What are the responsibilities and job description for the Apprentice/Substation/Journey Substation Technician position at Nebraska Public Power District?
Nebraska Public Power District (NPPD) has an immediate opening for a Apprentice/Substation/Journey Substation Technician located at the York Operations Center in York, Nebraska. Position closes October 21, 2026 at 11:59 p.m. Central Time. This position will report to the Substation Supervisor.
Position Summary
Directly responsible and accountable for performing effective substation maintenance/testing and operation activities required for "Safely keeping the lights on" for the assigned area. Responsibilities include: installation, checkout, calibration, maintenance, troubleshooting, repair and operation of electrical equipment, frequent travel, overnight stays, respond to after-hours trouble calls, and responding to emergencies.
Assignment to one of these positions and a condition of continued employment will be the ability to arrive from your residence to the NPPD office that you report to within 30 minutes of notification of a call out.
Due to NERC regulatory requirements regarding medium substations, all Substation Technicians must obtain and maintain a satisfactory NERC background check.
Education, Training And Experience
Associate's degree in electro-mechanical, electronics, electrical technology.
OR
An associate's degree or certificate of completion from an approved community college or correspondence school in a related field.
OR
Have substation technician experience within the District or with another utility or electrical contractor that is considered an acceptable equivalent to the formal education options listed.
Applicants hired external to the District will be placed into the T&D Substation Technician Progression Program based on previous experience and education.
Training/Progression: Job levels within the substation technician positions are based on a series of evaluations to determine advancing levels of proficiency and accountability.
Progression Advances Are As Follows
Apprentice Substation Technician - Entry level position. Assists with responsibilities as defined in principle accountabilities of this position.
Substation Technician - Requires general substation proficiency (such as, switching, grounding, clearances, etc.). Completes requirements for general substation maintenance and operation as outlined in the training progression program, and performs responsibilities as defined in principle accountabilities. This position assists in making decisions as defined in Decision Making Authority.
Journey Substation Technician - Requires specialized competencies; responsibilities based on business need. Completes requirements for specialized Journey level as outlined in the training progression program and is responsible for making decisions as outlined in the Decision Making Authority. Leads other levels of technicians in absence of the supervisor. Provides training for other technicians. Provides oversight of projects. Ensures all technicians perform safely and utilize all available human performance tools.
Senior Substation Technician must be certified as Substation Journey in one of the Substation Technician disciplines (Protection and Control, Metering, Equipment Maintenance). The Senior Technician will be determined through the interview process.
Technicians may obtain multiple Journey certifications and/or specialized Substation Technician classifications with Substation Manager approval.
Prior Related Experience (Journey or Above)
A total of five years of combined experience at the Apprentice Substation Technician and Substation levels is the minimum requirement for progression to the Journey Substation Technician position (as outlined in the Substation Technician Progression Program).
Licenses and/or Certifications
Maintain CDL operator's license, switchman certification, and other certifications as required. Must obtain and maintain CPR & first aid certifications.
Essential Duties & Responsibilities
This position will have direct contact with various customers and is required to perform duties while working for and with various customers. Assist other Technicians in performing their duties as needed.
Protection & Controls
Perform Acceptance and Diagnostic Testing of Substation Components associated with Transmission and Sub Transmission Substations. This involves the use of computers with various operating software to interface with diagnostic test equipment. This requires knowledge of Computers, Software, and Test Equipment, and how they interface. The technician will be required to interpret the results.
Install substation equipment. (i.e. Relays, Electrical Controls, Wiring, Control Panels, Potential Transformers, Current Transformers, and various other equipment associated with the protection and control of substations.) This requires technician to have an understanding of the protection and control circuits and be able to install equipment without jeopardizing the stability of the system.
Perform diagnostic troubleshooting and repairing of electrical equipment associated with Transmission, Sub Transmission, and Distribution equipment. (i.e. Protection and control equipment, Breakers, Transformers, Load Tap Changer controls.) This requires the technician to perform testing on equipment in service without jeopardizing the stability of the system.
Install, test, and maintain various mobile substation equipment. (i.e. transformers, substations, generators, and circuit switchers). Requires knowledge on safely operating this equipment.
This technician is responsible for decision making involved in energizing and placing new equipment in service. Technician does the final testing on the energized equipment to establish the integrity of such equipment.
Accountable for other duties as assigned.
Core Competencies
Customer Focus
Employees & Teamwork/Diversity & Inclusion
Integrity/Excellence
Public Service/Environmental Stewardship
Safety
Salary Information - Nebraska Public Power District offers a competitive starting salary with opportunities for growth. In addition to the base salary range listed below, NPPD employees may also be eligible for our Annual Incentive Program (AIP) that may supplement total compensation at a level above and beyond the stated salary range. Successful applicants will be provided more information regarding the incentive program at the time of an interview.
Pay Grade
Apprentice Substation Technician - Pay Grade 10: $39.29 per hour
Substation Technician - Pay Grade 12: $47.15 per hour
Journey Substation Technician - Pay Grade 13: $57.63 per hour
Travel Required: 25% to 50% (With frequent overnight stays, more than 3 per month, typically within state of Nebraska) Travel required may fluctuate by business need. This is an estimate and will be discussed further with candidates that receive an interview.
Nebraska Public Power District offers a competitive starting salary and an excellent benefits package including medical and dental insurance, 401K retirement plan, paid holidays, paid vacation, paid medical, training opportunities and more.
