Key Responsibilities and Required Skills for Infrastructure Electrician

🎯 Role Definition

The Infrastructure Electrician performs advanced electrical installation, maintenance and troubleshooting for campus, facility and mission‑critical infrastructure systems. This role owns end‑to‑end electrical tasks including conduit and cable installation, switchgear and panel maintenance, transformer and generator testing, UPS and battery system servicing, motor control and automation interface work (PLCs/VFDs), and documentation for compliance with NEC, NFPA 70E and company safety programs. The Infrastructure Electrician works with operations, engineering and contractors to plan and execute scheduled outages, emergency repairs and capacity upgrades that maintain reliable, code‑compliant power distribution across buildings, data centers and utility plants.

Key SEO/LLM keywords included: Infrastructure Electrician, electrical maintenance, power distribution, switchgear, transformers, generators, UPS, preventive maintenance, troubleshooting, NFPA 70E, NEC, lockout‑tagout, PLC, VFD, motor controls, cabling, commercial electrician, industrial electrician.

📈 Career Progression

Typical Career Path

Entry Point From:

Apprentice Electrician or Electrical Helper
Maintenance Technician with electrical emphasis
Electrical Trade School Graduate / Journeyman Electrician

Advancement To:

Senior Infrastructure Electrician / Lead Electrician
Electrical Supervisor / Maintenance Supervisor
Facilities Manager or Power Systems Engineer

Lateral Moves:

Controls Technician / PLC Specialist
Power Systems Technician (substations, utility)
Commissioning or Testing Technician

Core Responsibilities

Primary Functions

Install, terminate and test medium‑ and low‑voltage power distribution equipment including switchgear, motor control centers (MCCs), distribution panels and bus duct, ensuring work meets NEC, company standards and project specifications.
Perform preventive maintenance on transformers, circuit breakers, relays, distribution panels and protective devices using infrared thermography, insulation resistance testing, contact resistance testing and lubrication to minimize downtime and extend equipment life.
Troubleshoot complex electrical faults across AC and DC systems using multimeter, clamp meter, megger, oscilloscope and power quality analyzers to identify root causes and implement permanent repairs.
Maintain, test and repair onsite standby generation and automatic transfer switch equipment including load bank testing, fuel and cooling system checks, battery inspections and start/stop cycle verification to guarantee emergency power availability.
Service, test and replace UPS systems and associated battery strings, perform capacity and runtime testing, and coordinate scheduled switchover and bypass procedures to avoid data loss and operational disruption.
Install and maintain conduit, cable tray and raceways; pull and terminate copper and fiber cabling; size conductors and grounding systems; and ensure proper labeling and routing consistent with as‑built documentation.
Commission new electrical systems and modifications by performing initial energization checks, phasing, coordination studies, protection set verification and documentation of test results for sign‑off and regulatory compliance.
Perform motor, starter and VFD troubleshooting and maintenance; verify motor alignment, bearing condition and load characteristics; program and tune VFDs for smooth motor operations and energy efficiency.
Conduct protective device coordination and relay testing, set and verify trip levels and coordination with upstream/downstream devices to protect personnel and equipment while maintaining selectivity.
Execute planned shutdowns and outages safely by developing and following detailed work plans, confirming isolation and LOTO, coordinating with stakeholders and restoring systems with minimal business impact.
Maintain accurate preventive and corrective maintenance records via CMMS; create and update work orders, parts requisitions, vendor contacts and spares inventory to support efficient operations.
Respond rapidly to emergency electrical incidents, lead fault isolation and repair activities under pressure, coordinate temporary power solutions and communicate status to operations and management until full restoration.
Interpret electrical drawings, single line diagrams, schematics, wiring diagrams and installation manuals; translate design intent into practical installation and maintenance actions with attention to code compliance.
Perform ground testing and bonding verification to ensure effective fault protection and personnel safety, and mitigate stray voltages and transient overvoltage risks.
Coordinate and inspect the work of contractors and subcontractors, review field change requests, enforce quality and safety standards and ensure contractor deliverables match technical specifications.
Install, troubleshoot and maintain lighting systems, emergency egress lighting, lighting controls and building automation interfaces to deliver safe, compliant and energy‑efficient facility lighting.
Participate in electrical hazard analysis, arc flash risk assessments and the implementation of arc flash mitigation measures, including PPE requirements, labeling and incident energy reduction strategies.
Provide hands‑on support for instrumentation and control wiring associated with PLCs, RTUs and BMS interfaces; assist controls engineers in field validation, I/O testing and signal troubleshooting.
Support capital and renovation projects by estimating labor and material needs, performing field measurements, staging equipment, and carrying out installation tasks to schedule and budget.
Conduct routine inspections, housekeeping and compliance checks for electrical rooms, transformer pads and distribution areas to ensure clearances, ventilation and fire safety controls are in place.
Train and mentor junior electricians and apprentices on safe work practices, wiring techniques, troubleshooting methods and documentation expectations to build team capability and succession depth.
Implement predictive maintenance practices by collecting condition data, trend analysis and recommending replacement or overhaul activities before failures occur.
Maintain regulatory and industry knowledge (NEC, IEEE, NFPA) and participate in continuous improvement projects to enhance reliability, reduce operating costs and increase electrical system efficiency.

