ASSISTANT ELECTRICIAN JOB DESCRIPTION

Plant floors don't pause for equipment failure. An Assistant Electrician in industrial manufacturing keeps production lines running by owning fault-finding, preventive maintenance, and compliance with codes such as the Ontario Electrical Safety Code, OSHA regulations, and Good Manufacturing Practices. Short. The role sits within a site maintenance function and carries direct accountability for electrical safety certifications, equipment uptime records, and the integrity of control systems spanning low-voltage wiring to programmable logic controllers. Few trades-level positions require this breadth of both hands-on repair skill and documented QA discipline.

As the Assistant Electrician, you maintain, repair, and certify the electrical and electronic systems that keep industrial production equipment operating within specification and in full regulatory compliance. The position operates within a site maintenance team, coordinating with maintenance planners and project engineers across scheduled work orders and emergency call-outs.

Career Impact: Hands-on experience across PLC control systems, pneumatic integration, and GMP-regulated environments builds the verified technical depth that advances a tradesperson's career toward Licensed Journeyman or Electrical Supervisor standing.

Business Impact: Production uptime in manufacturing facilities is measured in output-per-shift, and the Assistant Electrician's fault-finding speed directly determines whether scheduled targets are met or lines are idled.

Growth Opportunity: Exposure to IQ/OQ validation testing, robotics, and SCADA systems expands a candidate's market value well beyond general electrical trades into the higher-demand discipline of industrial controls.

• Diagnose and repair faults in electrical and electronic control systems, including PLC-controlled machinery and embedded processor hardware.
• Perform scheduled and preventive maintenance on production and facility electrical equipment to maximize machine availability.
• Inspect, test, and certify electrical equipment against applicable national, provincial, and municipal codes and standards.
• Document electrical modifications, installations, and completed work orders within the site Maintenance Management System.
• Support project teams on electrical, instrumentation, control, and pneumatic installations from design stage through commissioning.
• Review and update SOPs and work instructions related to electrical maintenance activities.
• Coordinate with maintenance planners on day-to-day scheduling and respond to off-hours call-outs on a rotation basis.
• Enforce compliance with Good Manufacturing Practices, OHS legislation, and site safety rules throughout all work activities.

• Bachelor's degree in electrical technology or a related technical discipline, or equivalent apprenticeship completion and work experience.
• 3 or more years of electrical maintenance experience in an industrial or manufacturing environment, with demonstrated PLC troubleshooting.
• Valid Journeyman Electrician certification or Construction and Maintenance Electrician license applicable to the jurisdiction.
• Working knowledge of national and local electrical codes, OHS legislation, and hazardous location electrical requirements.
• Ability to read and interpret electrical schematics, blueprints, wiring diagrams, and vendor manuals.
• Familiarity with instrumentation, grounding and bonding systems, and the integration of pneumatic and mechanical systems with electrical equipment.
• Strong troubleshooting aptitude with demonstrated attention to detail and the ability to work safely both independently and as part of a team.

• Experience programming, commissioning, or troubleshooting PLC control systems in a production environment.
• Background in instrumentation, gas detector maintenance and calibration, or industrial robotics.
• Aerial work platform or forklift certification, including scissor lift or boom lift operation.
• Exposure to IQ, OQ, or pre-validation testing processes within a regulated manufacturing setting.

• Preventive maintenance completion rate, tracking the percentage of scheduled work orders closed on time.
• Mean time to repair, measuring how quickly electrical faults are diagnosed and production equipment restored.
• Electrical safety audit score, reflecting compliance with applicable codes and GMP documentation standards.
• Work order backlog count, indicating the volume of outstanding maintenance tasks against planned capacity.
• Regulatory non-conformance incidents per quarter, attributable to this role's inspection and certification work.
• Typical tools: PLC programming and diagnostics platforms (commonly Allen-Bradley or Siemens); maintenance management systems (commonly SAP).

