Electrical Equipment Technician

Job Description:

Electrical Equipment Technician

Description

Description

About the Department

The City of Palo Alto Utilities (CPAU) is the only full-service municipal utility in California, providing residents and businesses with electric, water, wastewater, natural gas, fiber optics, refuse, and storm drain services. Our mission is simple but vital: to deliver safe, reliable, environmentally sustainable, and cost-effective services to our community. Owned by the people we serve, CPAU reinvests locally supporting libraries, parks, and public safety services while maintaining rates that are competitive and often lower than private utilities across the Bay Area.

Since 2013, Palo Alto has provided 100% carbon-neutral electricity sourced from solar, wind, and hydroelectric generation. CPAU is nationally recognized for its leadership in renewable energy, workforce development, and operational excellence - proving that local control leads to local solutions.

About the Division

The Electric Operations Division manages the City’s electric distribution system and oversees 24/7 real-time operations. The team ensures system safety, reliability, and efficiency while advancing Palo Alto’s ambitious carbon-free energy goals. Operators in this division work in a mission-critical environment where precision, communication, and teamwork keep the community powered every hour of every day.

What You’ll Do

As an Electrical Equipment Technician, you’ll support the receiving, testing, inventory control, minor repair, and modification of electrical and electronic equipment used in the City’s substations, metering systems, fiber-optic network, and traffic signal systems.

Some key responsibilities include:

• Assisting with installation, maintenance, and repair of communication, traffic signal, street-lighting, and electric distribution systems.
• Installing and repairing underground boxes, conduits, and conductors.
• Repairing tools and equipment; painting transformers and related components.
• Performing acceptance testing and condition assessments on electrical equipment and meters.
• Working on elevated structures such as transformers, circuit breakers, platforms, and ladders.

Ideal Candidate

• Minimum 1 year of electric utility experience, preferably in equipment testing.
• Safety-focused, detail-oriented, and highly organized.

This position is represented by Service Employee International Union position (SEIU).

Benefits: Fantastic benefits package, to learn more click Here.
Compensation (SEIU): Comprehensive compensation plan, to learn more click Here.

Essential Duties

Distinguishing Characteristics
Under general supervision: Assists with the installation, maintenance and repair of communication and traffic signal systems, street lighting systems, electric distribution equipment, substation and related systems and equipment; participates in installation and repair of underground boxes, conduits and conductors, repairs tools and equipment; paints transformers, and associated electrical equipment; performs acceptance tests on new electric distribution equipment and meters, performs condition assessments of returned- from service electrical equipment and meters. Assists management with the compiling and maintaining of the computer based equipment inventory record s and reports.

Works on top of substation transformers, circuit breakers, platforms, ladders and buildings; and does related work as required.

Performs other maintenance and housekeeping as related to this job; and performs other related work as required.

Minimum Qualifications

Education and Experience:

• Graduation from high school or its equivalent and two (2) years of electrical or mechanical repair or maintenance experience.
• One (1) year of Electrical Assistant experience or its equivalent in an electric utility is considered as qualifying.

License and/or Certification:

• Possession of an appropriate California driver's license is required.

To review the full job description, click Here .

Supplemental Information

The Selection Process:

• Recruitment status notifications will be sent via email or text (please enroll in text alerts when applying).
• Updates can also be found on your governmentjobs.com account.
• Applicants will be screened throughout the posting process and highly qualified candidates may be invited to interview at any time.
• The screening process for this position may include a virtual recorded interview and/or panel interviews preceding final interviews with the hiring manager or their designee.
• Multiple positions may be filled through this posting.

Our online application system is provided by NeoGov. If you have problems while applying online, please contact NeoGov's Live Applicant Support at (855) 524-5627 between 6:00 AM and 5:00 PM Pacific Time, Monday - Friday.

The City of Palo Alto is an Equal Opportunity Employer. In compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act, the City will provide reasonable accommodation to qualified individuals with disabilities and encourages both prospective and current employees to discuss potential accommodations with the employer.

See our Benefits at a Glance Bookletfor more details.
Learn more about our Memorandum of Agreements (MOAs) between the City and its bargaining units, by clicking HERE.

Closing Date/Time: 12/19/2025 11:59 PM Pacific

Salary:

$123,094.40 - $150,696.00 Annually