Electrical Power Technician Trainee

IMPORTANT NOTICE: Arlington County requires all applicants to thoroughly complete each section of the application, including prior job responsibilities, duties, and supplemental questions. While you may attach a resume, it will not replace a completed application. Incomplete applications will not be considered.

The Department of Environmental Services (DES) is seeking a highly motivated, team oriented, and technically competent Electrical Power Technician (EPT) for their state-of-the-art Wastewater Treatment Plant, a 24 hours per day, 365 days per year, continuous operation facility that treats 24 million gallons of wastewater each day from residences and businesses.

The Electrical Power Technician (EPT) series is a two-tier, multi-grade pay program designed to encompass a range of skill levels. Employees in this classification perform duties that span from trainee and journeyman levels to advanced technical trades work. Their responsibilities include the design, installation, maintenance, and repair of complex industrial electrical equipment, systems, and instrumentation, specifically within the Water Pollution Control Plant (WPCP) and the Water and Sewer Lift Stations. This program ensures a broad scope of expertise to meet the critical technical demands of these essential facilities.

The industrial equipment in the plant and pumping stations include a wide variety of rotating, moving and heavy equipment including medium voltage (600V and 4160V) distribution centers, motor control centers, three-phase motors, control panels, alarms, sump pumps, variable speed motor controllers, pumps, generators, presses, conveyor belts, lighting system and underground cable.

Please note: This position may be filled at the EPT I Trainee, EPT I, or EPT II level.

Minimum Qualifications: 

Electrical Power Technician I 

• High School Diploma/GED or equivalent;
• Successful completion of the County's technical in-house training program;
• Three (3) years of experience assisting with performing electrical preventive and corrective maintenance; and 
• One (1) year in an industrial setting with medium voltage 600V to 4160V systems.

Electrical Power Technician II 

• High School Diploma/GED or equivalent;
• Five (5) years of experience independently performing electrical preventive and corrective maintenance;
• Three (3) years' experience in an industrial setting with medium voltage 600V to 4160V systems;
• Must possess a NEC Master's Electrician License; and
• Must possess a Confined Space Entry certification.

Substitution: Additional qualifying experience may substitute for the education requirement. A year of directly related technical school training beyond the high school level, completion of an applicable apprenticeship program or a college degree in Electrical Engineering or a directly related field may be substituted for one year of the experience requirement.

Desirable: Preference may be given to candidates with one or more of the following:

• Experience in an industrial electrical control environment which includes assisting with the installation, maintenance, troubleshooting, repair and calibration of electrical controls;
• Experience with, and/or knowledge of Programmable Logic Controllers (PLC) and Distributed Control Systems (DCS) programming; and/or
• Familiarity with fluid dynamics and hydraulics, OSHA mandates and other federal, state, and local codes relevant to operations.

Special Requirements

Background Check: A pre-employment criminal records check will be conducted. It will include checks of the following: criminal record, driving record, education, professional licensure, and credit history. You will be required to sign a release authorizing the County to obtain your background information.

1) Electrical Power Technician I must possess or obtain the following:

• Journeyman Electrical License within three (3) years of hire date;
• Participation and successful completion of the County's in-house technical training program; and
• Confined Space Entry certification within one (1) year of hire date.

2) Electrical Power Technician II must possess the following:

• Valid driver's license;
• NEC Master's Electrician License;
• Confined Space Entry certification; and
• Successful completion of the County's in-house technical training program.

3) Both levels require the ability to pass a respirator fit test and work in confined spaces.

4) Both levels require the ability to exert up to 50 pounds of force occasionally and/or up to 20 pounds of force frequently, and/or up to 10 pounds of force constantly to move objects.

5) Applicants must possess, or obtain by time of appointment, a valid driver license. The applicant must authorize Arlington County to obtain, or they must provide, a copy of official driving record. Any offer of employment may be contingent upon a favorable review of the applicant's driving record.

6) Work is performed in an industrial environment and involves exposure to hazardous chemicals, strong odors, drafts, noise, dust, grease, and dirt with extended periods of standing, walking, bending, crouching, lifting light to heavy objects and equipment, and working in confined spaces.  

