Field Operations Technician

Field OperationsTechnician

Join our team at East River Electric Power Cooperative! Are you a skilled technician looking to grow your career in a hands-on, collaborative setting? We are seeking a dedicated field operations technician to join the Transmission System Department. This new cross-functional role offers the opportunity to grow your career while working in a team environment where your expertise and adaptability will be valued every day. As a Field Operations Technician, you'll be an essential member of the transmission system team, supporting various work groups on a wide range of projects. This position has a residency requirement to live within 35 miles of Madison, SD.

At East River Electric Power Cooperative we're dedicated to providing reliable and affordable wholesale power to our members across 40,000 square miles of service area. As a not-for-profit generation and transmission cooperative, we provide electricity to 24 rural electric distribution cooperatives and one municipally owned electric system serving eastern South Dakota and western Minnesota. Our members, in turn, power the lives of the member-owners in their service territories.

Our Cooperative Community

As a cooperative, we do things differently! The decisions we make are made with our members in mind. We've built our foundation on Touchstone Energy's four cooperative values: integrity, accountability, innovation, and commitment to community. These values represent the cooperative difference, which is why we value things like community outreach, teamwork, and work-life balance. The unique cooperative business model is designed to provide both growth and stability. This is just a little insight into why our members trust us to provide safe, reliable, and affordable power and service every day.

This incredible job opportunity awaits you at our main campus in Madison, South Dakota. Madison offers a warm and welcoming small-town atmosphere combined with modern amenities that make it the perfect place for you and your family. Take advantage of great resources like the state-of-the-art Madison Regional Hospital, experience the innovative campus of Dakota State University, enjoy a thriving community center, and more. With two stunning lakes nearby, recreational opportunities are abundant, and you'll be just a short drive away from many of eastern South Dakota's most popular attractions.

LEARN MORE ABOUT MADISON >

What You'll Accomplish

As a valued member of our team, you'll have the opportunity to make a difference every day. Your education, skills, and experience will be put to excellent use, contributing to our mission of delivering exceptional wholesale power to our members. You'll work alongside passionate professionals who embody the cooperative values of integrity, accountability, innovation, and commitment to community. We believe in investing in your growth and development, which is why we offer paid training and development opportunities to enhance your skills and advance your career. In this position you will:

- Install, update, and test SCADA controls, fiber systems, revenue metering, and RTU circuits in our Substation and MOS environments.

- Help with electrical check-outs and make sure substation equipment, control circuits, relays, and related gear are working as they should.

- Support our member systems by assisting with distribution automation and SCADA monitoring for downstream IED installations.

- Assist in keeping wiring diagrams, department records, and reports up to date, following our cooperative's policies and industry standards.

- Assist with installing and maintaining microwave radios, ethernet transport equipment, and other telecommunications devices.

- Support maintenance efforts for alarm RTU equipment, DC power systems, towers, tower lighting, and antenna systems.

- Put safety first, following established safety rules and championing a safe workplace for everyone.

- Work closely with your teammates to help achieve our cooperative's mission and move our strategic goals forward.

Showcase Your Knowledge, Abilities, and Expertise. Do you have?

- An associate degree in electrical construction, automation controls, substation, telecommunications, or powerline

- At least five (5) years of related work experience with communications or protection and controls at a generation and transmission electric utility (preferred)

- A Class A Commercial Driver's License (CDL), or the ability to obtain a CDL

- Excellent problem-solving skills and attention to detail

- Experience and proficiency with Microsoft Office products and computer technology

- The ability to work collaboratively and build productive relationships within a team environment

Benefits that Matter

At East River, we value your well-being and want you to thrive. That's why we provide a comprehensive benefits package that includes:

- Medical insurance with employer contribution to a Health Savings Account (HSA)

- Paid training and development opportunities

- Access to a wellness program and financial planning resources

- Retirement pension plan and contribution to a 401(k) savings plan

- Generous paid time off, including vacation, sick leave, and holidays

- 9/80 work schedule, which gives you every other Friday off to encourage a work-life balance

- 4/10 work schedule during the summer months

Want to learn more about East River? Visit our website's career pages and hear what our current employees have to say.

Questions? Contact hr@eastriver.coop or (605) 256-4536.

Applications accepted through February 11, 2026, with interviews expected to begin the week of February 23.

This institution is an equal opportunity provider and employer.