EDF Renewables North America Looking for High Voltage Specialist Full Time

The High Voltage Specialist will oversee the operation, maintenance, repair, and training of BOP & HV electrical equipment for wind, solar, and battery storage projects. He or She will provide technical support on owned and third-party asset contracted under EDF Renewables. This position provides direct guidance to BOP/HV site specialist for the safe, reliable, and cost-effective technical support on medium and high voltage BOP systems and substations.

• 15% – Instruct, train, and assist site personnel in safe work practices, IR, battery testing and maintenance. Ensure compliance with industry safe work practices by site technicians and contractors performing BOP & Substation work activities.
• 10% – Support EDF Renewables projects throughout the US, Canada, & Mexico in areas of high voltage maintenance and troubleshooting. Ensure compliance to national/local electrical codes and company objectives.
• 10% – Reviews maintenance and repair test reports and propose follow-up actions as necessary. Ensure work performed is correctly documented and confirms with the scope being performed and meets regulatory requirements.
• 10% – Be onsite during planned outages to make any executive decisions related to substation maintenance and repairs as needed. Follow contractor work progress. Ensure unsatisfactory test results/conditions recorded are resolved, verified and addressed before contractor demobilization and restoration of equipment.
• 10% Direct the site BOP/HV specialist in the performance of high voltage switching and grounding of the electrical equipment, including approving switching orders, overseeing application of grounds and approving lock and tag out documentation needed for clearances.
• 10% – Develop safe work practices and techniques associated with substation maintenance and repairs to include types of equipment to be utilized, materials needed, and any associated specialized tooling necessary to perform the work.
• 10% – Coordinate with the NERC compliance team to maintain NERC compliance at all times. Assist in NERC scheduled audits.
• 10% – Interview, select, and train site BOP/HV specialist in the servicing, troubleshooting and repairs of medium and high voltage collective systems, including overhead power lines, underground cable systems, substation switching equipment, power instrumentation and transformer equipment.
• 10% – Support site managers with planning and budgeting of planned substation maintenances and repairs. Assist and give technical direction during unplanned outages to restore plant to normal operations in a safe and timely manner.
• 5% – Other duties as assigned.

Supervision of Others:

• This position provides direct oversight of Contractors and Subcontractor’s responsible for performing work on balance of plant (BOP) and substations electrical power systems by multi-skilled works crews.
• This position provides direct guidance and support to the EDF Renewables BOP/HV site specialist for the transmission and distribution systems.

• A minimum of 6 years’ experience in the high voltage systems and substations to include utilizing electrical technical documentation, including schematics, and electrical circuit and technical drawings or a P.E. in Electrical Engineer accepted in lieu of experience.
• Completion of a formal apprenticeship program or equivalent combination of work experience and technical training required.

Skills/Knowledge/Abilities –

• Working knowledge of the renewable energy industry HV best practices, NEC requirements, and diagnosis/repair of common substation failures.
• Ability to work well across multiple company departments and with 2nd and 3rd party contractors in resolution of issues identified in the field during that phases of a project.
• NETA certifications or other component specific high voltage certifications a plus.
• Ability to communicate effectively across all operational levels of the organization as well as with suppliers and customers, exercising appropriate tact and diplomacy to accomplish objectives.
• Highly experienced in using and understanding testing and diagnostic equipment utilized for high voltage collections and transmission systems.
• A strong understanding of varying electrical codes, NETA requirements, IEC standards, NFPA 70E and OSHA regulations.

• Use technical documents and substation drawings, such as equipment drawings, control board drawings, instruction books, tests records, equipment records, etc., to ascertain proper connection, operation and maintenance of substation electrical equipment. Provide investigations of substation equipment failures and interruptions to ascertain cause of failure and/or interruptions.

• Excellent computer skills including Word, Excel, database, Outlook, SAP, OSI Pi and various statistical analysis tools.
• A strong understanding of battery maintenance, testing and documentation, underground fault locating, protective relaying operations, fault analyzing and event reporting, Oil sampling and DGA analysis, and Thermography.
• Must possess excellent people skills and have strong written and verbal communication skills.

Physical Requirements:

The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions. While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to: Stand, climb, use hands or fingers, handle or feel and reach with hands and arms. The employee is frequently required to talk and hear. The employee is occasionally required to lift and/or move up to 35 pounds, occasionally lift and/or move up to 50 pounds.

• Able to work at heights, including climbing up and climbing down ladders.
• Able to work in an electrical environment. This may have been achieved through formal training, previous work experience, or the ability to demonstrate electrical skills.
• Able to operate company vehicles (field trucks), both onsite as well as on public roads and highways. Must have a current driver’s license.
• Must be willing and able to travel throughout North America, or internationally as required or directed.

Working Conditions:

40% of time is spent in the office environment, utilizing computers (frequent use of various Microsoft software/programs), phones, and general office equipment. 60% of time is spent outside of the office working with site mangers, technicians, and contractors in the performance of BOP/ HV training, repairs, and maintenance of EDF Renewable facilities. While on job site must wear personal protective equipment (PPE), including hard hat and safety glasses at all times. Each job site may be different and must be accessed individually. Travel will be required based on needs of company.

Fiscal Responsibilities:

The employee must work within the budget constraints as authorized by the Executive Team; while successfully following all policies and procedures related to employees’ fiscal responsibilities in doing the day-to-day job.