Working Conditions:

• The worker performs activities inside and outdoors.
• The worker is subject to hazards such as being near moving vehicles and mechanical parts, electrical currents, exposure to high heat, chemicals, and/or biohazardous waste.
• The worker is subject to one more of the following conditions: Fumes, odors, dusts, mists, loud noises, gases or poor ventilation, oils, and other cutting fluids.
• The worker spends long periods of time standing, crouching, stooping, bending, lifting, pushing, pulling, and carrying.
• The worker is required to wear common protective gear or safety equipment such as safety shoes, glasses, gloves, hearing protection, or hard hats.

Please complete each section of the application including the supplemental questions. Your responses to the supplemental questions are required because they provide us with specific information necessary to evaluate your qualifications for this position. These responses are considered part of the selection process. A resume may be attached; however, it will not substitute for a completed application. Incomplete applications will not be considered. Please do not write "see resume" as a response to the questions. In accordance with § 19.2-392.15, applicants are not required to provide information regarding sealed arrests, charges, or convictions in response to any questions or inquiries during the hiring process.

Additional Information

Work hours: 5:30a.m. - 2:00p.m., Monday through Friday, some overtime will be required; must be available for holdover and/or callback in emergency situations.

The official title of this position is Electrical Power Technician (Trainee) I/II.

Employees hired as an Electrical Power Technician I, Trainee level, will remain a Trainee for no more than three (3) years until they obtain the required Journeyman Electrical License.  Employees hired with a Journeyman Electrical License can be hired as EPT I.

The EPT I may advance to the EPT II level after completing the EPT training program, meeting all minimum qualifications of the EPT II, and demonstrating the ability to proficiently and independently perform advanced duties.

Permanent status with the County is not obtained until successful completion of training and certification requirements for the positions, followed by a 12-month probationary period. All employees must complete all stated requirements within the specified timeframes, or they will be subject to separation from County employment.

This position is part of a multi-grade pay band. Experience will be evaluated by the Department of Environmental Services and the supervisor will talk with each new employee about how the competencies can be achieved, both through training and experience on the job.

Salary ranges:

• EPT I (Trainee): $67,454.40 - $102,960.00 Annually
• EPT I: $73,008.00 - $111,384.00 Annually
• EPT II:  $78,603.20 - $120,057.60 Annually

The salary range listed at the top of this announcement is for entry level for EPT I Trainee, up to maximum at EPT II full performance level.

This position is eligible for County government employee benefits that include health, dental, vacation and sick leave, commuter transportation subsidies, tuition reimbursement, as well as a generous retirement plan.

For more information on Arlington County's generous benefits and retirement plan, click here.

Arlington County is committed to advancing diversity, equity, access, and inclusion across all our services, activities, and programs. Learn more about our commitment.

NOTE:  This position is listed as "open continuous".  Interested applicants are advised to submit their applications as soon as possible. If your application is received later in the recruitment process, it may not be considered. The application process will close when the position has been filled or when enough qualified applications have been received.  

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Major Job Duties (for EPT Trainee, I and II):

• Performing predictive, preventive and corrective maintenance using a variety of diagnostic tools, historical data, blueprints, factory specifications and the Computerized Maintenance Management System (CMMS);
• Performing necessary maintenance, corrective repair and/or reconditioning of equipment;
• Analyzing system failures or conditions to determine root cause or potential for breakdown;
• Evaluating problems or work assignments to determine scope of project, to set priorities, to project resource needs and to plan follow-up activities;
• Leading projects including documenting work and maintaining records;
• Coordinating work with other agencies or contractors;
• Assisting in the training of staff; and
• Evaluating complex electrical industrial systems and equipment in the Water Pollution Control Plant (WPCP) and at remote lift stations to identify maintenance needs and to establish project plans for design, predictive, corrective, or preventive action.

Additionally, Electrical Power Technician II (EPT II) major job duties include:

• Designing, installing, maintaining, and repairing complex industrial electrical equipment and systems in the Water Pollution Control Plant (WPCP) and the Water and Sewer Lift Stations;
• Working in the field, at the input-output level, diagnosing and resolving complex electrical problems on a wide variety of rotating, moving and heavy equipment;
• Working with heavy equipment such as medium voltage (600V and 4160V) distribution centers, motor control centers, three-phase motors, control panels, alarms, sump pumps, variable speed motor controllers, pumps, generators, presses, conveyor belts, lighting system and underground cable; and
• Performing diagnostic work up to the Programmable Logic Controllers (PLC) and the Digital Control System (DCS). 

Salary: $67,454.40 - $120,057.60 Annually