Engineering Technician II, Mechanical Testing

Department Overview

Applied Technology Services (ATS) has been providing technology-based, innovative, high-value services to PG&E for over 40 years. ATS is a multidisciplinary team of over 130 engineers, scientists, and technicians. The ATS vision is to be a forward-thinking, technological leader providing high-value solutions and services needed across the Company. ATS high value services also help proactively avoid future problems by specifying equipment, materials and methods that are best practices in the industry.

PG&E's Applied Technologies Services (ATS) Materials Engineering & Failure Analysis group provides a range of services, which include failure analysis, material selection, and specification and procedure development.

ATS has Mechanical and Metallurgical laboratories that specialize in Failure Analysis testing. The mechanical testing laboratory is equipped with a variety of universal force testing frames along with a machine shop for fabricating testing fixtures. The lab is also supported by the materials team with a Scanning Electron Microscope (SEM), optical microscopes, image analysis systems, sample prep equipment, and micro-hardness testers.

Position Summary

This position is represented by Engineers and Scientists of California (ESC) subject to collective bargaining. The position is onsite in Danville, within the Energy Delivery business unit.

The ideal candidate will have experience and skills in testing the properties of materials under dynamic or static forces by conducting mechanical tests such as tensile strength tests, compression strength tests, bending tests, shear tests, impact resistance, fracture toughness, and fatigue per industry standards, and executing tests based upon industry and testing standards under engineering direction.

Materials encountered on the job include steels (pipes, valves, vessels), aluminum (wire, fittings, connectors), copper (wire, valves), and ceramics (insulators).

Fabrication work includes machining with hand tools, band saw, drill press, lathe, and end mill, as well as fixture manufacturing using acetylene torches, band saws, and cut off saws (wet and dry). A strong knowledge of metallurgy with experience in polishing equipment (manual/automated), sample mounting processes, hardness testers, and optical microscopes are a plus.

The role requires reading and interpreting engineering drawings, product specifications, and other technical documents. Travel requirement: 10–20% of the time, throughout the PG&E territory.

Pay

Under the terms of the collective bargaining agreement, the hourly rate range for this position is $59.79 to $66.18, subject to collectively bargained wage increases.

Responsibilities

• Demonstrate safe work practices at all times, with a strong focus on customer, public, and employee safety in all work practices.
• Collaborate well with team members and clients to plan and conduct laboratory projects.
• Mechanical and metallurgical testing: plan, design, set up, execute, and analyze results with direct support from an engineer.
• Perform necessary maintenance, calibration, and shop orderliness, including ensuring adequate inventory of testing supplies is maintained.
• Identify continuous improvement opportunities within the lab.
• Compile detailed test data and put together simple pre/post-test summary reports in the format requested by clients.

Qualifications

Minimum:

• Associate of Science degree (preferably mechanical engineering) or equivalent education and/or certifications in the appropriate field of technology.
• 2 years of experience to include mechanical fabrication of metal fixtures (cutting, joining, grinding, polishing, and testing) and operating, maintaining, troubleshooting, and calibrating laboratory equipment such as MTS and Tinius Olsen universal test frames and Keyence digital microscopes.

Desired:

• Previously operated mechanical/metallurgical testing equipment in custom non-standardized testing setups.
• Experience with materials management (sample log-in, tracking, and following internal procedures for chain of custody).
• Basic understanding of metallurgy concepts preferred.