Graduate Technologist Trainee

Develop the skills and experience to be a technologist

BC Hydro's Graduate Technologist Trainee (GTT) program is a structured career development program designed to provide the skills, knowledge, and experience required to become a fully qualified technologist in Distribution Design, Engineering, Transmission Maintenance, or Apparatus Testing.

What you learn and experience

The GTT program is designed to translate academic knowledge into practical experience to make the candidate a highly valued employee. The formal GTT program is two to four years of on-the-job training, supplemented by classroom training, reports and presentations, and technical courses and seminars. Most streams incorporate rotations during the first two years, with possible relocation throughout B.C.

Each division seeks different areas of expertise and offers unique opportunities for candidates with a technology background:

Divisions	Duties	Disciplines
Distribution Design Four-year program	Design a variety of overhead and underground single and three-phase distribution projects, for residential, commercial and industrial customers Produce civil and electrical construction drawings, develop cost estimates, and conduct field studies Develop the knowledge of the distribution network system Develop the knowledge to understand a variety of civil, electrical, legal and building plans	Electrical Technology (Power option preferred)
Engineering (Mechanical) Two-year program	Work with engineering groups to review and develop specifications and standards Perform a variety of technical inspections and analysis on a broad range of equipment and materials in accordance with the referenced standards and specifications Review test reports for incoming equipment and materials to ensure conformance to specifications Witness and report on material test methodologies and results Participate in failure investigations to assess the root cause and liaise with investigation lead/ engineering to determine risks	Mechanical Engineering Technology
Engineering (Electrical) Two-year program	Perform a variety of complex technical functions relating to the commissioning, operation and maintenance of generation, transmission and station plant by testing project material and accessories Performing a variety of testing activities; performing troubleshooting, testing and defect and disturbance analysis Maintain liaison with internal and external groups concerning technical and financial aspects of assigned work Provide drawing requirements to drafters and consultants; checks work for accuracy and conformity and gives advice on technical aspects of the work to lower level staff Prepare correspondence, maintaining project records and files; undertaking special studies or gathering relevant information	Electrical Technology (Power option)
Engineering (Civil, including Geotech) Two-year program	Design a variety of civil and structural facilities and develop knowledge of the related construction, operation and maintenance of dams, generation stations, transmission facilities and interrelated equipment Develop knowledge of computer applications for a variety of systems related to design, project costing, estimating and project management functions Assist with and complete soils and geotechnical assessments, sometimes in remote areas Work with engineering groups to review and develop specifications and standards	Civil Engineering Technology
Transmission Maintenance Two-year program	Be trained to perform a variety of technical, administrative and planning functions related to the maintenance of transmission lines, including planning minor relocations, estimating, scheduling, acceptance inspections, construction and monitoring Perform a variety of technical, administrative, and planning functions related to maintenance of rights-of-way, such as contracting, road access, priority assessments and property issues Coordinate and/or performs activities involved in the tendering and inspection of transmission slope stability, erosion and civil work Provide technical input, assesses, coordinates and administers a variety of special programs and projects associated with transmission line maintenance. Prepare tenders and administers maintenance contracts, including drafting specifications and supporting documentation, tendering, evaluating, procurement, holding pre-job meetings, inspecting, approving progress payments and preparing end of job reports Liaise, communicate and make applications, as required, with governmental agencies and stakeholders in regards to maintenance activities to insure adherence to all legislation and environmental standards Establish and maintain a variety of records such as specifications, drawings, design data, structure data sheets, route plans, profiles, load capacity data and maintenance records, spare parts inventory records, equipment catalogue files, reference material and technical literature Assist the manager by preparing operating budgets by assessing costs of planned projects and programs, analyzes monthly variance statements and prepares maintenance activity summary reports. Utilizes computer programs to create and update reports on inventory, maintenance scheduling and expenditures Provide technical advice, guidance and direction to IBEW and contractors' crews engaged in right-of-way, underground and overhead transmission line maintenance Perform troubleshooting duties on transmission line equipment, rights-of-way and interprets test results and prepares report summaries Coordinate and plan a variety of field construction activities including the assembly of detailed work planning packages	Civil/Structural/Construction Management Mechanical Geomatics Forest & Natural Area Management Environmental Engineering Electrical
Apparatus Testing Four-year program	Perform a variety of technical and planning functions related to maintenance of transmission lines, including designing minor relocations, estimating, scheduling, inspections, testing and monitoring Conduct field evaluations and respond to failures and malfunctions on a variety of power apparatus and equipment Design a variety of electrical station equipment layouts and complex control circuits	Electronics Technology (Power – Electrical option) Instrumentation Engineering Technology

Qualifications: what you bring

You've completed a diploma in civil/structural, electronics, mechanical or electrical (power option) technology from a program nationally accredited by The Canadian Technology Accreditation Board, or other training equivalent to Canadian Technology Standards. Please check with your place of education if you are unsure if your diploma qualifies you for this position
You enjoy working both in the outdoors and in the office, sometimes in remote locations and various conditions
You hold a valid class 5 or 7N B.C. driver's license
You have a proficiency in English
You have strong interpersonal skills and are able to deal with both internal and external customers
You have excellent computer literacy
You have a keen interest and lifelong commitment to learning
You have good analytical skills

Within BC Hydro there is also a CPC Technologist Trainee program which has an electrical (power option) and telecom focus. Apply online to BC Hydro's Communications, Protection & Control Technologist Trainee Program.

Equivalence documentation & transcripts

To successfully claim an equivalent status, you must provide documentation that effectively demonstrates you've taken equivalent courses. You'll submit either a letter from your place of education or your instructor indicating the course(s) stating that the course(s) taken would be considered equivalent to the BC Hydro educational requirements.

Once accepted as a trainee, you'll need to submit a copy of your transcripts demonstrating completion of a National Diploma Program in Electrical/Electronics Engineering Technology.

Program details and future job prospects

As a successful trainee applicant, your career begins with 24 to 48 months of on-the-job technical training and technical courses and seminars, classroom training and reports and presentations.

You will be exposed to challenging assignments and be trained to the highest standards. Upon graduation, your training experiences will lead you into a technologist position at the end of your training period.

Where you train and work

As a trainee, you'll be headquartered in one of our regional offices throughout B.C. You will do at least one rotation in a different location to ensure you gain the maximum training and experience. The headquarter and rotation locations will vary, but can be anywhere in the province of B.C. including Burnaby, Prince George, Fort St. John, Vernon, Surrey, Terrace, Kamloops, Dawson Creek, Cranbrook and Nanaimo.

Pay and benefits

You'll be paid while you learn and you'll receive increases during the program according to the pay scales in the MoveUP collective agreement.

You learn and work in a healthy and safe environment supported by a competitive benefit package that includes vacation (minimum of 3 weeks), designated day offs with pay, disability income, health and vision and dental benefits.

Application timelines

The Graduate Technologist Trainee programs are typically open for applications once annually, beginning in January. The program usually commences in June. Due to the high number of applications recruiters receive, the recruitment process takes a few months.

Job postings are typically found on our current opportunities page. If no information is available yet, you can set up a job alert so that you will be notified as soon as the posting goes up.

Due to the very high number of applications recruiters receive, only those who are shortlisted will receive a phone call.