Apprentice System Operator

Requisition ID# 163097

Job Category: Maintenance / Construction / Operations

Job Level: Individual Contributor

Business Unit: Operations - Other

Work Type: Onsite

Job Location: Vacaville

Department Overview

The men and women of Electric Operations ensure the delivery of safe and reliable electric service to our customers. Electric Operations is responsible for every aspect of PG&E's electric distribution and transmission operations, including planning, engineering, maintenance and construction, asset management, business planning, restoration and emergency response.

Electric Operations/Control Center - Transmission System Operators (TSO's) safely control the electric grid that delivers power to PG&E customers. They monitor construction and maintenance, while directing all operational activity on power lines and substations. Transmission System Operators (TSO's) control flows of power at high voltages up to 500,000 volts. The responsibilities of a TSO require the use of initiative, sound judgement, forward thinking, patience, and good communication skills in highly stressful environments.

Position Summary

This is an IBEW Local 1245 represented classification, which has over 100 years of experience representing employees at PG&E. It is subject to collective bargaining.

A Transmission Apprentice System Operator is a shift employee who is engaged in performing a Transmission System Operator's (TSO's) work as an assistant to and under the direct supervision of a Journeyman TSO. The Apprentice will participate in formal and informal training in both classroom and on the job environments, with expected completion within 24 months.

Per letter agreement 19-10 this position requires a 5 year commitment within the Control Center while employed with PG&E.

The work location for this role will be headquartered in Vacaville, CA.

PG&E is providing the hourly rate that the company in good faith believes it might pay for this position at the time of the job posting. This position is subject to collectively bargained hourly wage rates and increases. The starting wage rate for this position is $47.98 per hour. This wage rate is specific to the locality of the job. The wage rate is based on multiple factors, including, but not limited to, specific skills, education, licenses or certifications, experience, market value, geographic location, collective bargaining agreements, and internal equity.

In the course of his/her training, the Apprentice will be required to perform the following activities:

• Develop a demonstrated operational knowledge of electric transmission systems
• Safely and efficiently restore electric systems as required
• Direct the safe and efficient operation of electrical equipment to field resources via radio and telephone
• Utilize multiple software applications, simultaneously, along with both electronic and paper maps, schematic/operating diagrams and information provided from the field to handle tasks
• Analyze electric system conditions (both routine and emergency) to equally determine and then implement proper course of action(s) needed
• Identify and mitigate potential hazards to both company personnel and the public for equipment within their area of responsibility
• Monitor and operate field equipment remotely
• Communicate electric outage information to various entities
• Research equipment via mapping applications
• Calculate load flows, and adjust relay settings if needed (with input from operations engineering on either a real-time or previously identified basis)
• Accurately log (document) daily operational information/ events/incidents and make proper notifications per established procedures
• Coordinate clearance requests to work on equipment with various departments and outside agencies
• Research and safely isolate equipment from all electric sources to allow for maintenance and repair on both a routine and emergency basis
• Maintain and update control center reference materials and operating drawings (electronic and paper maps, single lines, operating diagrams)
• Develop and continually demonstrate a thorough understanding of the applicable Standards, Procedures and Bulletins required to safely and efficiently operate the transmission electric system
• Educational and general qualifications must be such that she/he is considered capable of progressing to a Journeyman Operator at any of the Company's transmission or distribution control centers

Responsibilities

• Participate in formal and informal on-going training within 24 months
• Complete all training and activities within the prescribed timeframes during which you will develop and maintain a thorough knowledge of all applicable operating procedures
• Accurately record work activities and duties performed
• Promote safety at all times
• Collaborate effectively with all levels of personnel, individually and/or in a team environment to accomplish the goals of each project
• Work in a Control Center environment
• Work shift work, weekends and overtime as required
• Candidates must be well organized, successfully multi-task, analyze/interpret data correctly and make rational decisions under pressure
• Independent decision-making skills required; Ability to rate information using personal judgment, training and/or standards that can be measured or checked. Ability to use reason and logic.
• Possess a high degree of precision working with minimum tolerances.
• Provide fast and accurate calculations or data analysis
• Read and comprehend drawings, specifications and schematics
• Communicate clearly and effectively in person, by phone, E-mail or by radio regarding substation operations, safety and security
• Promote timely and accurate information of all outages, by working with field personnel to provide up-to-date information and meet established goals
• Maintain knowledge of all dispatching procedures, complete all assigned training activities and perform ride-along assignments and field visits
• May use multiple specific PG&E approved software applications to monitor real time operations of the transmission systems in order to maintain safety and reliability

Qualifications
Minimum

• Must be at least 18 years of age
• Must possess a High School diploma or GED
• Must possess a valid California Class C Driver's License by day one of employment
• Ability to work flexible schedules, extended hours, nights, weekends, and/or overtime (scheduled or ad hoc)
• Internal PG&E Employees: Must qualify on the Physical Test Battery (PTB), Work Orientation Inventory (WOI_D), and Industrial Skills Test (IST) prior to applying
• External and Hiring Hall Candidates: Must qualify on the Physical Test Battery (PTB), Work Orientation Inventory (WOI_D), and Industrial Skills Test (IST) prior to interviewing
• Both internal employees and external candidates must qualify on the Console Operator Basic Requirements Assessment (COBRA) exam prior to interviewing

Desired

• Ability to work in a fast-paced environment
• Strong verbal and written communication skills
• Ability to communicate clearly and effectively via radio and phone
• Previous experience in a dispatch center environment
• Graduate from one of the following external training programs: PowerPathway endorsed Bridge to Pre-Apprentice/Utility Worker, Certificate in Power and Electrical Systems, College of San Mateo; Electrical Transmission System Technology, Bismarck State College or equivalent degree/program.
• Experience performing data entry on a computer system; knowledge of basic office tool set (MS Office, Word and Excel)
• Previous shift work experience
• Relevant Hiring Hall or PG&E work experience
• Electrical or electronic field experience through the military, a utility, municipality, or construction
• Electrical line experience
• To better represent the communities we serve, applicants who live within 50 miles of the headquarter location will be given preference

Pre-Employment Testing

PG&E Employees:You must have qualified on all prerequisite tests prior to submitting an application, and all secondary tests prior to interviewing. For more information on prerequisite and secondary exams, including study guides, please visit thePre-employment testing programwebsite.

• Industrial Skills Test (IST)
• Physical Test Battery IPTB)
• Console Operator Basic Requirements Assessment (COBRA)
• Work Orientation Inventory-Physical/Technical Driving (WOID)