Power Generation Apprentice Telecommunications Technician

Requisition ID # 161998 

Job Category: Power Generation; Maintenance / Construction / Operations 

Job Level: Individual Contributor

Business Unit: Operations - Other

Work Type: Onsite

Job Location: Pioneer

Department Overview

Power Generation operates and maintains PG&E's hydroelectric, fossil, solar generation and battery storage facilities, providing approximately 5,300 megawatts of generating capacity for our customers. Our nearly 900 coworkers are dedicated to delivering safe, reliable and cost-effective generation to California in an environmentally responsible manner. Our hydro facilities include 62 conventional hydro powerhouses, a pumped-storage facility, 98 reservoirs, 168 dams and more than 200 miles of canals and flumes, among other water conveyances. Natural gas-fired plants in operation are Humboldt Bay Generating Station in Eureka; Colusa Generating Station in Colusa County and Gateway Generating Station in Antioch. Several utility-scale solar generation plants also are operated and maintained, as well as PG&E’s successful entry into battery energy storage, our Elkhorn Battery facility at Moss Landing in Monterey County.

Position Summary

This is an International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers (IBEW) Local 1245 represented classification, which has over 100 years of experience representing employees at PG&E. This job is subject to collective bargaining.

Apprentice Telecommunications Technicians, work as an assistant to or under the general direction of a Telecommunications Technician. They will assist to install, test and maintain telecommunications systems, including but not limited to intercommunication systems, telephone voice over IP systems, PBX, voice and data-switching systems, major operations computers, supervisory, power and telephone line carriers, microwave, SCADA Control systems , fiber optics, multiplex, radio – both voice and data, remote signal and remote control equipment, load frequency control, telemetering equipment, power systems including UPS, DC chargers and large battery banks.

Apprentice Telecommunications Technicians will trouble shoot from basic electronic schematics, both with and without assistance; install protective grounding on power systems and maintain communication circuit prints. They are responsible for investigating, correcting, and/or making recommendations to correct user station equipment, personal computers and related equipment problems; as well as radio and television interference complaints. 

To better represent the communities, we serve within a timely manner, applicants who live within 50 miles of the headquarter location will be given preference.

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 $55.80 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.

Job Responsibilities

• Work safely and promote safety for yourself and others.
• Keep PG&E's communication systems operational to support both business and communication networks needed to provide electricity to our customers.
• Work with our Telecommunication Control Center to ensure that outages are minimized and clients are informed through a clearance process.
• Provide maintenance and repair of these systems in a timely and professional manner.
• Report problems to local management and escalate issues as need be.
• Learn to install, calibrate, troubleshoot & replace various telemetry equipment to maintain the integrity of our canals and power houses
• Learn to Install and maintain pressure, level & flow instrumentation
• Learn to install and maintain remote solar systems
  
  

Qualifications

Minimum:

• Possess a valid FCC-Federal Communications Commission Radiotelegraph Operator 1st Class license OR GCT1 certification through Electronics Technicians Association, ETA 
• Must be at least 18 years of age
• Must possess a High School diploma, GED or equivalent work experience
• Must possess a valid California Driver's License
• Ability to work in all types of weather extremes
• Ability to drive safely in all weather and road conditions
• Ability to work extended hours, nights, weekends and holidays
• Must be able to wear company provided Personal Protective Equipment (PPE).
• Must be able to work with and/or around helicopters, bucket trucks and substations.
• Must be able to climb towers and be comfortable with heights
• Able and willing to perform physical activities as mentioned in the job posting (with accommodation, if required)
• Able and willing to work in, with and around water
• Work around poison oak, snakes, spiders, and insects.

Desired:

• Record of Residence within 50 miles of job description location
• Bachelor degree in Computer Science or Engineering
• Associate degree or technical certification in IT, Computer Science or Electronics
• Leadership experience
• Possess communication skills, both written and verbal
• Demonstrated work experience/knowledge of Microsoft Office suite
• Ability to foster teamwork, collaborative environment
• Possess Federal Communications General Radio Telephone License
• Military experience
• SCADA & Substation Experience
• Technical training background

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 the Pre-employment testing program website.

• Apprentice Communication Technician Test
• Industrial Skills Test
• Physical Test Battery
• Work Orientation Inventory-Physical/Technical Driving

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