Position Summary
The P&C Technician Senior is a technical expert responsible for advanced installation, testing, commissioning, troubleshooting, and maintenance of protective relaying and control systems within CoServ’s substations and distribution network. This senior-level role serves as a subject-matter authority on protection schemes, NERC compliance, and system reliability. The P&C Technician Senior provides leadership in field operations, mentors junior technicians, supports engineering teams, and ensures the safe and reliable operation of CoServ’s electrical infrastructure.
Responsibilities
Primary Position Responsibilities
- Installation and Commissioning:
- Lead installation and commissioning of new relay systems, control panels, and substation protective equipment.
- Verify and validate complex relay settings, logic, SCADA integrations, and coordination studies.
- Coordinate with engineering to implement new protection strategies, upgrades, and system modifications.
- Oversee acceptance testing and ensure seamless integration with SCADA, DNP3, Modbus, IEC 61850, and related protocols.
- Advanced Troubleshooting & System Restoration
- Serve as the technical lead during mis‑operations, system events, and relay or control system failures.
- Perform root‑cause analysis on mis‑operations, wiring issues, communication failures, and relay coordination issues.
- Provide expert support to field operations, dispatch, and engineering teams during outages or disturbances.
- Maintain detailed documentation of system events, resolutions, and equipment performance.
- Safety and Training:
- Mentor and train junior and mid‑level P&C Technicians on testing procedures, system protection concepts, and safety.
- Provide technical guidance to engineering, operations, and compliance teams.
- Participate in project planning, providing senior‑level insight on protection requirements and timelines.
- Collaborate with vendors, contractors, and manufacturers on complex system issues and upgrades.
- Promote a strong safety culture and ensure adherence to all safety policies in high‑voltage environments.
- Complies with established CoServ safety and operating rules, procedures and guidelines including reporting unsafe practices to a supervisor.
- Complies with established CoServ Information Security Handbook, policies, procedures, and guidelines including reporting suspected information security incidents to Tech Support.
Secondary Position Responsibilities
- Work closely with engineering, operations, and compliance teams to ensure proper relay operation and system coordination.
- Provide technical support to other departments and stakeholders regarding relay settings and functionality.
- Coordinate with vendors and contractors to procure necessary relay equipment and support services.
- Participate in project planning meetings to provide input on relay protection requirements and timelines.
- Attends CoServ University training as required.
- Performs other duties and activities as directed.
Position Requirements
Education, Experience, and Certifications Required
- High School Diploma or G.E.D equivalency.
- 5-7 years of experience in protective relay testing, commissioning, troubleshooting, and maintenance.
- Expert‑level ability to read and interpret complex schematics, wiring diagrams, logic diagrams, and one‑line drawings.
- Advanced hands‑on experience with relay test sets such as Doble and OMICRON.
- Strong understanding of relay coordination, fault analysis, and system protection principles.
- Demonstrated experience supporting or leading NERC PRC compliance programs.
- Ability to independently lead complex field projects and mentor others.
- Proficiency with CMMS and digital documentation systems.
Education, Experience, and Certifications Preferred
- Associate’s degree or higher in electrical engineering technology, power systems, or related field.
- NICET certification or equivalent senior‑level industry certification.
- Extensive experience with SEL, GE, ABB, and other microprocessor relay platforms.
- Experience with advanced SCADA integration and communication protocols (DNP3, Modbus, IEC 61850).
- Experience contributing to ERCOT compliance activities, reporting, or audits.
Physical Requirements
- Works outdoors 80% of the time in all types of weather conditions and environmental conditions.
- Work indoors 20% of the time.
- Ability to lift a minimum of 50 pounds.
- Drives company vehicle.
- Works extended hours as needed or directed.
- Works at heights up to 40 feet above ground.
- Works in no or low light conditions – using handheld lantern or spotlights.
- Works in potentially hazardous conditions caused by pets and wildlife in or near the work site.
- Works in areas with possible exposure to poison oak, poison ivy, and insect stings.
- Performs call out duties.
- Ability to sit for long periods of time.
- Ability to climb, kneel, crawl, and work in confined spaces as needed.
- Operates office equipment such as a computer, telephone, fax machine, copier, etc.
Other Requirements
- Must reside within 10 miles of CoServ’s operations boundary (or be willing to relocate).
- Must have and maintain a valid Texas driver's license.