Distribution Electrician III

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At the City of Austin, we are more than just an employer-we are a vibrant community dedicated to shaping one of the nation's most dynamic and innovative cities. Our guiding principles-Empathy, Ethics, Excellence, Engagement, and Equity - anchor our approach in delivering services that significantly impact the lives of Austin residents. Joining the City of Austin means embarking on a purposeful career, contributing to the community, and being part of a forward-thinking organization that values every employee.

What Makes the City of Austin Special?

• Make a Difference: Join a team driving meaningful change in one of the fastest-growing cities in the nation.
  
• Diverse and Inclusive Workplace: Work in an environment where every voice is valued, and Innovation thrives.
  
• Competitive Benefits: Enjoy a comprehensive compensation package that includes generous leave, work-life balance programs, and extensive benefits.
  
• Retirement Security: Plan for the future with the City of Austin Employees' Retirement System.
  
• Sustainable Transportation Options: Commute easily with access to public transit and bike-friendly infrastructure.
  
• Focus on Wellness: Stay healthy through wellness programs, on-site fitness centers, and mental health support.
  
• Career Growth: Advance your skills and expertise with professional development and leadership opportunities.
  
• Modern Workspaces: Work in innovative and sustainable environments designed to foster collaboration and inspiration.
  

By joining us, you become part of a community that values its people and is committed to making Austin the most thriving and resilient city in the country.

Job Description:

Purpose:
Under minimal supervision, this position performs journeyman level lineworker tasks specializing in the Distribution, Network, or Transmission craft.

Duties, Functions and Responsibilities:
Essential duties and functions, pursuant to the Americans with Disabilities Act, may include the following. Other related duties maybe assigned.

• Climbs utility poles and structures steel/wood/fiberglass/concrete), uses approved hand and powered tools, and drives various electric utility vehicles to assist with trouble call response, construction, and maintenance of Austin Energy’s (AE’s)electrical transmission, network, or distribution system.
  
• Responds to on-call, emergency call back, and after hour outages due to weather related events or system disturbances.
  
• Determines work requirements for jobs based on reviewing job packets, which include: blueprints (plan and profile views),material list, workorder, and job summary.
  
• Works on and around high voltage energized lines and equipment, and performs troubleshooting of electrical systems using various test equipment (i.e. Multi-Range Voltage Detector [MRVD], phasing sticks, rotation meters, Digital Multi-Meters [DMM], and clamp-on amp meters).
  
• Performs pulling, installing, repairing, or moving high voltage wires, cable, and other material on AE’s electrical distribution, network, or transmission system.
  
• Performs installation, framing, construction, and maintenance of structures, hardware, and equipment on AE’s overhead and underground electrical distribution system, network distribution system, and/or transmission system, according to AE’s standards and work practices.
  
• Performs set up and operation of electric utility aerial equipment (i.e. cranes, boom trucks, digger derricks, bucket trucks, etc.) and other equipment (i.e. wire tensioner/puller, cable reel truck, cable trailer, wire trailer, skid-steer loader, bulldozer, backhoe, and forklift).
  
• Operates high-voltage transmission, substation, and/or distribution switching devices and equipment, using proper Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) and Personal Protective Devices (PPD), to de-energize and isolate circuits.
  
• Attends refresher, cyclical, and annual training to keep up with new technology and rescue techniques.
  
• Installs and connects single-phase and three-phase electrical services to AE’s residential and commercial customers, and installs and connects overhead and underground transformers, switches, cutouts, etc.
  
• Performs cutting, splicing, terminating, and taping of Underground Residential Distribution (URD) and power cable on AE’s electrical system.
  

Responsibilities - Supervisor and/or Leadership Exercised:
May provide leadership, work assignments, evaluation, training, and guidance to others.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities:

Must possess required knowledge, skills, abilities, and experience and be able to explain and demonstrate, with or without reasonable accommodations, that the essential functions of the job can be performed.

• Knowledge of AE, COA, and/or State of Texas requirements for vehicle inspections.
  
• Knowledge of the electrical theory and principles related to electricity, magnetism, circuits, and electrical equipment.
  
• Knowledge of the hazards involved in working on and around high-voltage energized lines and equipment.
  
