Job Description

The Engineering Technician supports Kay Electric Cooperative’s engineering, staking, operations, and management teams by maintaining the cooperative’s GIS/ESRI system of record, supporting routine engineering and system design activities, and providing accurate data, analytics, and system modeling support that improve reliability, outage response, long-range planning, and stewardship of member resources.

Job Related Qualifications

Qualifications

• High school diploma or equivalent required.
• Associate degree in Electrical Engineering Technology, GIS, Engineering Technology, or related field preferred.
• High level of accuracy, attention to detail, and documentation discipline.
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office Suite (Word, Excel, Outlook, PowerPoint) and document management systems.

Skills & Abilities

• Strong working knowledge of GIS concepts and database management.
• Experience with ESRI ArcMap and/or ArcGIS Pro.
• Ability to interpret staking sheets, construction drawings, and engineering maps.
• Working understanding of electric distribution system components and connectivity.
• Clear written and verbal communication with office and field personnel.
• Ability to work independently and manage multiple priorities.
• Perform limited field verification work as needed.

Preferred

• Prior experience with an electric utility, engineering firm, or rural electric cooperative.
• Experience preparing data packages for consultants, studies, or regulatory reporting.
• Experience performing GIS audits, QA/QC reviews, or system data cleanup initiatives.
• Ability to translate technical GIS or engineering data into clear summaries for management.
• Ability to work calmly and effectively under pressure.
• Ability to maintain confidentiality of sensitive system and infrastructure data.
• Professional interaction with internal staff, contractors, and external partners.
• Demonstrate teamwork and accountability.
• Willingness to attend periodic training and professional development.

Performance Indicators

• GIS, OMS, and engineering data consistently and accurately reflect field conditions, with minimal recurring errors, connectivity issues, or corrective rework required by engineering or operations.
• GIS and system updates, as well as data requests from engineering, operations, and management, are completed accurately and within established timelines following construction, as-builts, or system changes.
• Maps, reports, and analytics are clear, accurate, and reliable, enabling effective outage analysis, system planning, and management decisions with minimal rework or clarification required.
• Engineering and GIS records are well organized, auditable, and compliant with applicable standards, consistently following approved data structures, naming conventions, and documentation practices.

Key Responsibilities

1. GIS & Mapping System Management

• Maintain GIS/ESRI database as the coop system of record for electric distribution assets.
• Ensure accurate mapping of poles, conductors, transformers, devices, substations, feeders, and services.
• Verify GIS alignment with staking sheets, as-built construction, and engineering standards.
• Perform routine GIS audits, corrections, and data cleanup.
• Support GIS versioning, backups, change tracking, and data consistency standards.

2. Engineering & Design Support

• Assist engineering staff with routine system design tasks, including minor line extensions, rebuilds, and equipment replacements.
• Prepare and update staking, mapping, and design documentation under supervision.
• Assist with minor design modifications as directed by engineering staff.
• Support system studies by preparing data sets, maps, and technical reports.

3. Data Quality, Analytics & System Modeling Support

• Develop and maintain maps, dashboards, analytical reports using GIS and related utility data.
• Perform basic analytics related to:

• Feeder and substation performance
• Outage trends and reliability metrics
• Asset age, condition, and replacement planning
• Prepare/validate data used for system modeling, long-range planning, and consultant studies.
• Support OMS model accuracy by ensuring GIS connectivity and device data align with system operations.

4. Cross Departmental Coordination

• Coordinate with staking, operations, metering, dispatch, IT, & outside engineering consultants.
• Provide GIS and data support for new services, system upgrades, special projects, and third-party work.
• Support easement, ROW, and engineering documentation needs.
• Serve as a technical point of contact for preparing clean, usable data for internal and external stakeholders.

5. Documentation & Compliance

• Maintain accurate, organized, and auditable engineering and GIS records.
• Support compliance with NESC and cooperative construction standards.
• Assist with audits, inspections, and data verification requests.
• Participate in continuous improvement initiatives related to data integrity, GIS workflows, and engineering processes.

Performance Indicators

• Accurate and reliable GIS, OMS, and engineering data across systems.
• Timely updates reflecting field construction and as-built conditions.
• Clear, usable analytics supporting engineering, operations, and management decisions.
• Organized documentation suitable for audits, planning, and regulatory reporting.
• Demonstrated initiative in improving data quality, standards, and workflows.

Physical Demands & Working Conditions

• Combination of office and occasional field work.
• May require after-hours work during outages or system events.
• Ability to sit or stand for extended periods.
• Occasional lifting up to 40 pounds.
• Travel within KEC service territory required.
• Valid driver’s license required.

To apply, send your cover letter and resume or application to jobs@kayelectric.coop or by applying through the link above.