Hydroelectric Specialist I (2 positions)

Job Description

At the Metropolitan Water District of Southern California, we deliver reliable water to a region with 19 million people—and to accomplish this, we rely on a team of talented employees: innovators, problem-solvers, and collaborators who make it all possible.

This recruitment will be used to build an Eligibility List. This list will be valid for 6 months from the date a candidate accepts the position.

The Metropolitan Water District's Conveyance & Distribution Group currently has two (2) openings for Hydroelectric Specialists I at our Gene Pumping Plant in Parker Dam, California.

Salary:$48.38 - $63.75 per hour

Are you ready to power up your career? We’re looking for skilled and motivated Hydroelectric Specialists I to help ensure the reliable, uninterrupted operation of our district’s hydroelectric and pumping facilities. This is your chance to put your industrial electrical expertise to work in a hands-on, dynamic environment.

What You’ll Do
As a Hydroelectric Specialist I, you’ll apply your journey-level electrical skills to:
• Install, commission, test, maintain, and troubleshoot complex power system equipment.
• Maintain and repair industrial electrical systems in substations, switchyards, switchgear, motors, generators, and protection systems at pumping plants and other district facilities.
• Work both independently and as part of a small, skilled team — taking on progressively advanced tasks as your experience grows through on-the-job training.

What You Bring
We’re looking for candidates who have hands-on experience and knowledge in:
• Electrical diagnostic testing, commissioning, and troubleshooting of motors, circuit breakers, protection relays, transformers, and battery systems.
• Working with specialized test equipment and software from manufacturers such as Doble, Omicron, Vanguard, and Megger.
• A strong commitment to safety, including working in confined spaces, at heights, and occasionally during extended hours for system shutdowns or emergency repairs.

The Incentive Pay program is set up to provide a Desert Branch Assignment Premium to qualifying employees as follows:

5% for all employees assigned to Gene Camp

This job announcement has been designed to indicate the general nature and level of work being performed by employees in this classification / job.

To view the full job description, click here: Hydroelectric Specialist I

Schedule: 4/10, 6:00 am to 4:30 pm Monday through Thursday and alternating every other week to Tuesday through Friday.

EMPLOYMENT STANDARDS

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS

Education and Experience: High school diploma or high school equivalency certificate with a 4 year electrical or mechanical apprenticeship AND 2 years of journey level experience; OR Six (6) years progressive experience related to industrial/utility electrical or mechanical maintenance.

Experience and knowledge as demonstrated by practical application of techniques and practices specific to the operations, maintenance, and repair of hydroelectric plants, pump plants, treatment plants and other facilities. Skills necessary include predictive and diagnostic evaluation of complex utility pump and power equipment using analog and digital test equipment. Also requires basic skills in installation and commissioning, utilizing predictive, preventive and corrective maintenance practices related to industrial/utility maintenance generally obtained through applicable training and experience.

CERTIFICATIONS, LICENSES, AND REGISTRATION REQUIREMENTS

Employees in this position will be required to obtain and maintain the following certifications, licensing and registrations:

• Valid Driver’s license from state of residency equivalent to a California Class A, B, and/or C with appropriate commercial license endorsements

(Valid Driver’s license from state of residency equivalent to a California Class C that allows you to drive during the course of your employment is required at time of application.)

• MWD High Voltage Switching Certification
• Crane Certification
• Forklift Certification
• Respirator Certification

CLOSING

Benefits:

• Competitive compensation

• Additional 5% incentive pay for desert location (Gene)
• Excellent medical, dental, life, vision plans.
• Deferred compensation in the form of a 401(k) plan (with matching contribution) and a 457 plan.
• Retirement benefits under the California Public Employees' Retirement System
• Tuition reimbursement
• Training and advancement opportunities
• Excellent working environment

For more information on MWD benefits, please use the following link: Benefits Regular FT PT Employees (Represented)

ABOUT MWD

The Metropolitan Water District of Southern California is a state-established cooperative that, along with its 26 cities and retail suppliers, provides water for 19 million people in six counties. The district imports water from the Colorado River and Northern California to supplement local supplies, and helps its members to develop increased water conservation, recycling, storage and other resource-management programs.

The Metropolitan Water District of Southern California is committed to providing reasonable accommodations to qualified individuals with disabilities. Qualified individuals with disabilities, who need a reasonable accommodation during the application or selection process, please call (213) 217-7738 or email: jobs@mwdh2o.com.

Metropolitan is an Equal Opportunity Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to disability, status as a protected veteran, or any other protected characteristic(s).

Application Filing Period: Closes at 11:59 pm PT on the date stated in the job announcement. However it may close prior to the filing end date if sufficient applications have been received. If sufficient applications have not been received, then the filing period end date may be extended.

Eligibility List*: An eligibility list is a list of qualified candidates created when a job posting states that one will be established.

Candidates who meet the minimum qualifications listed in the original posting and successfully pass all stages of the recruitment process—but are not selected for the initial vacancy—may be placed on this list for future openings.

The list may be used to invite candidates to participate in a selection interview for a future vacancy in the same classification / title (if there is one). The duration of the list depends on the applicable bargaining unit.

Qualifying Experience: Your resume must at a minimum include the month and year you began and ended employment, name of the organization, your title, and a brief description of your experience. If your employment was part-time, make sure you identify it on your resume next to the month/year.

Sponsorship: Applicants for employment with The Metropolitan Water District of Southern California must have work authorization that does not now or in the future require sponsorship of a visa for employment authorization in the United States (i.e., H1-B or other employment-based immigration case).

Keywords For Searching: Hydro 1, Hydro Tech, Relay Technician, Substation Electrician, Protection relay technician, Electrical test technician, I&E technician, Field service technician, High voltage electrician, Electric utility electrician, Electrician journey level, Industrial electrician, Instrumentation Controls technician, Switchgear, Omicron, Doble, Megger, VLF, Alber, Dranetz, Fluke, SFRA, FRA, Sweep frequency response analysis, Frequency response analysis, SF6, DGA, Dissolved gas analysis.

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Closing Date/Time: Sep 1, 2026 @ 11:59 pm PT