Entry Level Radio Frequency Engineer Jobs in Riverside, CA

Salary : $120,420.00 - $146,292.00 Annually
Location : Riverside, CA
Job Type: Full-time
Job Number: 26-5060-01
Department: Public Utilities-Electric
Division: PU-Elec-Production & Operation
Opening Date: 06/04/2026
Closing Date: 6/14/2026 11:59 PM Pacific
The Position
The City of Riverside, Public Utilities Department (RPU) is accepting applications for the position of UTILITIES ELECTRIC TEST TECHNICIAN to fill one (1) vacancy in the Electric Division. The eligibility list established may be used to fill the current and/or upcoming vacancies within this classification for up to six (6) months.
Under general supervision, a Utilities Electric Test Technician is to perform skilled technical work in the testing, maintenance, and repair of electric substation apparatus, protective relays, supervisory controls, automation systems, communications systems, LAN/FAN/WAN networks, fiber optic networks and to do related work as required.
Work Performed
Typical duties may include, but are not limited to, the following:

• Test, maintain, and repair substation protective relays, tele-protection circuits, metering circuits, control circuits, and transducers.
• Test and troubleshoot air circuit breakers, gas circuit breakers, oil circuit breakers, vacuum circuit breakers, motor operated disconnects, reclosing switches, transfer switches, power transformers, potential transformers, current transformers, cabling, and bus work.
• Install, configure, and maintain communications networking infrastructure, including SONET (Synchronous Optical NETwork), and various LAN/FAN/WAN applications.
• Test, maintain, and repair remote terminal units (RTUs), and related substation and distribution automation equipment.
• Install, configure, and maintain wireless radio systems, including land mobile radio (LMR), point-to-point, and point-to-multipoint microwave.
• Terminate single-mode and multi-mode fiber optic cable at substations, and at various City and Utility facilities.
• Perform substation and field manual switching as required.
• Perform functional testing and commissioning for substation apparatus, protection, controls, logic, automation, and human-machine interfaces (HMIs).
• Redline electrical schematics and wiring diagrams, and modify protective relay settings, remote terminal unit settings, and various intelligent electronic device (IED) settings as directed by Engineering.
• Maintain records for substation apparatus, protective relays, communications equipment, networking equipment, and various intelligent electronic devices (IEDs) affiliated with our substation and distribution systems.

Qualifications
Education: High School diploma or satisfactory equivalent (GED).
Experience: Five (5) years of experience in specialized testing and repair of electric substation apparatus, protective relays, supervisory controls, automation systems, communications systems, LAN/FAN/WAN networks, and fiber optic networks.
Necessary Special Requirement:

• Possession of an appropriate, valid class "C" California Motor Vehicle Operator's License.

Highly Desired Qualifications:

• Experience testing, maintaining, and repairing substation protective relays, tele-protection circuits, metering circuits, control circuits, and transducers.
• Experience testing and troubleshooting air circuit breakers, gas circuit breakers, oil circuit breakers, vacuum circuit breakers, motor operated disconnects, reclosing switches, transfer switches, power transformers, potential transformers, current transformers, cabling, and bus work.
• Intermediate knowledge of electronics and radio frequency theory, and their application in various electrical and communications systems.
• Intermediate knowledge of transmission and distribution protective relays and related equipment, and the ability to apply this knowledge to specific work problems.

Selection Process
DOCUMENTS REQUIRED AT THE TIME OF APPLICATION:
1) Completed Employment Application
2) Completed Supplemental Questionnaire
FOR GENERAL INFORMATION ON COMPLETING YOUR ON-LINE APPLICATION, CLICK HERE: (Application Guide).
The selection process will begin with an employment application package screening, with the best qualified candidates being invited to participate further in the assessment process. This process may include any combination of written, performance, and oral assessments to evaluate job-related education, experience, knowledge, skills, and abilities. Those who successfully complete the selection process will be placed on the eligibility list for this classification.
IMPORTANT INFORMATION ON SCHEDULING ASSESSMENTS:
If you are selected to move forward in the assessment process, you may be required to self-schedule your appointment. You will be notified via email of your status and provided with self-scheduling instructions. Please check your email regularly following the closing date of this recruitment.
Positions that require, or may require, a California Commercial Driver's License are considered Safety Sensitive and are monitored by the U.S. Department of Transportation. Any candidate being considered for a Safety Sensitive position must submit authorization forms to the City immediately upon request to begin the pre-employment process.
It is the responsibility of candidates with a disability requiring accommodation in the assessment process to contact the Human Resources Department in writing to request such accommodation prior to the closing date of this recruitment.
Appointment may be subject to the successful completion of a pre-employment background investigation, drug screen, and/or medical/physical examination.
NOTE: The City reserves the right to modify selection devices and test instruments in accordance with accepted legal, ethical, and professional standards. Candidates may reapply when there is a posting to establish an eligibility list.
EDUCATIONAL REQUIREMENTS:
Proof of education listed in your application will be requested at the time of conditional offer. Acceptable documentation consists of transcripts or degree, if applicable, by the accredited U.S. college or university.
Education obtained outside the United States (US) require one of the following options:

1. An equivalency statement from an evaluation company certified by the National Association of Credential Evaluation Services (NACES) at Members - NACES or the Association of International Credential Evaluators Inc. (AICE) at http://aice-eval.org/members/.
2. An advanced-level degree from an accredited US college or university.

