Power Distribution Technician

About the role

BASF is hiring a Power Distribution Technician for its NAF team in Freeport, Texas. The role uses expertise in maintenance, operations and contractor oversight to keep the site's electrical power systems safe and reliable, covering operation, maintenance and preventive and predictive maintenance of electrical power distribution, transmission and generation equipment.

Key responsibilities

• Work safely within qualifications and authorization limits, following BASF requirements, OSHA regulations and approved procedures, and take part in job planning, hazard reviews, job briefings, incident reviews and continuous improvement.
• Operate, inspect, maintain and troubleshoot electrical distribution, transmission and generation equipment such as substations, transformers, switchgear, circuit breakers, batteries, chargers, grounding systems and controls, using electrical diagrams, schematics and technical manuals.
• Support testing and troubleshooting of medium-voltage motors, starters and control and protection systems, and maintain protective and monitoring relays and circuits, including alarm and trip investigations.
• Prepare, review and execute switching orders and isolation procedures, issue electrical work permits and coordinate equipment release and return to service.
• Respond to alarms, disturbances, equipment failures and power interruptions, perform routine substation inspections and preventive maintenance, and keep accurate records of inspections, switching, maintenance, permits and work orders.
• Take part in the on-call rotation and work overtime, nights, weekends and holidays when needed.
• Support equipment installation, testing, commissioning, planned outages, turnarounds and capital projects, and provide field oversight and quality control for contractors, line crews, testing technicians and service providers.
• Develop the knowledge to operate site electrical distribution control and SCADA systems.

Required profile

• High School Diploma or GED, plus 5+ years of high-voltage/power distribution experience and/or a NETA Level II certification.
• A Bachelor of Science in Electrical Engineering Technology, an Associate of Applied Science in Power/Electrical Technology, and/or a NETA Level III/IV certification is strongly preferred.
• Preferred: 10+ years in medium- and high-voltage power distribution, transmission, generation, electrical testing and commissioning, including troubleshooting and maintaining low-, medium- and high-voltage circuit breakers.
• Must be currently authorized to work in the United States on a full-time basis.

Required skills

• Electrical equipment testing methods, protective relays, AC/DC systems, electrical controls, schematics, one-line diagrams and relay three-line diagrams.
• Protective relay programming and communication networks, and knowledge of NESC, NEC, NFPA 70E, ANSI and IEEE standards.
• Communications, data acquisition and protective relay programming, and reading, modifying and interpreting circuit breaker and relay control schematics.

What we offer

• Flexible work arrangements whenever possible.
• Retirement savings plan with company match and investment options.
• Mental health support for you and your household, family forming benefits and back-up child and elder care.
• Mentoring and career development, matching gifts program, employee crisis support, employee discounts and a wine cellar.