• Knowledge of various transformer connections and the procedures for proper transformer phasing.
  
• Knowledge of installation, operation, and maintenance of electrical equipment, apparatus, and instruments.
  
• Skill in planning and organizing personnel and work assignments.
  
• Skill in handling conflict and uncertain situations.
  
• Skill in handling multiple tasks and prioritizing.
  
• Skill in operating computers and related software applications.
  
• Skill in setting up and operating electric utility aerial equipment.
  
• Skill in applying knowledge of AE safety rules, regulations, work practices, standards, and procedures associated with each craft when working on energized electrical systems.
  
• Skill in using the necessary air monitoring equipment prior to entering enclosed or confined spaces.
  
• Skill in properly using, inspecting, maintaining, and safely storing Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) and Personal Protective Devices (PPD).
  
• Skill in performing installation, construction, maintenance, and repair of electrical systems and electrical/electronic instruments.
  
• Skill in troubleshooting electrical systems using electronic test equipment (i.e. Multi-Range Voltage Detector [MRVD],phasing sticks, rotation meters, Digital Multi-Meters [DMM], and clamp-on amp meters).
  
• Skill in working on and around high-voltage energized lines and equipment.
  
• Skill in reading, preparing, interpreting, and modifying blueprints, diagrams, sketches, and drawings.
  
• Skill in performing all phases of installing, framing, constructing, and maintaining AE’s electric system.
  
• Ability to understand oral and written instructions.
  
• Ability to climb poles and structures to various heights (Distribution and Network - up to 80 ft, Transmission - up to 250 ft),following AE guidelines for personal fall arrest systems.
  
• Ability to climb ladders, work in enclosed spaces, and work as an enclosed space attendant (confined spaces for the Network craft).
  
• Ability to apply knowledge and skills obtained from training in the classroom and on the job.
  
• Ability to read and understand written instructions, technical manuals, blueprints, diagrams, sketches, and drawings.
  
• Ability to meet and maintain driver eligibility standards in the COA Driver Safety Program.
  
• Ability to establish and maintain effective communication and professional working relationships with City employees, customers, and the public.
  
• Ability to organize, inspect, and safely use various hand and powered tools, equipment, materials, cables, and conductors.
  
• Ability to properly interpret and follow manufacturers load charts when operating cranes, boom trucks, digger derricks, and bucket trucks.
  
• Ability to lead and mentor less tenured DE’s.
  
• Ability to perform strenuous work in all types of weather conditions.
  
• Ability to work with frequent interruptions, changes in priorities, and rotating shifts as assigned.
  
• Ability to lift, carry, and manipulate equipment and supplies weighing more than 50 pounds.
  

Minimum Qualifications:
Graduation from an accredited high school or equivalent, plus four (4) years of experience in the electric utility field as a Distribution, Network, or Transmission lineworker.

Licenses and Certifications Required:

• Valid Texas Class A Commercial Driver License or ability to acquire license and/or endorsements within 120 days of employment.
  
• Ability to produce and maintain an acceptable driving record.
  

Preferred Qualifications:

• Experience with the hazards associated with working on energized lines and equipment at primary distribution (high) voltages.
  
• Experience climbing electric utility wood poles up to 100 feet, while utilizing fall restraint equipment and devices.
  
• Experience working with electric utility design and construction standards.
  
• Experience working on all types of transformer installations serving single and three phase loads.
  
• Experience with troubleshooting a distribution electric utility system.
  
• Successful completion of an distribution electric apprenticeship program (verification required).
  
• Currently working, or have worked as a Journey-level Lineworker at a distribution electric utility and/or a distribution electric contractor within the last two (2) years.
  

Notes to Candidate:

The Distribution Electrician III is responsible for the construction, maintenance, and removal of overhead and underground electrical equipment associated with Austin Energy's distribution system.

Working with Austin Energy provides a number of health and welfare benefits such as low-cost medical, dental, vision, paid leave time, a highly competitive retirement plan, career development opportunities and more.

Employment Application:

• The City of Austin employment application is an official document; incomplete applications will not be considered.
  
• The Employment Record should be complete with job titles, employment dates, job duties, functions, and responsibilities for each position held.
  
