Substation Maintenance Specialist II

RWE Americas, LLC
To start as soon as possible, full time, permanent

Functional area: Operations & Maintenance
Remuneration: Non-Exempt

The Substation Maintenance Specialist II performs difficult transmission/substation engineering tasks that require extensive analysis of alternatives to reach decisions and make appropriate recommendations on technical issues. The role performs routine inspections, maintenance, and repairs on substation and collection system components.

Role Responsibilities:

• Assures that all operations and maintenance activities are performed in a safe manner consistent with policies and procedures established for the electrical systems of the wind farms
• Independently performs complex inspections, troubleshooting, and repairs on all major substation systems
• Writes and executes switching orders, ensuring all clearances, lock-out and tag-out procedures are applied
• Conducts advanced diagnostic testing (e.g., relay testing, transformer oil analysis) and recommends corrective actions
• Supports compliance reporting by reviewing and verifying testing and maintenance documentation
• Serves as a site-level subject matter expert, assisting in coordinating maintenance campaigns and working with contractors or vendors
• Provides hands-on training and guidance to S3 technicians, elevating overall team skill levels
• Maintains substation equipment, collection system, and transmission lines; works with RWE employees and contractors to ensure proper maintenance and/or repairs are performed on the electrical equipment in a safe and timely manner
• Performs high voltage switching and grounding of electrical equipment, including writing switching orders, along with applying the appropriate lock and tag out needed for clearances
• Works with Compliance Officers to maintain NERC compliance at all times
• Reviews maintenance and repair test reports and propose follow-up actions as necessary
• Ensures work performed is correctly documented, conforms with the scope being performed, and meets regulatory requirements as set forth by RWE Compliance department
• Must be available for travel up to 30% of time; pplicant must be available for travel to all RWE North American sites as the need arises
• Technical Training will be ongoing i.e. IR training, battery testing and maintenance; it will be the employee’s responsibility to learn as well as teach others in this position

Job Requirements and Experiences:

• High School degree or equivalent required
• 2- or 4-year degree (preferred) from an accredited school, other than a correspondence or on-line in a technical hard science (engineering, physics, power, or closely related field)
• A current Journeyman or a Master Electrician license may substitute for 2 years of experience
• Minimum 4 years’ work experience in Operations and/or Maintenance in power generation, transmission or distribution
• Prior High Line worker, substation, and relaying skills are preferred
• Must be able to interpret substation one lines, relay and control drawings, and must have relaying skills to interface with and test SEL, GE, and other types of multi-function relays
• Must have working knowledge of major substation equipment, i.e. power transformers, breakers, capacitors, current and potential transformers, and battery systems
• Familiarity with the installation of cable splices, t-bodies, and riser terminations
• Experience operating various electrical test sets and interpreting results
• Applies advanced knowledge of substation equipment, protection systems, and testing methods
• Writes and executes switching orders and applies advanced clearance and grounding procedures
• Conducts diagnostic testing (e.g., relay testing, transformer oil analysis) and interprets results
• Provides technical input to improve maintenance processes
• Diagnoses and resolves most equipment issues independently
• Anticipates potential risks in switching or maintenance tasks and adapts procedures as needed
• Mentors junior technicians, providing training and on-the-job instruction
• Coordinates with contractors and vendors for site-level work
• Shares insights with engineering and operations teams
• Oversees site-level substation maintenance efforts and verifies compliance with standards
• Leads teams on specific projects and maintenance campaigns
• Knowledge of and experience with the use of hand and power tools
• Knowledge of environmental and safety policies and procedures
• Ability to work within tight deadlines
• Ability to work independently and as part of a team
• Ability and willingness to travel to and from job sites as assigned 

Physical Requirements:

• Ability to push/pull/lift tools and equipment weighing up to 50 lbs.
• Ability to work safely in extreme environments (hot sun, cold, etc.)
• Ability to walk, climb, and stand extensively during the work day

Work Environment:

• Working at night for testing of Substations
• Must be available for travel to all North America sites as the need arises
• Working in and around live Substation; receive and understand all requirements to meet NFPA 70e
• Travel to all sites will be necessary at any given time to support the sites
• Must be knowledgeable in safe work practices around energized equipment, including minimum approach distances

Applicants must be legally authorized to work in the United States. RWE Americas is unable to sponsor or take over sponsorship of employment visas at this time. 

Benefits offered: Medical, Dental, Vision, Life Insurance, Short-Term Disability, Long-Term Disability, 401(k) match, Flexible Spending Accounts, EAP, Education Assistance, Parental Leave, Paid time off, and Holidays. Eligible employees also participate in short-term incentives, in addition to salary.

Apply with just a few clicks: ad code 93335.  Any questions? Contact HR:  rwe_americas_recruiting@rwe.com

We look forward to meeting you. Of course, you can find us on LinkedIn, Instagram, Facebook, YouTube and Xing, too.

All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, religion, national origin, disability, veteran status, or other legally protected status.

RWE Americas, a subsidiary of RWE, is a US-based energy company that is helping to meet the growing demand for energy across the United States. Backed by RWE’s 125-year global legacy of managing diverse power assets, RWE Americas operates approximately 13 GW of power projects across 27 states. With a talented workforce of 2,000 employees, RWE Americas develops, constructs and operates wind, solar and battery storage projects that safely deliver affordable, reliable electricity to our customers. Committed to responsible development, RWE Americas invests in local and rural communities, creating jobs and partnering with stakeholders to support and strengthen the places where we live and work. Learn more about how RWE Americas is generating impact at americas.rwe.com.

At RWE Americas, we foster a culture defined by our Essential Behaviors – Have Courage, Create Impact and Actively Collaborate. We encourage bold thinking and continuous learning, and we value ownership, resilience and inclusion in everything we do. When you join us, you become part of a team that supports your development, respects your contributions and celebrates shared success. This is a place where you can grow your career and make a meaningful difference.