Senior Relay Protection and Controls Technician

This job is eligible for relocation assistance to aid with the costs of relocating to the Colorado Springs area.

Do you have what it takes to join a team that thrives in maintaining the safety and performance of our electric systems? Note- our systems are comprised of 57 substations, 232 miles of transmission lines, AND 8 power generation plants. You will truly have the ability to lead and grow as an individual- where you will be able to manage your schedule, while also supporting a service territory… these territories can be accessible within a 30-minute drive. Work-life balance is SO IMPORTANT to us.

As a municipal four-service utility, Colorado Springs Utilities is both an owner and operator of our power generation and transmission equipment. Keep reading below to explore more about this opportunity…

The starting pay rate for a Senior Relay Protection and Controls Technician is $61.73/hr. Your pay rate will increase to $64.82/hr upon completing probation (typically 6 months).

A day in the life of a Senior Relay Protection and Controls Technician may include:

• Installing, calibrating, maintaining, testing, troubleshooting, tuning, and repairing critical protection and control systems, with an emphasis on quality assurance for relay and control systems and high-speed communication-assisted relay schemes
• Working on Transmission, Distribution, and Substation protection devices
• Interacting with Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition (SCADA) systems
• Interacting with control systems, logic controllers, and operating systems via serial and networked communications
• Utilizing system performance monitoring equipment (e.g., fault recorders, SERs, and power quality monitors)
• Protective relay and data channels via fiber optics, copper pair, and telecommunications carriers associated with various communication systems
• Programming, installing, testing, troubleshooting, maintaining, and repairing all protective relay equipment
• Ensuring compliance with mandated maintenance intervals on the bulk power system and submitting required documentation to demonstrate compliance
• Recommending, modifying, and installing new hardware and software components and/or systems
• Assisting design engineers in reviewing, developing, and maintaining detailed drawing packages and documentation as needed to modify circuitry for various installations, upgrades, and improvements
• Assuming a lead role in equipment installation during the commissioning of projects

Who You Are:

• Completion of a relay technician apprenticeship or training program or relevant work experience instead of formal training or certification
• Experience with transmission line and substation protective relay control systems
• Experience with SCADA system automation, installation, testing, and troubleshooting

The following knowledge, skills, and areas of expertise are highly valued for this role:

• Electric transmission and distribution protection systems and auxiliary equipment
• Electrical protection principles and theories
• Power system protective relaying and control schemes
• Electronics, pneumatics, electro-hydraulic, and electrical principles and theories
• Electronic, pneumatic, and computer-controlled systems and devices
• Programming languages and operating systems specific to tasks and equipment
• National Electrical and National Electric Safety Codes
• Relay and Control Operational and Safety Procedures
• Electric generation, transmission, and distribution systems, equipment, and safety procedures

Who We Are:

• One of the largest four-service public utilities in the nation (over 500,000 customers)
• A national leader in reliability (power on an average of 99.991% of the time)
• Diamond Designation recipient from the American Public Power Association – a utility leader in reliability, safety, workforce development, and system improvements
• Located at the base of the Rocky Mountains in one of the most desired cities to live in the United States (U.S. News & World Report, 2023)

Our Commitment to Our Employees:

Our people are the heart and soul of Colorado Springs Utilities. They keep the lights on, gas flowing, water coming in, and wastewater leaving. We do not just say people are important – we prove it! That’s why we are honored to invest in protecting the health and financial security of our employees and their families through our rich benefits program.

• Time Off – Because everybody needs time off to recharge
  
  • Vacation – New employees accrue 13 days of paid time off to start, while our more tenured employees accrue 24 days per year
  • Personal Leave –3 days per year of personal leave
  • Paid Holidays –12 paid holidays per year
  • Sick Leave – Accrue 12 days of sick leave annually for those days when you or a family member is feeling under the weather
  • Vacation Buy – Purchase up to 40 hours of additional vacation time
• Pension Plan – Looking forward to a comfortable lifestyle once you’re done working? The Colorado Public Employees’ Retirement Association (PERA) provides you with retirement benefits and peace of mind when you retire 
• Medical – Select from three comprehensive medical plans, starting at $10.00 a month. Employees also enjoy access to a Health Savings Account (HSA) and Flexible Spending Account (FSA)
• Wellness Program – Voluntary wellness program that allows you and your spouse to each earn up to $500 to use towards healthcare expenses, $100 in Visa gift cards, and up to $400 in gym membership reimbursements
• Dental – Select from two dental plans, with in-network PPO preventive care covered at 100% and access to orthodontia coverage
• Vision – Voluntary plan that covers full vision care services and discounts on LASIK eye surgery
• Retirement Saving Programs – Supplement your pension plan with voluntary retirement programs such as the PERAPlus 401(k) and MissionSquare’s Roth IRA and 457 plans
• Disability Coverage – Short-Term (STD) and Long-Term Disability (LTD) insurance available for purchase
• Employee Assistance Program (EAP) – Makes the going a little easier by aiding with mental health, stress management, work-life balance, financial and legal matters, and much more
• Long-Term Care Insurance (LTC) – Whether it's due to an accident or a serious illness, LTC insurance is available for purchase to help you and your loved ones
• Life Insurance – Company-paid life insurance and supplemental coverage available
• Tuition Reimbursement – Employees are eligible to receive up to $5,250 annually for Tuition Reimbursement
• Qualifying Public Service Employer – Payments made towards student loans may qualify for the Public Service Loan Forgiveness Program