Substation Controls Technician - Williamsport, MD

FirstEnergy at a Glance

We are a forward-thinking electric utility powered by a diverse team of employees committed to making customers’ lives brighter, the environment better and our communities stronger.
 

FirstEnergy (NYSE: FE) is dedicated to integrity, safety, reliability and operational excellence. Headquartered in Akron, Ohio, FirstEnergy includes one of the nation's largest investor-owned electric systems, more than 24,000 miles of transmission lines that connect the Midwest and Mid-Atlantic regions, and a regulated generating fleet with a total capacity of more than 3,500 megawatts.

About the Opportunity

This is an open position with Potomac Edison, a subsidiary of FirstEnergy Corp. (PO)

Responsibilities for the Associate Controls Technician include but are not limited to:

• Actively participate in and promote the FE Safety Philosophy, work safely to advance the FE Safety Vision, follow safe work practices.
• Under direct supervision, install, test, calibrate, maintain, modify and repair protective relays, and other equipment associated with controls in substations and power stations.
• Under direct supervision, perform high voltage switching required to install, maintain and modify controls equipment.
• Under direct supervision, install, test, calibrate, maintain, modify, and repair communication links for telemetering, metering, load regulation, digital fault recorders, and certain voice communication.
• Work cooperatively with other team members, internal customers, and contractors.
• Under direct supervision, construct, modify, troubleshoot and repair various types of electronic equipment.
• Assist in preparation of written procedures required for coordinating controls equipment additions or modifications, and energizing new or modified substation equipment in non EHV facilities.
• Under direct supervision, test and calibrate various system components, such as current transformers, potential transformers, coupling capacitors, relays, breakers, etc.
• Under direct supervision, review and check control drawings for accuracy, and make field changes to update or correct.
• Under direct supervision, install, test, modify and maintain Substation Integration Equipment inclusive of the Substation SCADA equipment and networks to ensure reliable data availability to FE System Operators and other independent System Operators.
• Maintain mandated system reliability standards as implemented by FE to address compliance with FERC, NERC, PJM and RFC.
• Under direct supervision, install, test, modify and maintain Critical Infrastructure Protection equipment, facilities and networks that reside within FE Substations and other facilities. Maintain the documented training requirements required by FE CIP guidelines.
• Under direct supervision, Investigate and document mis-operations on lines and equipment. Address equipment found to be out of calibration or unrepairable.

 
Responsibilities at the Controls Technician level include but are not limited to:

• Actively participate in and promote the FE Safety Philosophy, work safely to advance the FE Safety Vision, follow safe work practices.
• Under general supervision, install, test, calibrate, maintain, modify and repair protective relays, and other equipment associated with controls in substations and power stations.
• Perform non EHV switching required to install, maintain and modify controls equipment.
• Under general supervision, install, test, calibrate, maintain, modify, and repair communication links for telemetering, metering, load regulation, digital fault recorders, and certain voice communication.
• Work cooperatively with other team members, internal customers, and contractors to coordinate non EHV project activities, and provide technical assistance and support.
• Under general supervision, construct, modify, troubleshoot and repair various types of electronic equipment.
• Prepare written procedures required for coordinating controls equipment additions or modifications, and energizing new or modified substation equipment in non EHV facilities.
• Assist Commissioning Engineers in written development of procedures required for coordinating controls equipment additions or modifications, and energizing new or modified substation equipment in transmission facilities.
• Under general supervision, test and calibrate various system components, such as current transformers, potential transformers, coupling capacitors, relays, breakers, etc.
• Review and check Controls engineering for accuracy, and make engineering changes as necessary for non EHV projects.
• Under general supervision, install, test, modify and maintain Substation Integration Equipment inclusive of the Substation SCADA equipment and networks to ensure reliable data availability to FE System Operators and other independent System Operators.
• Maintain mandated system reliability standards as implemented by FE to address compliance with FERC, NERC, PJM and RFC.
• Under general supervision, install, test, modify and maintain Critical Infrastructure Protection equipment, facilities and networks that reside within FE Substations and other facilities. Maintain the documented training requirements required by FE CIP guidelines.
• Under general supervision, Investigate and document mis-operations on lines and equipment. Address equipment found to be out of calibration or unrepairable.

