Substation Technician

About the Department

Substation Technician (FT)

Public Power Department 

Salary Range:                   $23.33 - $38.49 Hourly / $48,526.40 - $80,059.20 Annually

FLSA Position Class:        Full-Time, Non-Exempt

Work Schedule:                Monday - Friday, 7:30 a.m. - 3:30 p.m.

Posting Closing Date:      May 28, 2026, or until filled 

Job Overview

Under the direction of the Substation Supervisor, the Substation Technician position is responsible for technical work in the operation, installation, repair, inspection, and maintenance of electrical substation equipment and load management systems. Performs maintenance on high voltage equipment up to 100,000 volts.

Position Duties

NOTE: Employee may be required to respond to a disaster, either natural or man-made, to serve the citizens of Statesville and meet the needs of the organization, which may result in the assignment of other duties and take precedence over duties described in this job description. This job description is not intended to be all-inclusive. 

• Inspects, maintains, troubleshoots, and repairs components related to the operation of power transformers, switches, microprocessor relays, insulators, fuses, lightning arrestors, voltage regulators and related equipment; makes repairs and adjustments to ensure satisfactory operations; replaces broken parts.
• Assists with contracted maintenance and repairs in substations to meet preventative maintenance schedules and programs.
• Ensures circuit breakers, regulators, switches, relays, and related power supply equipment operate within preset parameters.
• Assists with the troubleshooting, repair, and maintenance of the City’s owned fiber network. 
• Performs high voltage switching operations to isolate equipment inside the substation.
• Notifies the supervisor of any major breakdowns or extensive repairs needed; schedules necessary work.
• Examines automatic controls and indicators to determine if specific voltage is being delivered and analyze the maximum and minimum power demands on the substation.
• Maintains electronic records of inspections and repairs to station batteries, chargers, and other Direct Current (DC) equipment.
• Prepares monthly and quarterly reports on information related to substation inspections.
• Tests temperature controls of transformers; filters and tests transformer oil.
• Performs routine maintenance tasks on control buildings, fences, and grounds of substations.
• Monitors and assists in the operation, maintenance, and repair of the Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition (SCADA) system.
• Assists with PCB handling and disposal.
• Performs other duties as assigned.

Minimum Qualifications

Education and/or Experience

• High School Diploma or GED.
• Substation Tech I - One (1) year of experience working as a Substation Technician and completion of the ElectriCities of NC Substation Technician Level I career path.
• Substation Tech II - One (1) year of experience working as a Substation Technician I and completion of the ElectriCities of NC Substation Technician Level II career path.
• Substation Specialist - Two (2) years of experience working as a Substation Technician II and completion of the ElectriCities of NC Substation Technician Level III career path.
• Substation Specialist Advanced - Two (2) years of experience working as a Substation Specialist and completion of the ElectriCities of NC Substation Technician Level IV career path.

Requirements

• Possession of a valid North Carolina driver’s license, or any valid driver’s license with ability to obtain a North Carolina driver’s license within 60 days of establishing a permanent residence in North Carolina.
• Must maintain a residence within a 45-minute response time of the Municipal Operations Center within (six) 6 months of accepting position. 

Other Qualifications

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities 

• Working knowledge of the methods, practices, and procedures in substation maintenance and repair.
• Working knowledge of the hazards and safety requirements associated with electrical work.
• Working knowledge of load management equipment, tools, and materials.
• Knowledge of required OSHA training for Confined Space, Trenching & Shoring, CPR/First Aid, and Flagger practices, equipment, and regulations (Training provided by the City of Statesville).
• Through knowledge of the basic operation fo computers and computer programs.
• Ability to read and interpret drawings, sketches, and electrical schematics from construction plans, blueprints, and diagrams.
• Ability to understand and carry out complex oral and written instructions.
• Ability to accurately prepare detailed reports and maintain records.
• Ability to detect malfunctions of substation equipment and to operate equipment, tools, and technology associated with substation operation, maintenance, and repair.

Job Related Physical Requirements

This position involves heavy work requiring the exertion of 100 pounds of force occasionally, up to 50 pounds of force frequently, and up to 20 pounds of force constantly to move objects. This position may require the use of fingers and hands, climbing, stooping, kneeling, crouching, crawling, reaching, pushing, pulling, lifting, grasping, and repetitive motions; vocal communication is required to express or exchange ideas by means of the spoken word and to convey detailed or important instructions to others; hearing is required to respond to spoken words, to receive and understand information, and/or to make fine distinctions in sound; visual acuity is required for assembly or fabrication of parts at/or within arm’s length, visually inspect and detect flaws in small equipment parts, operation of machines, motor vehicles, or equipment, preparing and analyzing written or computer data, determining the accuracy and thoroughness of work, and observing general surroundings and activities.

Working Conditions

The employee is subject to indoor and outdoor environmental conditions including extreme heat and cold, noise, vibration, oils, cutting fluids, dust, fumes, and hazards involving exposure to moving mechanical parts, electrical currents, and confined spaces. Employee may be exposed to blood or other potentially infectious materials or pathogens and may be required to wear personal protective equipment (PPE) while performing certain duties. Employee may be required to work nights, weekends, holidays, and/or during emergency situations.

Provides municipal services and local governance for Statesville residents.