Apprentice Relay Protection Engineer Jobs in Chicago, IL

General Purpose The Village of Winnetka's Water & Electric Department seeks applicants for a full-time Electrical Control Technician. The Control Technician inspects, tests, cleans, calibrates, installs, maintains, and repairs all electrical protection equipment and systems and their metering and interfaces at the Electric Plant, load centers, substations, and distribution facilities including motor protection, circuit protection, and generator protection. This position also engages in troubleshooting and repair of electrical protection equipment and systems used in the Water Plant and reservoir as needed.

Essential Functions: Formulate and recommend maintenance, test procedures and standards; plan for equipment and material needs; schedule and perform activities to coordinate equipment outages and assure that all electrical protection equipment and systems are in proper working condition in accordance with local, state and federal requirements. Maintain and interpret "as-built" diagrams and drawings of electrical systems at the Electric Plant, substations, and load centers. Install, service, maintain, inspect, test, repair, replace, disassemble, adjust, and clean electrical and related equipment and relays used to protect and control functions of equipment such as, but not limited to, circuit breakers, transformers, capacitors, telemetry, automatic switches, supervisory control devices, and indicating and recording instruments, using hand tools.

Connect relay to test equipment and adjust controls to simulate operating conditions; observe ammeters, voltmeters, and related test equipment to determine proper relay functions, according to specifications; analyze test results to identify cause of malfunction or failure; replace parts, adjust electrical, thermal, and timing elements to calibrate relay, according to specifications. Periodically inspect and test relays at functioning points; connect test apparatus to troubled circuit; analyze test results and interpret electrical diagrams to locate defective relay; open and close switches to isolate defective relay; and undertake repairs to prevent and remedy abnormal performance or failure of transmission and distribution lines and equipment. Maintain relay protection settings records; periodically download existing protection settings and upload and implement new settings.

Test and repair switchboard and equipment circuitry, interpreting wiring diagrams to trace and connect numerous wires carrying current and voltage to independent functions. Test insulators and bushings of equipment for power leakage, using testing apparatus and calculating insulation loss. Inspect, test, and maintain voltage regulator controls, tighten connections, replace defective regulator parts, including motor controls, fuses, or capacitors.

Test circuits and equipment to evaluate factors, including insulation quality, analyze test data to determine performance characteristics of relays and effect of system modifications on relay performance; compute electrical characteristics, including impedance, power factor, and phase angle; determine whether equipment being tested or maintained is within the acceptable range of operation. Service and repair storage batteries as power source for lighting purposes for switchgear. Compile test result data, service reports indicating parts repaired or replaced, adjustments and corrections made, and related operational and maintenance records.

Recommend the ordering of replacement parts to replenish inventories. Oversee and inspect the quality of work performed by outside contractors relative to electrical protection equipment. Meet and confer daily with plant operators to evaluate plant operation.

Confer with other Village personnel, outside vendors, and other utilities regarding the scheduling of maintenance and repair activities, trouble shooting, parts, and new products and materials. Perform other duties as assigned. Desired Minimum Qualifications Associates Degree, Trade, or Technical School.

Bachelor's Degree in Electrical Engineering or related field preferred. Five (5) years' minimum work experience as a relay technician or apprentice relay technician. Any equivalent combination of training, education, and/or experience.

Other Requirements Read, clearly speak, and legibly write the English language. General understanding of electrical engineering. Ability to interpret electrical wiring diagrams and drawings.

Ability to troubleshoot, make recommendations, and prioritize system improvements. Extensive knowledge of test equipment, electromechanical and solid state relays, meters, computers, communications equipment, and proper wiring methods and practices. Knowledge of the maintenance and operation of medium voltage breakers.

Comprehensive knowledge of mathematical computation procedures including, basic math, and square roots. Demonstrated proper knowledge of safe testing, maintenance, and repair techniques. Considerable knowledge of the proper and safe use and application of tools, equipment, and hardware.

Valid Illinois driver's License. Shifts are normally 8 hours in duration, 40 hours weekly, but may be extended in the event of emergency, personnel shortage, workload, or work in progress. The position may be required to work on some Saturdays, Sundays, and holidays.

While performing the duties of this job, work is sometimes required under adverse or unusual conditions such as cold, hot, wet, dark, dusty, noisy and cramped surroundings, in all weather conditions, and at all hours of the day. Work is frequently required in areas surrounded by energized electric power and control circuits. Must perform duties independently and as a team while tolerating extreme fluctuations in environmental working conditions.

Village of Winnetka Position Range: $107,054 - $144,189 annual, DOQ. For questions or assistance, please contact Ann Eriksson, Human Resources Manager, at (847) 716-3546 or aeriksson@winnetka.org.