• Starting salary will be based on overall relevant experience from your application.
  
• Responses to the Supplemental Questions inquiring about experience should be reflected on application.
  
• When completing the City of Austin employment application, the work experience listed must include a month, year, and a verifiable Supervisor or Human Resources phone number.
  
• Please be sure to detail on the application all current and previous employment that you wish to be considered as part of your qualifications.
  
• Résumés will not be accepted and statements such as “see résumé” will not be accepted.
  
• You may use “N/A” for fields that are not applicable.
  
• Please note that Austin Energy may close the job posting at any time after 7 days from the date of the initial advertisement. Once the job posting has closed, applications cannot be changed.
  

If you are selected as a top candidate:

• Verification of your education (which may include high school graduation or GED, undergraduate and/or graduate degrees) will be required. You must provide proof of education from an accredited organization/institution.
  
• If you are identified as a top candidate and are in the military or a veteran, you will need to provide a copy of your DD-214 prior to confirming a start date.
  
• This position requires a criminal background investigation.
  

Good Standing Employees:
Employees, in Good Standing, who are candidates within the department/division that the position resides in and who meet the minimum and all of the preferred qualifications (if any) of the position will be included
in the initial interview. Department/division employee must remain in Good Standing through the Top Candidate Selection phase at which time the Good Standing status will be re-verified.

Driving Requirement:

Valid Texas Class A Commercial Driver License or ability to acquire license and/or endorsements within 120 days of employment. External New Hires must meet the City of Austin's Driver Record Evaluation (DRE) requisite . To be considered for a driving position, applicants cannot have more than three moving violations or a total of six Driver Record Evaluation points within a period of thirty-six (36) months.

Assessments:
Your skill level in some of the competency areas for this job may be assessed through skills testing.

PAY RANGE:
Min. $35.50 - Mid. $45.27

HOURS:
2412 Kramer Lane, Bldg C, Austin, Texas. Monday - Friday, 6:30 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. Work hours may include after hours, holidays, and weekends. Shifts may change according to departmental needs. Employee may be required to work additional hours outside of regular work schedule.

WORK SCHEDULE:

• This position is categorized as Essential Personnel with the City of Austin. Essential staff are required to work during emergencies or bad weather if they are scheduled to work and, in some cases, when they are not scheduled. Essential employees ensure the continuance of key operations for the City of Austin.
  
• Work hours may include after hours, holidays, and weekends.
  
• Shifts may change according to departmental needs.
  
• Employee may be required to work additional hours outside of regular work schedule.
  

EEO Statement for City of Austin:

The City of Austin will not discriminate against any applicant or employee based on race, creed, color, national origin, sex, gender identity, age, religion, veteran status, disability, or sexual orientation. In addition, the City will not discriminate in employment decisions on the basis of an individual's AIDS, AIDS Related Complex, or HIV status; nor will the City discriminate against individuals who are perceived to be at risk of HIV infection, or who associate with individuals who are believed to be at risk.

City of Austin is committed to compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act. If you require reasonable accommodation during the application process or have a question regarding an essential job function, please call (512) 974-3210 or Texas Relay by dialing 7-1-1.

Important Note to Applicants:
Please be aware that the Job Posting Close Date reflects the final day to apply, but the posting will close at 11:59 PM the day before the date listed. All application steps, including attachments and submission, must be fully completed before that time.

We also recommend that you save or print a copy of the job posting for your records. Once a posting has closed, it will no longer be viewable in the system.

EEO Statement for City of Austin:

The City of Austin will not discriminate against any applicant or employee based on race, creed, color, national origin, sex, gender identity, age, religion, veteran status, disability, or sexual orientation. In addition, the City will not discriminate in employment decisions on the basis of an individual's AIDS, AIDS Related Complex, or HIV status; nor will the City discriminate against individuals who are perceived to be at risk of HIV infection, or who associate with individuals who are believed to be at risk.

City of Austin is committed to compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act. If you require reasonable accommodation during the application process or have a question regarding an essential job function, please call (512) 974-3210 or Texas Relay by dialing 7-1-1.

Closing Date/Time: 2025-09-09

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• City of Austin

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