Electrical Technician

Position Overview

A Commissioning Electrical Technician specializes in the installation verification, functional testing, energization, and handover of electrical power systems and equipment during the construction-to-operations transition phase of capital projects. This role ensures all HV/LV switchgear, transformers, generators, motors, VSDs, UPS systems, and safety-critical electrical equipment are correctly installed, tested, and ready for safe plant energization and sustained operations. The technician works across upstream (offshore platforms, FPSOs), midstream (terminals, pipelines), and downstream (refineries, gas processing) facilities.

Key Responsibilities

1. PRE-COMMISSIONING PHASE

Installation Verification & Mechanical Completion

Physical Inspection & Walkdowns

• Conduct physical walkdowns of all electrical equipment against single-line diagrams, layout drawings, and specifications to verify correct installation, tagging, orientation, and accessibility
• Verify cable tray installation, cable dressing, bend radius compliance, and proper termination at switchgear, MCCs, junction boxes, and marshalling cabinets
• Check transformer installation oil levels, bushings, cooling systems, and grounding integrity
• Verify switchgear and MCC installation busbar alignment, breaker racking mechanisms, and interlock functionality
• Inspect generator installation alignment, cooling, fuel, exhaust, and control panel connections

Cold Electrical Verification (De-Energized)

• Perform megger (insulation resistance) tests on power cables, motors, and transformers to confirm dielectric integrity
• Conduct point-to-point (P2P) wiring verification against schematics and interlock diagrams
• Verify continuity and correct polarity of control circuits, protection relay wiring, and instrument transformer (CT/PT) connections
• Check earthing and bonding integrity for all electrical enclosures, cable shields, and lightning protection systems

Punch List & Documentation

• Identify, document, and track all punch list items (TQs, RFIs, non-conformances) to closure
• Maintain pre-commissioning checklists and inspection records for client/PMC/licensor witness
• Control "as-built" redline markups on single-line diagrams, cable schedules, and termination drawings

2. COMMISSIONING PHASE

Energization, Functional Testing & Calibration

Energization Sequence

• Execute controlled energization of electrical systems per approved energization procedures from utility/grid supply through transformers, switchgear, and distribution boards
• Verify correct voltage levels, phase rotation, and frequency at all distribution points
• Perform phasing checks and synchronization tests for generator paralleling systems

Protection Relay Testing

• Test and commission protection relays (overcurrent, earth fault, differential, transformer protection) — verify settings, trip characteristics, and coordination with upstream/downstream protection
• Inject secondary currents into CT circuits to validate relay operation and trip circuit integrity

Motor & VSD Commissioning

• Perform motor insulation resistance, winding resistance, and rotation checks before energization
• Commission Variable Speed Drives (VSDs) — configure parameters, test acceleration/deceleration profiles, and verify torque control
• Run motors on no-load to verify vibration, temperature, and current draw within specifications

UPS & Battery Systems

• Commission UPS systems — verify automatic transfer between mains and battery, test overload and short-circuit protection
• Perform battery discharge tests and verify backup duration meets design requirements

Lighting & Small Power

• Test emergency lighting systems — verify automatic activation on power failure and battery duration
• Commission hazardous area lighting — verify Ex certification, correct grouping, and IP ratings

Hazardous Area Compliance

• Verify all Ex equipment (motors, junction boxes, lighting, switches) is correctly certified, installed, and labeled per ATEX/IECEx and area classification drawings
• Perform insulation resistance and continuity tests on Ex circuits without compromising explosion protection integrity

Interlock & Control Logic Testing

• Test electrical interlocks — breaker interlocking, earth switch interlocking, and key interlock systems
• Verify remote control functionality from DCS/SCADA — start/stop commands, status feedback, and alarm annunciation

Thermography & Predictive Checks

• Perform infrared thermography surveys on energized switchgear, busbars, and cable terminations to detect hot spots before they become failures

Qualifications & Requirements

Education

Diploma or Associate degree in Electrical/Electronics Engineering, or recognized trade certification (NVQ Level 3, ONC/HNC Electrical)

Experience

4–8+ years in electrical commissioning, with at least 3+ years on major oil & gas capital projects (offshore platforms, FPSOs, refineries, or gas processing plants)

Technical Expertise exposure

HV/LV switchgear (ABB, Schneider, Siemens), transformers, generators, VSDs, UPS systems, protection relays (SEL, ABB, Siemens), motor control, thermography

Testing Equipment

Meggers, multimeters, clamp meters, relay test sets, thermographic cameras, power quality analyzers

Soft Skills

Strong analytical troubleshooting, attention to detail, ability to work under pressure and tight deadlines, excellent communication and reporting, ability to mentor junior staff

Working Conditions

Project-Based

Typically assigned to capital projects for 6–12 months

Environment

Active construction sites, module yards, offshore platforms, FPSOs, or existing operating facilities — exposure to noise, dust, heat, hazardous atmospheres, and confined spaces

Schedule

Long hours (10–12 hour shifts), 6-day weeks during peak commissioning; shift work and on-call rotations during energization and start-up

Physical

Working at heights, confined space entry, climbing, lifting, manual dexterity for precision electrical work, and extended periods of standing/walking