If you are an individual with a disability and would like to request a reasonable accommodation as part of the employment selection process, please contact Human Resources at Nebraska Public Power District.
Nebraska Public Power District is an Equal Opportunity Employer
Position Summary
Directly responsible and accountable for performing effective substation maintenance/testing and operation activities required for "Safely keeping the lights on" for the assigned area. Responsibilities include: installation, checkout, calibration, maintenance, troubleshooting, repair and operation of electrical equipment, frequent travel, overnight stays, respond to after-hours trouble calls, and responding to emergencies.
Assignment to one of these positions and a condition of continued employment will be the ability to arrive from your residence to the NPPD office that you report to within 30 minutes of notification of a call out.
Due to NERC regulatory requirements regarding medium substations, all Substation Technicians must obtain and maintain a satisfactory NERC background check.
Education, Training And Experience
Associate's degree in electro-mechanical, electronics, electrical technology.
OR
An associate's degree or certificate of completion from an approved community college or correspondence school in a related field.
OR
Have substation technician experience within the District or with another utility or electrical contractor that is considered an acceptable equivalent to the formal education options listed.
Applicants hired external to the District will be placed into the T&D Substation Technician Progression Program based on previous experience and education.
Training/Progression: Job levels within the substation technician positions are based on a series of evaluations to determine advancing levels of proficiency and accountability.
Progression Advances Are As Follows
Apprentice Substation Technician - Entry level position. Assists with responsibilities as defined in principle accountabilities of this position.
Substation Technician - Requires general substation proficiency (such as, switching, grounding, clearances, etc.). Completes requirements for general substation maintenance and operation as outlined in the training progression program, and performs responsibilities as defined in principle accountabilities. This position assists in making decisions as defined in Decision Making Authority.
Journey Substation Technician - Requires specialized competencies; responsibilities based on business need. Completes requirements for specialized Journey level as outlined in the training progression program and is responsible for making decisions as outlined in the Decision Making Authority. Leads other levels of technicians in absence of the supervisor. Provides training for other technicians. Provides oversight of projects. Ensures all technicians perform safely and utilize all available human performance tools.
Senior Substation Technician must be certified as Substation Journey in one of the Substation Technician disciplines (Protection and Control, Metering, Equipment Maintenance). The Senior Technician will be determined through the interview process.
Technicians may obtain multiple Journey certifications and/or specialized Substation Technician classifications with Substation Manager approval.
Prior Related Experience (Journey or Above)
A total of five years of combined experience at the Apprentice Substation Technician and Substation levels is the minimum requirement for progression to the Journey Substation Technician position (as outlined in the Substation Technician Progression Program).
Licenses and/or Certifications
Maintain CDL operator's license, switchman certification, and other certifications as required. Must obtain and maintain CPR & first aid certifications.
Essential Duties & Responsibilities
This position will have direct contact with various customers and is required to perform duties while working for and with various customers. Assist other Technicians in performing their duties as needed.
Protection & Controls
Perform Acceptance and Diagnostic Testing of Substation Components associated with Transmission and Sub Transmission Substations. This involves the use of computers with various operating software to interface with diagnostic test equipment. This requires knowledge of Computers, Software, and Test Equipment, and how they interface. The technician will be required to interpret the results.
Install substation equipment. (i.e. Relays, Electrical Controls, Wiring, Control Panels, Potential Transformers, Current Transformers, and various other equipment associated with the protection and control of substations.) This requires technician to have an understanding of the protection and control circuits and be able to install equipment without jeopardizing the stability of the system.
Perform diagnostic troubleshooting and repairing of electrical equipment associated with Transmission, Sub Transmission, and Distribution equipment. (i.e. Protection and control equipment, Breakers, Transformers, Load Tap Changer controls.) This requires the technician to perform testing on equipment in service without jeopardizing the stability of the system.
Install, test, and maintain various mobile substation equipment. (i.e. transformers, substations, generators, and circuit switchers). Requires knowledge on safely operating this equipment.
This technician is responsible for decision making involved in energizing and placing new equipment in service. Technician does the final testing on the energized equipment to establish the integrity of such equipment.
Accountable for other duties as assigned.
Core Competencies
Customer Focus
Employees & Teamwork/Diversity & Inclusion
Integrity/Excellence
Public Service/Environmental Stewardship
Safety
Salary Information - Nebraska Public Power District offers a competitive starting salary with opportunities for growth. In addition to the base salary range listed below, NPPD employees may also be eligible for our Annual Incentive Program (AIP) that may supplement total compensation at a level above and beyond the stated salary range. Successful applicants will be provided more information regarding the incentive program at the time of an interview.
Pay Grade
Apprentice Substation Technician - Pay Grade 10: $39.29 per hour
Substation Technician - Pay Grade 12: $47.15 per hour
Journey Substation Technician - Pay Grade 13: $57.63 per hour
Travel Required: 25% to 50% (With frequent overnight stays, more than 3 per month, typically within state of Nebraska) Travel required may fluctuate by business need. This is an estimate and will be discussed further with candidates that receive an interview.
Nebraska Public Power District offers a competitive starting salary and an excellent benefits package including medical and dental insurance, 401K retirement plan, paid holidays, paid vacation, paid medical, training opportunities and more.
If you are an individual with a disability and would like to request a reasonable accommodation as part of the employment selection process, please contact Human Resources at Nebraska Public Power District.
Nebraska Public Power District is an Equal Opportunity Employer
Salary : $39 - $58