Protection & Control Technician I | Power Generation
Arizona Public Service
Arizona Public Service generates reliable, affordable and clean energy for 2.7 million Arizonans. As the state’s largest and longest-serving energy provider, our more than 6,000 dedicated employees power our vision of creating a sustainable energy future for Arizona.
Our present and future success depends on the creative and dedicated people of our company who demonstrate the principles outlined in the APS Promise: Design for Tomorrow, Empower Each Other and Succeed Together.
Summary
Protection & Control Technician I | Power Generation
Are you a technically skilled and solutions-driven professional who’s passionate about reliability, safety, and high-impact fieldwork? As a Protection & Control Technician I on our Power Generation Team, you’ll play a critical role in ensuring safe and reliable operation of APS's conventional and renewable generation assets across Arizona.
In this role, you'll be responsible for performing advanced testing, installation, troubleshooting, and maintenance of protection, control, and metering systems. You may also serve as a field lead on construction or modification projects at power plants and renewable energy sites—working closely with internal teams and departments to coordinate project activities.
If you’re ready to be part of a team that powers Arizona’s future and values technical excellence, safety, and field expertise, this is the role for you!
Key Skills & Tasks
Protection & Control Systems Maintenance
Diagnose, repair, calibrate, and perform maintenance of protection relays, metering equipment, and control systems to ensure system reliability and safety.
Installation & Commissioning
Support the installation and shakedown of protection, control, and metering systems at generation and renewable sites, ensuring systems are configured, programmed, and tested according to engineering specifications and safety protocols.
Project Leadership
Coordinate and assist with field-engineered construction projects involving upgrades or modifications to generation and substation control systems, and provide technical guidance and direction to less experienced technicians and contractors on-site.
System Knowledge & Tools
Leverage familiarity with Powerbase and other operational tools to document work, track system performance, and maintain compliance records. Stay current on industry practices, safety standards, and emerging technologies in the protection & control space.
Travel & Field Readiness
Travel regularly to APS power generation sites across Arizona, working in varied environments with a focus on safety, precision, and responsiveness.
People We Want to Talk To
- Problem-solvers who thrive on troubleshooting complex systems and delivering fast, accurate resolutions.
- Professionals who value safe work practices, technical rigor, and cross-functional collaboration.
- Field leaders who take initiative, own their work, and are always looking for ways to improve system reliability
Minimum Requirements
- High school diploma or GED
- Experience troubleshooting and repairing metering and control systems.
- Demonstrated ability to read electrical control schematics and wiring diagrams.
- Basic understanding of AC/DC electrical theory.
- Ability to travel statewide and spend approximately 80% of the time in the field performing outdoor work.
- Ability to work overtime. The ability to apply and solve mathematical formulas using algebra and trigonometry.
- Familiarity with electronic circuit fundamentals.
- PC skills sufficient to perform routine office functions (E-mail, scheduling) as well as the ability to learn to operate vendor supplied programming and testing software.
Major Accountabilities
1) Assist installation and repair of transmission and distribution facilities by wire checking substation equipment, verifying control cable termination, calibrating various control devices and other testing.
2) Assist other technicians with troubleshoot protection, metering, and/or control system problems/failures in shakedown of new equipment.
3) Verify and/or modify existing prints schematics and wiring diagrams. Assist in the evaluation and integration of new technology in order to reduce capital and O&M costs and improve overall system reliability.
4) Maintain a safe work environment by practicing safe working procedures and methods. Apply company and industry standards wherever appropriate and maintain thorough documentation of all system designs and field changes.
5) Functional test new and modified control schemes in preparation for energizing new or simple retrofitted electrical equipment.
6) Effectively communicate with our internal customers to assess their needs and facilitate their understanding of any technical opportunities or limitations that may exist.
7) Complete necessary training to progress to a Level II Technician through OJT/ continuing education.
Export Compliance / EEO Statement
This position may require access to and/or use of information subject to control under the Department of Energy's Part 810 Regulations (10 CFR Part 810), the Export Administration Regulations (EAR) (15 CFR Parts 730 through 774), or the International Traffic in Arms Regulations (ITAR) (22 CFR Chapter I, Subchapter M Part 120) (collectively, 'U.S. Export Control Laws'). Therefore, some positions may require applicants to be a U.S. person, which is defined as a U.S. Citizen, a U.S. Lawful Permanent Resident (i.e. 'Green Card Holder'), a Political Asylee, or a Refugee under the U.S. Export Control Laws. All applicants will be required to confirm their U.S. person or non-US person status. All information collected in this regard will only be used to ensure compliance with U.S. Export Control Laws, and will be used in full compliance with all applicable laws prohibiting discrimination on the basis of national origin and other factors. For positions at Palo Verde Nuclear Generating Stations (PVNGS) all openings will require applicants to be a U.S. person.
Pinnacle West Capital Corporation and its subsidiaries and affiliates ('Pinnacle West') maintain a continuing policy of nondiscrimination in employment. It is our policy to provide equal opportunity in all phases of the employment process and in compliance with applicable federal, state, and local laws and regulations. This policy of nondiscrimination shall include, but not be limited to, recruiting, hiring, promoting, compensating, reassigning, demoting, transferring, laying off, recalling, terminating employment, and training for all positions without regard to race, color, religion, disability, age, national origin, gender, gender identity, sexual orientation, marital status, protected veteran status, or any other classification or characteristic protected by law.
For more information on applicable equal employment regulations, please refer to EEO is the Law poster. Federal law requires all employers to verify the identity and employment eligibility of every person hired to work in the United States, refer to E-Verify poster. View the employee rights and responsibilities under the Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA).
In compliance with the Drug Free Workplace Act of 1988, the Company is committed to a work environment that is free from the effects of alcohol and controlled substances, and free from the abuse or inappropriate use of prescribed and over-the-counter medications. The Company requires employees to be subject to drug and alcohol testing that is job-related and consistent with business necessity, regulatory requirements and applicable laws.
CIP Requirement:
This position requires Critical Infrastructure Protection (CIP) access consistent with North American Electric Reliability Corporation (NERC) standards. The applicant considered for this role will be required to obtain and maintain CIP access for the duration of employment in this position. A full seven (7) year criminal history will be obtained through the pre-employment background check process (or, for current employees, through supplemental background check process) to fulfill the CIP access requirements. In addition, this position requires an additional background check every seven years to maintain access.
Onsite: Requires work to be performed in the field and/or at an APS facility. Depending on the responsibilities of the role, this may include, but is not limited to, working at a power plant, job site, or in the community.
*Employees are expected to reside in Arizona (or New Mexico for Four Corners-based employees).
*Role types are subject to change based on business need