ELECTRICAL TEST TECHNICIAN (7512) (A3) (REVISED 10-20-26)

Pay

Annual salary ranges (at start of pay range; subject to change — confirm with hiring department before accepting offer):

• $90,786 to $116,740
• $98,198 to $122,001
• $104,400 to $129,706

Candidates from the eligible list are normally appointed to vacancies in the lower pay grade positions. For information regarding reciprocity between City of Los Angeles departments and LADWP, see Reciprocity City Depts and DWP.

Duties

Entry‑Level Electrical Test Technician (Trainee)

Receives intensive classroom and on‑the‑job instruction and training under the supervision of an Electrical Test Technician Supervisor. Works as a trainee assisting journey‑level Electrical Test Technicians in:

• Diagnostic tests, calibration, repair, maintenance, and adjustments on high and low voltage electrical circuits, equipment, and related material
• Meters, smart‑grid systems, conventional and renewable generation resources, control circuits, instruments, relays, and related equipment and materials
• New locations
• Related duties

Journey‑Level Electrical Test Technician

• Performs routine calibration tests of meters
• Performs routine electrical tests of material
• Assists in testing more complex electric instruments and equipment
• Tests electric meters, control and protective relays, instruments, transformers, and other equipment and materials
• Performs cathodic protection in underground and overhead structures
• Performs infrared inspection of high voltage overhead distribution systems
• Builds and tests circuit boards, removes or replaces components, and tests communication levels for Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition (SCADA) systems
• May occasionally direct a group of employees engaged in field or laboratory electrical testing
• Performs the more difficult and advanced functions of electrical testing
• Performs related duties

Minimum Qualifications

Applicants must meet one of the following:

• Six months of full‑time paid experience and current employment as a helper or trainee for a utility performing work on equipment and circuits, construction and maintenance; or
• Completion of eight months in the Utility Pre‑Craft Trainee training program sponsored by LADWP performing electrical work on equipment and circuits in excess of 120 volts in the maintenance or construction of electrical systems; or
• Successful completion of three semester units or four quarter units from an accredited college, university, or trade school in physics, chemistry, electricity, or electronics; or
• Successful completion of the Pre‑Electrical Craft Helper training course presented by Los Angeles Trade Technical College; or
• Six months of full‑time experience performing electrical work on equipment and circuits in the maintenance or construction of electrical systems while in the United States Armed Forces.

Additional Requirements & Conditions

• Verification of Work Experience (VWE): Applicants filing under Requirement #2 who lack two months or less of the required experience may file but cannot be appointed until the full experience is met. Must submit a signed City of Los Angeles VWE form (available at per.lacity.org/exams/vwe-sup.pdf) attached to the online application or emailed to per.appdocs@lacity.org within 7 calendar days of submission. The email subject must include the exam title, applicant name, and “VWE”; the body must include first/last name, last four digits of SSN, and contact phone number. Failure to submit within the time required disqualifies the application.
• Coursework documentation (Requirement #3): Must list course titles, semester/quarter units, school attended, and completion dates in the Supplemental Questions section. Failure to provide this information disqualifies the application.
• Electrical Craft Helper certificate (Requirement #4): Must attach a copy of the certificate of completion to the online application before submission. Attachments added after submission will not be credited.
• Military service (Requirement #5): Active U.S. military personnel may file but cannot be appointed until discharged with satisfactory performance. Must attach a copy of DD214 or military ID showing an End of Active Obligated Service (EAOS) date within six months of the application date before submitting the application. Late attachments will not be credited.
• Driver’s license: A valid California Class C driver’s license is required at time of appointment. Applicants with three or more moving violations and/or at‑fault accidents, or a conviction of a major moving violation within the last 36 months in any jurisdiction, are ineligible. The City reserves the right to issue a notice of ineligibility at any time before a final job offer.
• Drug and alcohol testing: Employees working in or around DOT‑regulated natural gas/petroleum oil pipelines are subject to Federal DOT testing protocols (49 CFR Part 199) and must pass a pre‑employment drug and alcohol test under the DOT protocol.
• Education accreditation: Qualifying education must be from an institution accredited by a City of Los Angeles recognized agency (list at Accredited Institutions). Candidates completing the examination will be contacted to provide proof of qualifying coursework; transcripts annotated with relevant courses, credits, and grades may be attached at filing to expedite.
• Appointment type: Appointments are made to temporary training positions per Civil Service Rule 5.30 for a maximum of three years. Trainees must successfully complete a three‑year intensive on‑the‑job and classroom training program to qualify for promotion to journey‑level.

Selection Process

Examination weights: Multiple‑Choice Test (Qualifying); Performance Test (100%).

Qualifying Multiple‑Choice Test

Administered and proctored online in a single session. Competencies evaluated may include:

• Mathematics
• Analytical Ability
• Electrical Understanding
• Interpersonal Skills
• Safety Focus — safety procedures and practices per Cal‑OSHA when working with/around energized equipment and/or on ladders
• Equipment Operation — operation of electrical and electronic equipment such as electric meters, power transformers, and generators
• Job Knowledge — equipment and methods used to troubleshoot/test functionality of electrical meters, relays, devices, instruments, and equipment; professional standards related to electrical/electronic testing; hand and power tools used to calibrate, adjust, and repair electrical equipment, systems, and devices; and other necessary skills, knowledge, and abilities

Candidates invited to the online test will receive an email with dates and instructions for taking the test remotely using a computer with a webcam and reliable internet connection. Candidates who do not complete and submit the test by the specified date and time will not be considered further.

Performance Test

Weighted at 100%. Details on the performance test components are not specified in this bulletin.

In accordance with Civil Service Rule 4.2, not all applicants who apply may be tested. To meet anticipated hiring needs, only a limited number of qualified applicants will be invited to participate in the selection process in the following order:

1. Applicants currently employed by the City of Los Angeles who meet the minimum requirements, or are on a reserve list
2. Remaining applicants who meet the minimum requirements in sufficient numbers to meet hiring needs based on a random sampling of those qualified candidates

Applicants not selected to be tested may re‑apply in a subsequent filing period to be considered for that period’s selection process.