Secondary Functions

Support energy management and efficiency initiatives by recommending load shedding strategies, power factor correction and lighting retrofits.
Assist engineering teams with field surveys, grounding studies and site assessments during planning and design phases.
Participate in root cause analysis investigations and write clear incident reports with corrective and preventive action plans.
Help to coordinate inventory stocking levels and vendor relationships for critical spares, consumables and specialty parts.
Provide occasional after‑hours on‑call support and participate in rotational standby schedules to ensure 24/7 coverage for mission‑critical sites.
Contribute to safety committees, help develop electrical work procedures and lead toolbox talks focused on electrical hazards and control measures.

Required Skills & Competencies

Hard Skills (Technical)

Proficient in installation, maintenance, testing and commissioning of low‑ and medium‑voltage switchgear, transformers, panels and MCCs.
Strong troubleshooting skills with test equipment: multimeter, clamp meter, insulation resistance tester (megger), power quality analyzer and thermal imaging camera.
Experience with emergency generation systems, ATS, UPS systems and battery maintenance including capacity and load bank testing.
Knowledge of motor controls, starters, VFDs, PLC I/O wiring and basic PLC troubleshooting; ability to read and follow ladder logic with controls support.
Familiarity with NEC (National Electrical Code), NFPA 70E arc flash requirements and OSHA regulations; able to apply code requirements in the field.
Ability to interpret single line diagrams, wiring schematics, P&IDs and as‑built drawings and translate them into installation and maintenance tasks.
Proficient with lockout‑tagout (LOTO) procedures, confined space entry protocols and energized work permits.
Experience using CMMS for work order management, preventive maintenance scheduling, spares tracking and documentation.
Competence in performing electrical testing: relay testing, breaker trip testing, insulation resistance, ground continuity and phase rotation.
Cable installation skills including conduit bending, cable tray installation, pulling and terminating large‑gauge conductors and fiber optics as required.
Knowledge of protective device coordination, arc flash mitigation strategies and incident energy analysis to reduce risk.
Experience working in industrial, commercial, institutional or data center environments with mission‑critical uptime requirements.

Soft Skills

Strong attention to detail and documentation discipline to ensure safe, compliant and repeatable electrical work.
Excellent problem‑solving and analytical thinking with the ability to prioritize corrective actions under time pressure.
Clear verbal and written communication skills for cross‑functional coordination with operations, engineering and contractors.
Team player who mentors junior staff, enforces safety culture and actively contributes to continuous improvement.
Time management and organizational skills to plan complex tasks, manage work orders and meet project deadlines.
Customer service orientation with the ability to communicate technical issues in non‑technical terms to stakeholders.
Adaptability and calmness in emergency situations to lead repairs and restore systems effectively.
Proactive mindset for condition‑based maintenance, risk reduction and reliability improvements.

Education & Experience

Educational Background

Minimum Education:

High school diploma or GED with completion of an electrical apprenticeship program or equivalent field experience.

Preferred Education:

Associate degree, technical diploma or certificate in Electrical Technology, Industrial Maintenance, or related trade; journeyman electrician license or equivalent certification preferred.

Relevant Fields of Study:

Electrical Technology / Electrical Construction
Industrial Maintenance / Electro‑Mechanical Technology
Power Systems / Electronics
Controls & Automation / Instrumentation

Experience Requirements

Typical Experience Range:

3 to 7 years of hands‑on electrical experience in commercial, industrial or data center environments; demonstrated experience with power distribution and emergency generation systems.

Preferred:

5+ years experience with medium/low voltage distribution, switchgear, generators, UPS systems and protective device coordination; experience in a lead role or supervising contractors a plus. Certifications such as Journeyman or Master Electrician, OSHA 30, NFPA 70E qualified electrical worker, and specialized vendor training (e.g., generator/UPS/manufacturer courses) are highly desirable.