to the utility and will perform tasks in electric system control and switching by monitoring the electric utility grid, dispatch field crews, perform switching and resolve customer outages.

Working with Austin Energy provides a number of health and welfare benefits such as low-cost medical, dental, vision, paid leave time, a highly competitive retirement plan, career development opportunities and more. Please click HERE for more information.

EMPLOYMENT APPLICATION :
  • The City of Austin employment application is an official document; incomplete applications will not be considered.
  • Please be sure to detail on the application ALL current and previous employment that you wish to be considered as part of your qualifications.
  • The Employment Record should be complete with job titles, employment dates, job duties, functions, and responsibilities for each position held.
  • Starting salary will be based on overall relevant experience from your application.
  • Resumés will not be accepted and statements such as “see resumé” will not be accepted. You may use “N/A” for fields that are not applicable.
  • Please note that Austin Energy may close the job posting at any time after seven (7) days from the date of the initial advertisement.
  • Once the job posting has closed, applications cannot be changed.


FAIR LABOR STANDARDS ACT :
  • This position is classified as NON - EXEMPT (Hourly).


IF YOU ARE SELECTED AS A TOP CANDIDATE :
  • Verification of your education (which may include high school graduation or GED , undergraduate and/or graduate degrees) will be required. You must provide proof of education from an accredited organization/institution.
  • If you are identified as a top candidate and are in the military or a veteran, you will need to provide a copy of your DD-214 prior to confirming a start date.
  • This position requires a criminal background investigation ( CBI ).
  • This position requires pre-employment screening under NERC CIP .


WORK SCHEDULE :
  • This position has been designated as an Essential Employee position. In the event of a City-designated emergency, Essential Employees provide services that impact the public health, safety, utility services, and welfare of members of the Austin community and other employees and ensure the continuity of essential operations. In such an emergency, Essential Employees may be called back in, may be required to modify their schedule, may be assigned to a City-designated work site, or may be retained onsite to assist with operations and recovery.
    • Work hours may include after hours, holidays, and weekends.
    • Shifts may change according to departmental needs.
    • Employees may be required to work additional hours outside of regular work schedule.
    • This position follows the 24/7 shift coverage.


TRAVEL :
  • If you are selected for this position, and meet the Driver Safety Standards in the City of Austin Driver Safety Program, you may drive when necessary to multiple locations as part of your regular job duties. Otherwise, you are responsible for getting to and from these locations.
Pay Range
$38.97 - $50.67

Hours
12 hour Rotating shift nights, weekends and holidays.
Job Close Date 10/14/2024 Type of Posting External Department Austin Energy Regular/Temporary Regular Grant Funded or Pooled Position Not Applicable Category Technical Location 2500 Montopolis Dr. (SCC), Austin, TX 78741 Preferred Qualifications
Preferred Experience:
  • Knowledge of Electric Utility Transmission and Distribution system
  • Knowledge of NERC reliability standards
  • NERC Transmission Operator’s or Reliability Coordinators certification OR the ability to obtain within six months of hire.
  • Distribution, Transmission, Reliability Coordinator or Generation control room experience.
  • Computer Skills ( Microsoft Office Suite) Word, Excel, Outlook
  • Ability to travel to more than one work location
Duties, Functions and Responsibilities
Essential duties and functions, pursuant to the Americans with Disabilities Act, may include the following. Other related duties may be assigned.


Dispatch service and trouble calls to field service personnel by monitoring the electric utility grid, troubleshoot and provide solutions to problems in electric transmission and distribution system. Analyze data to discover patterns and or discrepancies and determine appropriate action Responsible for monitoring instrumentation control panels, operate substation switching equipment by remote control, operate computerized electric control system, monitor weather conditions for system operation needs, operate radio and pager systems for communication with work crew to resolve outages. Respond to customer complaints of a moderate nature by troubleshooting outages and determining if dispatch of crew is required. Answer citizen questions about electrical service Record data on appropriate form and/or log for tracking of crew and work assignments and electric utility grid systems monitoring. Provide calculations for reports. Discuss simple division/section operations with others. Read maps and schematics to determine minor system problems. Resolve routine problems in generation dispatch. Coordinate routine division/section activities with other divisions/sections/utilities.

