Position Title: Substation Technician
Department: Technical Services
Reports to: Supervisor, Substation and Transmission
Supervision Received: Limited Supervision
Supervision Exercised: None
FLSA Status: Non Exempt
Essential Duties and Responsibilities:
- Assist in the coordination of new substation construction activities with contractors and Bluebonnet personnel.
- Be an active participant in all of the substation and transmission scheduled maintenance activities, repairs, and recordkeeping of substations performed by internal and external resources. (LCRA, Pike, etc.)
- Participates in the installation and removal of portable substations.
- Assist in the coordination of ongoing construction of contractors in substations and transmission lines.
- Communicate with the Supervisor to ensure that jobs are completed on schedule and to their satisfaction.
- Participate as a member of the departmental leadership team, promoting the development of team members, technical skills improvement, and a positive workplace environment.
- Responsible for inspection of completed jobs, ensuring jobs are built to Bluebonnet specifications.
- Ensures that a completed job sheet or sheets are turned in with completed jobs.
- Checks job sheet(s) to material list and invoice to assure accuracy.
- Collect system load and voltage data for engineering.
- Install and repair overcurrent relays, microprocessor-based controls, and RTUs.
- Perform switching at the substation to restore power and for repairs and maintenance.
- Repair and replace all substation and special equipment as needed.
- Perform advanced line troubleshooting and solve intermittent problems.
- Read prints and perform construction of wiring of substation relay panels.
- Inform Stores of start dates for all jobs to ensure material will be available.
- Required to be on-call, available to work weekends, holidays, and non-standard hours as needed.
- Maintain professional working relationships with all employees, members, and vendors at all times.
- Maintain regular attendance; arrive at work on time and be ready to work.
- Use safe work practices at all times and in all situations.
- Must be able to appropriately handle confidential information and act within the practices established by the Bluebonnet Red Flag policy.
Tools and Equipment Used:
- Office equipment, including computer, printer, copier, fax, etc.
- May be required to drive a cooperative vehicle.
- Heavy equipment, including digger trucks, drilling equipment.
- According to established business need, must maintain a mobile phone and appropriate communications plan.
Physical Demands:
- Requires repetitive motion of hands and fingers, such as dialing and keyboarding.
- Heavy lifting of up to 50 pounds.
- Is regularly required to stand, walk, and sit.
- Frequently required to climb, stoop, kneel, and crouch.
- Job requires close vision, distant vision, color vision, and depth perception.
- This job requires that an individual regularly drive a vehicle on both long and short trips and be able to travel alone if necessary.
- This job is normally outside with some occasional office work. Will be exposed to extreme weather, both hot and cold.
- There will be exposure to loud noises of chainsaws, chipper machines, and trenching equipment.
- May be required to travel by air with one or more night stays to attend training classes or seminars.
Work Environment:
- Hours are consistent with normal business operations as well as employee and member requirements.
- Works outdoors 95% of the time in all types of weather conditions.
- Attendance at evening meetings, conferences, workshops, and other professional meetings, including overnight travel, may be required.
- Works at heights up to 100+ feet above ground.
- Works in no or low light conditions – using handheld lantern or spot lights.
- 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.
Education and Experience:
- 2 to 5 years of progressive responsibilities in the electrical utility line construction area.
- Successful completion of technical training events associated with substations and special equipment.
Licensing and Certification:
- Valid Texas Commercial Driver's License
- Must be certified in CPR, First Aid, AED and Blood-borne pathogens.
- Able to perform bucket rescue in required time.
- LCRA switching certification
Knowledge, Skills and Abilities:
- Basic knowledge and understanding of protective relays.
- Knowledge of basic electrical theory.
- Must be able to communicate effectively, both in writing and orally.
- Must be able to interpret maps, construction reports, field notes, material list, staking sheets, and invoices.
- Basic knowledge of Cooperative policies and guidelines.
- Basic computer skills in the following applications: MS Word, Excel, Outlook, IVUE Connect time entry, and work order processing.
- Ability to communicate effectively and in a positive manner; focused on improvement or problem resolution in a constructive, positive, and professional manner.
Bluebonnet Electric Cooperative, Inc. is an Affirmative Action/Equal Opportunity Employer, including individuals with disabilities and protected veterans.
Applications will be accepted through August 21, 2026.