• Electrician Lead (Public Works Department)

    City of Palo Alto (Palo Alto, CA)


    Electrician Lead (Public Works Department)

     

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    Electrician Lead (Public Works Department)

     

    Salary

     

    $124,571.20 - $152,547.20 Annually

     

    Location

     

    Palo Alto, CA

     

    Job Type

     

    Regular Full-Time

     

    Job Number

     

    202500997

     

    Department

     

    Public Works Department

     

    Opening Date

     

    08/22/2025

     

    Closing Date

     

    9/21/2025 11:59 PM Pacific

     

    + Description

    + Benefits

    + Questions

    Description

    About the Position:

    The City of Palo Alto is excited to announce an opportunity to join our Public Works Department (https://www.paloalto.gov/Departments/Public-Works) as an Electrician – Lead. This open recruitment invites qualified candidates from all backgrounds to apply for a hands-on leadership role supporting the City’s vital electrical infrastructure. Under direct supervision, the Electrician – Lead provides on-site leadership and guidance to a team that includes Electricians, Electrical Assistants, Metering Personnel, and Apprentices. The Electrician – Lead position is responsible for both supervising and mentoring staff while performing hands-on work in the installation, maintenance, and repair of the City's essential electrical systems. This role will primarily support the Storm Drains team.

    Storm Drains Team Assignments:

    + Daily/Weekly: Review PA311 work orders, SCADA system, and supervisor tasks; inspect vehicles, tools, and equipment; follow safety guidelines; conduct safety meetings; inspect pump stations inside/outside; test pumps; and keep facilities clean.

    + Monthly: Test UPS, generators, phone alarms, pump start/stop levels, and lighting; clean creek cameras and sensors.

    + Every 6 Months: Inspect/calibrate gas detectors, reset PLC clocks, and check tide gate/SCADA readings.

    + Yearly: Perform preventive maintenance on MCC/UPS, refill generators, clean/test rain gauges & creek sensors, clean Wet Wells, inspect pumps, and complete thermal imaging tests.

    + Every 2 Years & Ongoing: Megger test motor windings; consider vibration analysis, load bank testing, and improved checklist documentation.

    Key Responsibilities:

    + Lead and oversee the daily work of electrical personnel

    + Provide instruction, mentorship, and technical support to team members

    + Perform skilled electrical work, including installation, maintenance, and repairs

    + Assist in training and developing apprentices and junior staff

    Distinguishing Characteristics:

    This is a lead-level classification within the skilled trades, responsible for on-site direction and technical support across a variety of systems. These include:

     

    + Power distribution substations

    + Street lighting and traffic signals

    + Coaxial and fiber optic communication systems

    + SCADA systems

    + Programmable logic controllers (PLCs) and instrumentation

    + Electrical metering systems

     

    Benefits Highlights

     

    + CalPERS Pension– Lifetime retirement income with up to 100% of your highest salary.

    + Fully Paid Medical, Dental & Vision– Coverage for you and eligible dependents.

    + Six Weeks Paid Parental Leave.

    + Up to $10,000/year in Childcare Assistance.

    + Generous Time Off– Up to 200 hours of vacation plus 13 paid holidays.

    + Commuter Perks– Unlimited Bay Area transit with Clipper BayPass, including Caltrain, BART, VTA, MUNI, and more

    + View Memorandum Of Agreements (https://www.paloalto.gov/Departments/Human-Resources/Labor-Agreements-and-Salary-Schedules) between the City and its employee groups

     

    Work Schedule: 9/80, Monday - Friday

     

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

     

    Compensation (SEIU): Comprehensive compensation plan, to learn more click HERE (https://www.paloalto.gov/files/assets/public/v/1/human-resources/labor-relations/seiu/seiu-521-moa-25-27-july-final-no-signatures.pdf) .

    Essential Duties

    Essential and other important responsibilities and duties may include, but are not limited to, the following:

    + Services and maintains solid state and electrical/mechanical components such as traffic signal controllers, coaxial cable and components, fiber optics system and components, remote transmitting units (RTU), instrumentation components, installation of conduit, boxes and cable, lighting, power systems and various apparatus

    + Services and maintains distribution substations, street lighting, and electrical metering

    + Installs, maintains and repairs electric control panels, motor control centers (MCC), PLCs, variable frequency drives VFDs, soft starters, AC and DC motors, loop-controllers, electric valve controllers/positioners, hazardous chemical feed and monitoring systems, flow meters, incinerator burner control systems, SCADA computers, fiber optic/unshielded twisted pair (UTP)/coax cable, network hardware, and video surveillance systems, modems, transmitters

    + Programs and documents SCADA system computers, PLCs, controllers, and miscellaneous "smart" instruments. Maintains calibration records and files

    + Uses computerized maintenance management system

     

    For full job description, please click HERE (https://www.governmentjobs.com/careers/paloaltoca/classspecs/812020?keywords=535&pagetype=classSpecifications) .

    Minimum Qualifications

    Sufficient education, training and/or work experience to demonstrate possession of the following knowledge, skills, and abilities, which would typically be acquired through:

    + Completion of an accredited electrician apprentice program, or (depending upon position), Associate of Science degree in electronics or equivalent experience

     

    and

     

    + Two years of experience as a journey-level Electrician/Technician

    Special Requirements:

    + Possession of a valid California Driver's License

    + Ability to pass drug test as mandated by the Department of Transportation

    + May be required to work on standby and/or overtime in emergency situations

     

    Supplemental Information

    The Selection Process:

    + Applicants will receive recruitment status notifications via email. Governmentjobs.com account also has notification status updates.

    + Applicants will be screened throughout the posting process and highly qualified candidates may be invited to interview at any time after the posting closes.

    + The screening process for this position typically may include a virtual recorded interview and/or panel interviews preceding final interviews with the hiring manager or their designee.

    Recruitment Timeline (All dates subject to change) :

    First Review of Applications: Week of September 22nd

     

    Interviews: Week of October 6th

     

    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.