Responsibilities - Supervisor and/or Leadership Exercised:
None
Knowledge, Skills and Abilities
Must possess required knowledge, skills, abilities, and experience and be able to explain and demonstrate, with or without reasonable accommodations, that the essential functions of the job can be performed.

  • Knowledge of equipment and methods used in construction and maintenance of high voltage electric utility transmission and distribution systems.
  • Knowledge of proper safety practices, procedures and regulations applicable to work being performed.
  • Knowledge of modern electronic equipment for controls on boilers, turbines and generating systems.
  • Knowledge of meters relays transformers and other equipment used in receiving and delivering electrical power.
  • Knowledge of switching equipment procedures and regulations governing its operation.
  • Knowledge of electric utility system restoration procedures.
  • Knowledge of procedures and methods used in energy control center operations.
  • Knowledge of City overhead and underground power transmission and distribution systems, inter-ties and critical areas.
  • Skill in performing basic mathematical calculations.
  • Skill in the use of equipment required to control generation levels.
  • Skill in reading instruments, charts and schematic drawings.
  • Skill in preparing clear and concise written reports.
  • Skill in effective oral and/or written communication.
  • Skill in establishing and maintaining good working relationships with other City employees and the public.
  • Skill in directing others in procedures designed to correct outages or safely reroute power.
  • Skill in operating various control systems to affect necessary switching and routing of electricity.
  • Skill in maintaining and analyzing records.
  • Skill in solving generation transmission and distribution problems.
  • Ability to multi-task and prioritize work
  • Ability of conflict resolution
  • Ability to work 12 hour shifts


Criminal Background Investigation This position has been approved for a Criminal Background Investigation. EEO/ADA
City of Austin is committed to compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act. If you require reasonable accommodation during the application process or have a question regarding an essential job function, please call (512) 974-3210 or Texas Relay by dialing 7-1-1.

The City of Austin will not discriminate against any applicant or employee based on race, creed, color, national origin, sex, gender identity, age, religion, veteran status, disability, or sexual orientation. In addition, the City will not discriminate in employment decisions on the basis of an individual’s AIDS , AIDS Related Complex, or HIV status; nor will the City discriminate against individuals who are perceived to be at risk of HIV infection, or who associate with individuals who are believed to be at risk.

Supplemental Questions

Required fields are indicated with an asterisk (*).
* The minimum qualifications for the Electrical System Controller requires graduation from high school or equivalent, plus two (2) years’ experience in a field related to performing electric generation, distribution, substation, construction tasks. Associates Degree focused on GIS, Power, and Computer Technology or other related field may substitute for one (1) year of experience. Licenses and Certifications required: Must obtain NERC Operator’s certification within two years. Do you meet the minimum qualifications?
  • Yes
  • No
* This position requires working irregular schedules and is subject to mandatory, on-call and call back duties for evenings, weekends, and holidays. Are you willing and available to work any hours/days as necessary?
  • Yes
  • No
* This position requires 12 hour, rotating shifts, day and night shifts, and weekends. Are you available to work these hours?
  • Yes
  • No
* This position is considered "Essential" to maintain critical operations, and employees in this position will be required to report to work even in the event of bad weather, natural disaster, or other unforeseen circumstances that necessitate an emergency closure of City operations. Are you able to meet these schedule requirements?
  • Yes
  • No
* Do you have the ability to travel to multiple sites as part of the regular job duties?
  • Yes
  • No
* This position requires a criminal background investigation (CBI). By selecting the following, you are acknowledging that you understand if you are selected as a top candidate for this position, you will need a successful CBI to be hired.
  • I acknowledge and understand this position requires a Criminal Background Investigation.
* Select the skill level that best describes your computer proficiency.
  • Basic: Create simple documents and retrieve my emails
  • Intermediate: Create/edit documents and spreadsheets to retrieve, edit and reformat document features such as color, font style and size of text, change page size/width, & filter/sort data fields
  • Advanced: Create/edit complex documents & spreadsheets; integrate features such as tables, charts, mathematic formulas, hyperlinks, graphics; import data from one document to another, etc.
  • No computer skills
* Describe your knowledge and experience working with electric control room operations, what was your role and write your total number of years and where you have this experience. (Please ensure this information is listed in your work experience on your application, if it is not listed, your application may be considered incomplete).
(Open Ended Question)


Optional & Required Documents

Required Documents Optional Documents

Job Address

Austin, Texas United States View Map