All applicants will be notified via e-mail or telephone of their application status and the assessment dates/times/locations after the closing date of this announcement.
THE PROVISIONS OF THIS JOB ANNOUNCEMENT DO NOT CONSTITUTE AN EXPRESSED OR IMPLIED CONTRACT.
International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers (IBEW) - Field Unit
The City offers an attractive benefits package, the central provisions of which are as follows:

• Retirement for Classic Members - For employees hired after 1/1/2013 who are CLASSIC MEMBERS of California Public Employees' Retirement System (CalPERS) or a reciprocal agency as of 12/31/12 and have not been separated from service from such agency for six months or more, the retirement benefit shall be 2.7 % @ age 55; 3 year final compensation. The required employee contribution is 8%. The City does not participate in Social Security; thus, employees do not bear this additional 6.2% expense.
• Retirement for New Members - For employees hired 1/1/2013 or later and who ARE NOT a member of the California Public Employees' Retirement System (CalPERS) or a reciprocal agency as of 12/31/12, or those who have been separated from a public agency which contracts with CalPERS or a reciprocal agency for six months or more, the retirement benefit shall be 2% at age 62; 3 year final compensation. The required employee contribution is 50% of the normal cost. And is subject to change per CalPERS every fiscal year. The City does not participate in Social Security; thus, employees do not bear this additional 6.2% expense.
• Health Insurance - The City offers six health insurance plans and contributes up to $1,637 per month for HMO plans (family coverage).
• Dental Insurance-The City provides three dental insurance plans and contributes up to $55 per month.
• Vision Insurance - The City provides vision coverage through Vision Service Plan (VSP) for employees and their dependents that are enrolled in medical coverage.
• Life Insurance - The City provides and pays for term life insurance with accidental death and dismemberment up to $100,000 plus AD&D. Additional Life Insurance is available and voluntary for employee and eligible dependents (up to $300k).
• Deferred Compensation - The City contributes $75 per month with a minimum employee contribution of $12.50 per check. Participation in the deferred compensation plan is optional.
• Leave Benefits - Includes vacation, sick leave, bereavement leave, and holiday benefits. Please refer to IBEW Field MOU for specific details.
• Flexible Spending Account-The City offers a Health Care and Dependent Care Flexible Spending Plan for optional participation.
• Long Term Disability - The City offers optional enrollment in the Long-Term Disability Plan.
• Short Term Disability- Employees are automatically enrolled in with The Standard Short-Term Disability Plan. The City contributes $25.60 per month and the employee pays the remainder portion of the premium.
• LegalEase Plan - Optional legal services plan for employees and eligible dependents.
• Critical Illness Plan - Optional critical illness insurance plan for employees and eligible dependents.
• Vacation Accrual - 0-5 yrs. = 80 hrs., 6-10 yrs. = 120 hrs., 11+ yrs.=160 hrs.
• For other special compensation, refer to the

For additional benefits information, please visit the following website:
For part-time, benefitted positions the insurance and other benefits (leave accruals, holidays, etc.) are pro-rated based on ½ or ¾ time status.
01
Instructions: The information on the application and your responses to the following supplemental questions will be used to determine whether you meet the minimum and/or highly desirable qualifications for the position in which you are applying. Detailed responses must be provided for each question in order to ensure qualifications are properly considered.
(*Do not refer to a resume in lieu of completing the supplemental questions).
Employers listed on this questionnaire must also be listed and fully detailed in the work experience section of your application.

• I understand.

02
Please indicate the highest level of education you have completed.

• Less than High School Diploma or GED
• High School Diploma or GED
• Some college coursework completed
• Associate's Degree
• Bachelor's Degree
• Master's Degree
• PhD

03
Please indicate the amount of experience you possess in specialized testing and repair of electric substation apparatus, protective relays, supervisory controls, automation systems, communications systems, LAN/FAN/WAN networks, and fiber optic networks.

• Less than 5 years
• 5 years, or more

04
Please indicate which of the following you possess experience in; check all that apply:

• Experience testing, maintaining, and repairing substation protective relays, tele-protection circuits, metering circuits, control circuits, and transducers.
• Experience testing and troubleshooting air circuit breakers, gas circuit breakers, oil circuit breakers, vacuum circuit breakers, motor operated disconnects, reclosing switches, transfer switches, power transformers, potential transformers, current transformers, cabling, and bus work.
• None of the above

05
Please indicate which of the following you possess intermediate/advanced knowledge in.

• Knowledge of electronics and radio frequency theory, and their application in various electrical and communications systems.
• Knowledge of transmission and distribution protective relays and related equipment, and the ability to apply this knowledge to specific work problems.
• None of the above

06
Please indicate the type of valid driver's license you currently possess.

• None
• Class A
• Class B
• Class C
• Out of State License

07
Certification: I understand that I cannot update my application once it has been submitted. Therefore, I have fully completed ALL sections, provided full descriptions of my duties and responsibilities for each employer, and have fully answered ALL questions on the Supplemental Questionnaire. (Do not refer to a resume or other documentation, as it will not be reviewed.) Employers noted on the Supplemental Questionnaire must also be included and fully detailed on the Application.

• I understand.

Required Question