 
Responsibilities at the Senior Controls Technician level include but are not limited to:

• Actively participate in and promote the FE Safety Philosophy, work safely to advance the FE Safety Vision, follow safe work practices.
• Oversee or independently install, test, calibrate, maintain, modify and repair protective relays, and other equipment associated with controls in substations and power stations.
• Perform EHV and non EHV switching required to install, maintain and modify controls equipment.
• Oversee or independently install, test, calibrate, maintain, modify, and repair communication links for telemetering, metering, load regulation, digital fault recorders, and certain voice communication.
• Work cooperatively with other team members, internal customers, and contractors to coordinate EHV, non EHV and complex project activities, and provide technical assistance and support.
• Oversee or independently construct, modify, troubleshoot and repair various types of electronic equipment.
• Prepare written procedures required for coordinating controls equipment additions or modifications, and energizing new or modified substation equipment in non EHV facilities.
• Assist Commissioning Engineers in written development of procedures required for coordinating controls equipment additions or modifications, and energizing new or modified substation equipment in EHV facilities.
• Oversee or independently test and calibrate various system components, such as current transformers, potential transformers, coupling capacitors, relays, breakers, etc.
• Review and check Controls engineering for accuracy and make engineering changes as necessary for EHV and non EHV projects.
• Install, test, modify and maintain Substation Integration Equipment inclusive of the Substation SCADA equipment and networks to ensure reliable data availability to FE System Operators and other independent System Operators.
• Maintain mandated system reliability standards as implemented by FE to address compliance with FERC, NERC, PJM and RFC.
• Install, test, modify and maintain Critical Infrastructure Protection equipment, facilities and networks that reside within FE Substations and other facilities. Maintain the documented training requirements required by FE CIP guidelines.
• Investigate and document mis-operations on lines and equipment. Address equipment found to be out of calibration or unrepairable.

 
Qualifications for the Associate Controls Technician:
 

• AS Electrical / Electronics Technology or BS Electrical Engineering Technology degrees preferred, or equivalent work experience
• Must possess a valid Motor vehicle operator’s license
• Possesses basic skills, knowledge and maturity
• Ability to conduct basic research and compile data
• Ability to prepare reports and summaries
• Ability to learn technical products and services
• Ability to follow well-defined practices and procedures
• Must pass the EEI TECH Test

 
Qualifications for the Controls Technician include all of the above plus:
 

• AS Electrical / Electronics Technology or BS Electrical Engineering Technology degrees preferred, or equivalent work experience
• Must possess a valid Motor vehicle operator’s license
• 3 to 5 years’ experience as an Associate Controls Specialist
• Ability to complete moderately complex projects and assignments
• Understand technical and business processes
• Possess intermediate troubleshooting skills
• Must pass the EEI TECH Test

 
Qualifications for the Senior Controls Technician include all of the above plus:
 

• AS Electrical / Electronics Technology or BS Electrical Engineering Technology degrees preferred, or equivalent work experience
• 7 to 10 years’ experience as a Controls Technician
• Must possess a valid Motor vehicle operator’s license
• Possess an in-depth understanding of the products and services and of customer needs and expectations.
• Ability to provide leadership on initiatives and projects
• Ability to develop and recommend solutions to complex issues and assignments
• Must pass the EEI TECH Test
• Ability to develop process improvements and efficiencies to improve customer service.

EEI Testing

We administer selection tests for a variety of positions. The required tests have been developed by the Edison Electric Institute (EEI), a trade association of investor-owned electric utility companies.  We strongly encourage potential employees to review all information, including the sample test brochures, and to use the available practice tests before taking the actual tests.  Click this link to access the practice tests. You will be prompted for a name and password. Use firstenergy for both.

https://secure.eei.org/eeitests/onlineproducts/Login.aspx

Practice tests provide sample questions and detailed discussions of the correct answers. It's important to take the practice test as you would the actual one, with similar intensity and concentration.  You must have Adobe Acrobat Reader on your computer. 

Note: EEI website does not allow access to actual tests. Testing is held at various locations throughout our service territory based on where the job is located.

Benefits, Compensation & Workforce Diversity

At FirstEnergy, employees are key to our success. We depend on their talents to meet the challenges of our changing business environment. We are committed to rewarding individual and team efforts through our total rewards philosophy which includes competitive pay plus incentive compensation, a company-sponsored pension plan, 401(k) savings plan with matching employer contribution, a choice of medical, prescription drug, dental, vision, and life insurance programs, as well as skills development training with tuition reimbursement. Please visit our website at www.firstenergycorp.com to learn more about all of our employee rewards programs. FirstEnergy proudly supports workforce diversity. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, religion, color, national origin, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, age, status as a protected veteran, or status as a qualified individual with a disability. No recruiters or agencies without a previously signed contract. Unable to sponsor or transfer H-1B visas at this time.

Safety

Safety is a core value for FirstEnergy and is essential to all of our business activities. We ensure employees have the tools, information, and processes to perform their duties in a manner that assures safety for themselves, their co-workers, our customers and the public. Our goals are to provide a safe work environment, to maintain an accident-free, injury-free workplace, and to promote and maintain public safety. To meet these goals, we dedicate ourselves to achieving world-class safety standards.

Position Classification

Non-Exempt-Hourly 

FirstEnergy Human Resources Team