Substation Operator Jobs in California (NOW HIRING)

Description The Department: Silicon Valley Power (SVP) is the City of Santa Clara's municipal public power utility. Located in Northern California's Santa Clara County, SVP is primarily a distribution utility contained within a roughly twenty square mile footprint and embedded within the much larger PG&E utility system. SVP operates under the jurisdiction of the California Independent System Operator (CAISO) and the Western Electricity Coordinating Council (WECC).

SVP operates voltages of 230kV and 115kV (transmission), 60kv (sub-transmission), and 12kV (distribution). Its peak load in 2024 was 718MW and has the ability to generate up to 200MW internally. SVP has roughly 60,000 meters with 90% of the load industrial-commercial and 10% residential.

SVP is a NERC registered utility and conforms to NERC 693 and CIP reliability standards. It is the mission of SVP to be a progressive, service-oriented utility, offering reliable, competitively priced services for the benefit of the City and its customers. Being competitive in the marketplace with a continuous focus on customer service, SVP provides economic value to the City of Santa Clara and its customers while maintaining low residential rates and offering competitive rates for all customers The Position: Electric and Water System Operators (EWSO) ensure that all Electric, Water and Storm sewer systems are operated reliably, efficiently and effectively in a safe manner and restoring service in a timely way to all customers.

The EWSO has responsibility for monitoring and operation of the City's municipal electric power, water, transmission and distribution systems and for coordinating planned and unplanned power outages. As a Transmission Operator, operating personnel in this position have the responsibility to comply with NERC reliability standards and the authority to implement real-time actions to ensure the stable and reliable operation of the Bulk Electric System. These efforts are coordinated with the appropriate Reliability Coordinator (RC), affected Transmission Operator(s) (TO) and affected Balancing Authorities (BA).

This position is staffed 24/7 365 utilizing a rotation of 12 hour shifts with Operators alternating between days and nights. Additional Information: Applications must be filled out completely (e.g. do not write "see resume, NA, or personnel file.")

To receive consideration for the screening process, candidates must submit a Resume. Incomplete applications will not be considered. Application packets may be submitted online through the "Apply Now" feature on the job announcement at www.santaclaraca.gov

This position is continuous. Applications will be reviewed on a bi-weekly basis for consideration to the position. If you are interested in applying you are encouraged to apply as soon as possible, before the position is closed.

IF YOU ARE INTERESTED IN EMPLOYMENT IN THIS CLASSIFICATION, YOU SHOULD APPLY TO ENSURE YOU ARE CONSIDERED FOR ADDITIONAL OPPORTUNITIES THAT MAY UTILIZE THE APPLICANTS FROM THIS RECRUITMENT. MEETING THE MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS DOES NOT GUARANTEE ADMITTANCE INTO THE EXAMINATION PROCESS. ONLY THE MOST QUALIFIED CANDIDATES WHO DEMONSTRATE THE BEST COMBINATION OF QUALIFICATIONS IN RELATION TO THE REQUIREMENTS AND DUTIES OF THE POSITION WILL BE INVITED TO TEST OR INTERVIEW.

The annual salary range for this position is $183,558.84 - $234,773.52 annually. This position will be filled at or near the minimum of the salary range. Typical Duties Follow this link to view the entire Class Specification, which includes more information on Typical Duties and Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities

Minimum Qualifications EDUCATION AND EXPERIENCE Minimum Requirements: Graduation from high school or possession of a GED 1) Two (2) years of experience in an electric utility performing complex load dispatching and switching 2) Four (4) years of experience in an electric utility as a generating plant or substation operator with sub-dispatching responsibility 3) Four (4) years of experience with the City of Santa Clara Electric Department, including at least one (1) year as an journey-level or higher, electrician or lineman/linewoman 4) Completion of a recognized State of California Electric System Operator apprentice program Desirable Qualification: A valid Transmission Operator Certificate issued by the North American Electric Reliability Corporation (NERC) LICENSE: Possession of a valid California Class C driver's license is required at time of appointment and for the duration of employment. CERTIFICATES: Possession of the following certificate is required within one year of hire date and for the duration of appointment: A valid Water Distribution System Operator Certificate (Grade D-1 or above) issued by the California Department of Health Services (DHS). A valid Transmission Operator Certificate issued by the North American Electric Reliability Corporation (NERC).

Incumbents will be required to obtain and maintain any other license or certification mandated by NERC for the position of Transmission Operator and necessary for the performance of duties under the current scope of responsibilities pertaining to the SVP Transmission System. OTHER REQUIREMENTS Incumbents may be assigned to work on a rotating 12-hour shift schedule Incumbents must have the ability to work, as assigned, to schedules that may include weekends, holidays, and non-traditional work hours; and a willingness to work overtime as required Incumbents may have to pass an initial and periodic comprehensive background checks, which may include fingerprinting, to meet Federal, State and/or industry security requirements Must be able to perform all of the essential functions of the job assignment. Candidates must attain a passing score on each phase of the examination process to qualify for the Eligible List.

A department interview may be required prior to appointment. Federal law requires all employees to provide verification of their eligibility to work in this country. Please be informed that the City of Santa Clara will not sponsor, represent, or sign documents related to visa applications/transfers for H1B or any other type of visa which requires an employer application.

PERMANENT CITY EMPLOYEES PREFERENCE POINTS: Current permanent employee candidates who receive a passing score on the examination will have an additional five (5) points added to their final score. The City of Santa Clara is an equal opportunity employer. Applicants for all job openings will be considered without regard to age, race, color, religion, sex, national origin, sexual orientation, disability, veteran status or any other consideration made unlawful under any federal, state or local laws.

The City of Santa Clara is committed to offering reasonable accommodations to job applicants with disabilities. If you need assistance or an accommodation due to a disability, please contact us at (408) 615-2080 or HumanResources@santaclaraca.gov.