Traverse City Light & Power (TCLP) is a municipally owned electric and telecom utility serving approximately 13,000 electric and 3,000 fiber customers. With a team of 55 dedicated employees, TCLP is committed to delivering reliable, innovative, and community-focused services to the residents and businesses of Traverse City.

Position Overview
TCLP is seeking a Line Worker/Substation Technician to perform specialized testing, maintenance, and inspection of high-voltage electric substation systems, including equipment operating at voltages up to 138 kV. This role involves advanced troubleshooting, system upgrades, and overseeing contractors to ensure project success. The individual is expected to maintain a thorough understanding of modern substation protection and control devices, transmission and distribution facilities, and applicable regulatory standards.

This position will also be expected to perform the duties of a Journeyman Line Worker as needed/directed.

Why TCLP?

• Be part of a mission-driven organization that directly impacts the Traverse City community.
• Enjoy a collaborative, supportive work culture with a strong focus on employee well-being.
• Competitive compensation and benefits including health insurance, 100% employer paid dental and vision insurance, 10% employer contribution to a 457 deferred compensation retirement plan, and a 7% contribution to a defined contribution retirement plan.
• Opportunities for professional development and growth.

Hourly Rate is $51.37 - $57.02, dependent on education and experience.

Submission deadline: Open until filled.

Employees shall maintain a permanent and bona fide residence in a location that allows for a response time to the Service Center within no more than 60 minutes under normal driving circumstances within 6 months of employment.

TCL&P is an Equal Employment Opportunity Employer
A diverse team makes a strong team. As an Equal Employment Opportunity employer, we are strongly committed to creating a dynamic and equitable workforce that mirrors the community and world that we serve. TCL&P encourages people from all backgrounds to apply.

Benefits Summary

Job Description

Supervised By:       Director of Electric Engineering & Operations
Supervises:              None
Status:                      Union
                                   Non-Exempt

Essential Job Functions:
An employee in this position may be called upon to do any or all of the following essential functions.  These examples do not include all of the duties which the employee may be expected to perform.  To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential function satisfactorily.

• Perform advanced electrical maintenance, construction, and testing of substation equipment, including transformers, relays, circuit breakers, switches, and SCADA systems operating at voltages up to 138 kV.
• Lead contractor oversight, ensuring compliance with scope, safety standards, and technical specifications.
• Conduct root cause analysis of substation equipment failures and recommend corrective actions.
• Perform comprehensive substation inspections, data collection, and reporting for system optimization.
• Review and update substation, distribution, and transmission system schematics, maps, and records.
• Perform inspections of distribution and transmission systems, including vegetation management assessments, to mitigate potential hazards.
• Provide technical guidance and on-the-job training to junior staff and contractors.
• Ensure compliance with NERC/FERC, OSHA, and NFPA 70E standards.
• Identify and implement energy-efficient measures and grid modernization initiatives.
• Perform Journeyman Line Worker duties on energized and de-energized lines as outlined in the Line Worker “A” job description as needed or directed. This may include, but not limited to, emergency work or assigned work to ensure Journeyman Line Worker skills are maintained.
• Assist in hazard recognition.
• Establish and maintain effective relationships and use good judgment, initiative and resourcefulness when dealing with customers, employees, project contractors, and representatives of other governmental units, professional contacts, City administrators, elected officials, and the public.
• Attend safety and other required meetings and make presentations as necessary.
• Subject to call for emergency work on a 24-hour basis.
• Perform other work as assigned.

Required Knowledge, Skills, Abilities and Minimum Qualifications:
The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skills, abilities and minimum qualifications necessary to perform the essential functions of the position.  Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the job.

• Educational requirements include a high school diploma or equivalent. Completion of TCLP’s Substation Technician Certification program within 2 years of hire.
• Must have all of the qualifications of a Journeyman Line Worker including a Journeyman Line Worker card.
• Minimum of five (5) years of progressive experience in electric utility construction, substation maintenance, or high-voltage systems. Preferred experience at a municipal electric utility.
• Must have and maintain a commercial driver’s license (CDL) Class A with airbrake endorsement.
• Must obtain a state pesticide applicator license within six (6) months of employment.
• Strong knowledge of electricity, solid-state circuits, and system diagrams.
• Willingness to continually learn and improve skills to keep pace with new equipment acquisitions and current developments in the control/electronics industry.
• Knowledge of working with energized components up to 138kV volts.
• Analytical skills: demonstrated aptitude for identifying and resolving complex problems utilizing critical thinking and logical reasoning. Ability to analyze information and recommend corrective courses of action, both verbally and in writing.
• Ability to read and interpret construction drawings, schematic drawings, equipment diagrams, feeder maps, plats etc.
• Ability to work with hand and power-driven tools.
• Ability to work aloft as needed.
• Knowledge and demonstrated ability to follow and apply all safety precautions in order to avoid the occupational hazards of the electrical trade.
• Ability to establish effective working relationships and use good judgment, initiative and resourcefulness when dealing with employees, other public utility professionals, customers and the public.
• Ability to effectively communicate orally and in writing and to interact and communicate in a positive and professional manner with customers and the public.
• Ability to use basic office equipment such as telephones calculator, photocopier, fax, personnel computer and software applications including Microsoft Word and Excel.
• Familiarity with AutoCAD, ArcGIS, or similar software for record updates and analysis.
• Expertise in substation equipment and cybersecurity best practices for electric systems.
• Comprehensive understanding of OSHA standards and NFPA 70E requirements.
• Ability to communicate technical concepts clearly, both orally and in writing, with coworkers, contractors, and the public
• In addition to the above-mentioned requirements, this position requires the ability to read, write, speak, and understand the English language as necessary for the position; the ability to follow written and oral instruction; and be physically and mentally able to perform the essential duties of their position. Regular, consistent, and predictable attendance is also required. 

Physical Demands and Work Environment:
The physical demands and work environment characteristics described here are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of the job.  Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to use hands to finger, handle or feel and reach with hands and arms.  The employee is frequently required to stand, walk, talk, hear, bend, twist, crouch, stoop, squat, kneel, reach, pull, push, and climb steps, ramps and ladders which are all necessary in performance of daily tasks. These tasks are very regular and frequent throughout the day and in completion of assignments. The employee must be able to walk distances, stand and work from standing position for durations of up to eight hours or more if overtime is necessary. The employee must occasionally lift items of moderate to heavy weight. Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, distance vision, peripheral vision, depth perception and the ability to adjust focus. The employee is regularly required to communicate in person and by telephone, read regular and small print and perform manual dexterity to type and enter data, and use sight to read and prepare documents.

While performing the duties of this job, the employee regularly works in outside weather conditions in all seasons and regularly drives a motor vehicle between work sites. The employee will work near moving mechanical equipment and is exposed to fumes or airborne particles, toxic or caustic chemicals, and risk of electrical shock.  The noise level in the work environment is usually moderate to loud.