Troubleshooter Technician (Lineman)

PURPOSE

The Troubleshooter Technician is responsible for identifying and performing preventative maintenance, service, troubleshooting and repair of the electric and communications systems that may be responsible for the interruption, inconvenience, loss of service, quality of service or may be a hazard to customers or the public and to assist in other phases of work across the organization.

DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:

- Efficient and effective response and repair of system-related issues.

- Efficient and effective response and repair of electric and communication service to customers.

- Perform maintenance work on the electric and communication system.

- Install, repair, and maintain EPB lighting system.

- Efficient and effective connection of electric and communication service.

- Perform field operations for the control of the electric and communications system.

- Know and follow all safety rules and procedures.

- Accurately and promptly communicate actions taken to maintain proper records.

- Communicate with customers and represent EPB well in spoken words and actions.

- Make good decisions with little help from others (most of the work performed is performed independently.)

- Work shifts during inclement weather and holidays, as well as overtime scheduled, system outages, and emergencies as requested by departmental management to meet customer needs.

- Become proficient in installing, testing, troubleshooting, and repairing EPB communication systems, including splicing fiber, repair, and replacement of CAT5, coax, and phone cables, troubleshooting, resetting and replacing set-top boxes, ONTs, and other physical devices.

- Work a minimum of 70% of the call-ins and/or hold over overtime offered up to 16 consecutive hours.

EDUCATION and/or EXPERIENCE

- A Journeyman lineman with 5 years of experience.

- Practical knowledge of electronics, electricity, or related disciplines.

- Excellent verbal communication, customer service, teamwork, and PC Skills.

- Experience working directly with customers to resolve equipment and circuit issues.

CERTIFICATIONS and OTHER REQUIREMENTS

- A valid CDL Class A or B without mechanical restrictions, a DOT Health Card, and be able to drive unrestricted on EPB’s system. Must obtain a CDL Class A within a year of employment.

- Satisfactory complete a 90-day training program.

- Ability to use various test equipment and computer terminal or PC.

- Ability to read, analyze, and interpret general telecommunication information, technical procedures, and/or company practices.

- Ability to read and comprehend simple instructions, short correspondence, and memos. Write simple correspondence and effectively present information in one-on-one and small group situations with customers, clients, and other employees of the organization.

- Ability to add, subtract, multiply, and divide into all units of measure using whole numbers, common fractions, and decimals. Compute rate, ratio, and percent and draw and interpret bar graphs.

- Ability to successfully perform pole-top and aerial device rescue techniques/procedures from both a pole position and an aerial device used in daily work operations.

- Proficient in computer skills; must be able to learn computer skills to be used daily with training, i. e. laptop in the truck for CGI System—map reading, directional information, minimal typing.

PHYSICAL DEMANDS

- The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this 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 drive, to stand; walk; use hands to finger, handle, or feel; reach with hands and arms; climb poles with climbers, practice repetitive motions of wrist, hands, and/or fingers, climb or balance; stoop, kneel, crouch, or crawl; and talk or hear.

- Routinely be required to handle primary voltages with proper protective equipment (12,000, 7200, 4160 volts), to switch voltages up to 161,000 volts and to work secondary voltages up to 600 volts with rubber gloves only.

- Hand and arm dexterity for using small tools for making repairs on communications related equipment and on connections for primary, secondaries, and services on poles, houses, or meter centers while working out of a bucket truck, off a pole using climbers, off a ladder, or standing on the ground.

- Must have 20/20 corrected vision and have sufficient color vision perception to distinguish normal color coding used in electrical distribution/transmission work. Must have sufficient depth perception to effectively utilize line equipment (i.e., hot sticks, crimping tools, extension instruments) from distances between 5 feet to 50 feet.

- Must possess a valid CDL Class B with DOT Health Card and be able to drive unrestricted on EPB’s system. Driving a vehicle of weight greater than 26,000 GVW is required for transformer change-outs, which may occur at anytime during the shift.

- Must be proficient in computer skills; must have the ability to learn computer skills to be used daily with training; i. e. laptop in truck for CGI System—map reading, directional information, minimal typing.

- Normal or corrected hearing proficiency is necessary to understand verbal instructions/information/warning communicated from top of pole; from ground position and from one pole span to the next (approximately 250 feet).

- Climbing required includes ascending or descending ladders, stairs, scaffolding, ramps, poles (with climbers), and the like, using feet and legs and/or hands and arms. Body agility is emphasized. This factor is important if the amount and kind of climbing required exceed that required for ordinary movement.

- Must be able to bend body downward and forward by bending spine at the waist. This factor is important if it occurs to a considerable degree and requires full use of the lower extremities and back muscles.

- The employee must regularly lift and/or move up to 20 pounds and exert force constantly to move objects, and/or up to 50 pounds frequently, and/or up to 100 pounds of force occasionally. Must use upper extremities to press against something with steady force in order to thrust forward, downward, or outward, and to draw, drag, haul, or tug objects in a sustained motion.

- Must possess physical strength for lifting and carrying large coils of wire, carry and maneuver 10 foot long cross-arms (approximately 75 pounds) from both a ground position and pole position using climbing gear.

- Must possess equilibrium to prevent falling when walking, standing, or crouching on narrow, slippery or erratically moving surfaces walk without aids; work off ladders up to 30 feet above ground aerial devices to any height, climb poles, towers, or structures to any height. Must be able to work on uneven terrain in and around the work area during daylight and darkness.

ENVIRONMENTAL FACTORS

- The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this 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 exposed to wet and/or humid conditions; moving mechanical parts; high, precarious places; outside weather conditions; risk of electrical shock; risk of radiation; and vibration. The employee is frequently exposed to extreme cold and extreme heat. The employee is occasionally exposed to fumes or airborne particles, toxic or caustic chemicals, and explosives. The noise level in the work environment is usually moderate.

EPB IS AN EQUAL OPPORTUNITY AND AFFIRMATIVE ACTION EMPLOYER. ALL QUALIFIED APPLICANTS WILL RECEIVE CONSIDERATION WITHOUT REGARD TO AGE, RACE, COLOR, RELIGION, SEX, DISABILITY OR NATIONAL ORIGIN.