Job-Posting Operator - Mechanic
Southeast Alaska Power Agency
Operator - Mechanic
Location: Swan Lake - Ketchikan, Alaska
Full-time
Pay: Starting $61.68/hr
Application Due Date: 04/30/2026
Application Link: https://seapahydro.org/opportunities/careers
Questions? Contact: mgraves@seapahydro.org
LOCATION
The base location for this position will be the Swan Lake hydroelectric facility located 22 miles northeast of Ketchikan, AK; as specified by Employer at the time of posting. Job duties may require occasional travel to other SEAPA facilities.
POSITION SUMMARY
The Operator / Plant Mechanic performs typical operations and maintenance duties associated with hydroelectric power generation and transmission facilities. The standard work schedule is 8 ten-hour days of work and 6 days off. The position requires on-site residency in employer-provided housing during each 8-day period of work.
ESSENTIAL DUTIES & RESPONSIBILITIES
• Operates, maintains, and repairs hydroelectric generating facility systems and equipment
• Issues and provides control of switching and tagging procedures for system clearances and hot line orders
• Monitors and controls voltage, frequency, real and reactive power flow throughout the system
• Coordinates system operation with and between facility operators, municipal electric systems, and large power customers
• Maintains records and operating logs on generating facility systems and equipment
• Responsible for keeping all necessary equipment in good repair, removing unsafe equipment from use, and recommending replacement options
• Operates and maintains substations, switchyards, and submarine cable sites
• Operates and maintains facility vehicles and heavy equipment
• Participates in ordering, receiving, and inventorying parts
• Completes scheduled preventative work orders
• Performs unscheduled maintenance, troubleshooting, and repair on facility equipment
• Maintains a positive and supportive working relationship with co-workers
• Performs other related duties as assigned
QUALIFICATIONS
Education/Licenses:
• High School diploma
• Valid Alaska driver’s license
Experience/Skills/Abilities:
• Must be a team player, self-motivated, and exhibit professional skills that reflect well on the Agency, which also includes dedication to the mission of the organization, observation of all health and safety regulations, and use of safety equipment as needed
• Ability to perform energy isolation of plant systems and equipment
• Ability to operate, test, maintain, and repair plant mechanical systems and equipment
• Proficiency in reading and interpreting electrical and mechanical drawings
• Verifiable experience leading to knowledge of mechanical equipment, power generating equipment and machinery
• General understanding of electrical generation and transmission equipment and of basic engineering and physical parameters relating to the facility operation
• Must be motivated and have the ability to quickly learn plant operations and system control concepts
• Skilled in the use of precision measuring devices
• Familiarity with alignment procedures
• Ability to operate and maintain vehicles and mobile heavy equipment
• Ability to work with little or no supervision
Physical Requirements:
• Required to speak clearly and hear well when communicating over the telephone, radios, and in person
• Physically able to walk, climb stairs, climb ladders in excess of 100 feet, stand, and lift materials up to 60 lbs.
• Requires the ability to safely traverse uneven, wet, and challenging terrain
• Requires working in different types of personal protective equipment (PPE)
• Requires work indoors in an industrial power plant environment
• Requires work outdoors and exposure to all seasonal weather conditions
• Requires occasional work in elevated positions, around and over water, in wet, dirty, greasy and oily conditions
• Travel in fixed wing aircraft, helicopters, and boats
• Risk of exposure to energized equipment, noise, rotating machinery, falling from heights, working around water, uneven terrain, slippery conditions, and other hazards associated with remote field work or an industrial setting
• Exposure to indigenous wildlife, including insects and animals