• Base Salary Range: $52,000 – $72,000 per year, depending on experience and certification level
• Bonus: Occasional shift differential or overtime premium; structured annual bonus uncommon at this level
• Equity: Not typically offered for trades-level individual contributor roles
• Health Benefits: Medical, dental, and vision coverage; employer contribution toward premiums standard
• PTO: 10 to 15 days annually, plus paid holidays; increases with tenure
• Common Perks: Tool allowance, safety boot reimbursement, and employer-sponsored trades certification support

Figures are estimates based on general US market benchmarks and may be outdated. Adjust based on location, company size, and seniority level.

Work authorization in the United States is required; candidates must be eligible to work without employer sponsorship unless otherwise specified. Employment in this role is contingent on successful completion of a background check and, where applicable, a pre-employment physical. Reasonable accommodations will be made for qualified individuals with disabilities throughout the hiring process and employment. All applicants are considered without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, disability, veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by applicable federal, state, or local law.

The Assistant Electrician owns the installation, maintenance, repair, and modification of shipboard electrical equipment and systems, providing technical support across facility, customer, and field locations. Working alongside customer support personnel and contributing to fleet modernization efforts on active surface ships, this role enables operational continuity by minimizing system downtime and supporting alterations to active class vessels.

Key Responsibilities

• Install, operate, maintain, repair, and modify shipboard electrical equipment and systems.
• Troubleshoot and diagnose malfunctions to eliminate problems in minimum time.
• Perform a variety of simple and complex tasks related to shipboard maintenance.
• Assist with alterations and installations for fleet modernization on active class surface ships.
• Provide technical support on shipboard systems, integrated systems, and related equipment and software at facility, customer, and field locations.
• Maintain effective customer communications and relations.
• Provide on-site training of customer support personnel.
• Apply understanding of production and processes to assignments.
• Assist in the development and use of technical documents, including controlled work packages, formal work processes and procedures, test documents, and reports.

Required Qualifications

• High school diploma or equivalent required.
• Current or active DoD secret security clearance preferred.
• OSHA 10 Maritime Certification a plus.
• Minimum 2 years of related experience required.
• Shipboard experience preferred.
• Experience working in a team environment required.
• Experience with troubleshooting, maintenance, and repair of electrical distribution systems and associated equipment required.
• Proficiency in reading electrical drawings and schematics required.
• Ability to obtain and maintain a DoD Secret security clearance throughout employment.
• Ability to obtain base access credentials within 60 days of start date and maintain credentials throughout employment.
• Ability to provide hand tools per trades designation.

Embedded within a cross-functional electrical services team, the Assistant Electrician delivers hands-on in-field electrical work connecting residential solar arrays to the grid under the oversight of a certified electrician, serving homeowners, partners, and inspectors to meet system requirements. Working closely with the Electrical Services Manager and field colleagues, this role advances customer satisfaction by ensuring all installations and troubleshooting meet local and national compliance codes.

Core Functions

• Install electrical systems by connecting residential solar arrays to the grid under the oversight of a certified electrician.
• Troubleshoot, resolve, and upgrade systems to ensure long-term reliability and availability.
• Maintain accurate records of material consumption and proper maintenance of PPE and vehicles.
• Maintain effective working relationships with partners, inspectors, and homeowners to meet system requirements and scheduled timelines.
• Ensure all work meets applicable local and national compliance codes and requirements.

Qualifications & Experience

• 1–3 years of hands-on electrical experience in residential solar, EV, or stationary storage systems required.
• Thorough working knowledge and application of NEC and workplace safety practices required.
• Ability to read, interpret, verify calculations for, and correct electrical plans.
• Ability to lift to 50 lbs and work comfortably on a roof, including climbing ladders, crawling through tight spaces, and sustained outdoor work.
• Strong written, verbal, and email communication skills.
• Highly organized, accountable, thorough, and able to work independently.
• Commitment to exceptional electrical standards and craftsmanship.

Reporting to the supervising engineer, the Assistant Electrician leads the operation and maintenance of all electrical systems and components on a Class I 3,400 cubic yard hopper dredge, including motors, pumps, generators, and control panels. Partnering with the vessel crew and acting independently during emergencies, this role builds the operational reliability that keeps the dredge running on a rotational 15-days-on, 13-days-off schedule.

Primary Duties

• Operate and maintain all electrical systems and components on a Class I 3,400 cubic yard hopper dredge.
• Perform scheduled and special operational checks of equipment, observing gauges and noting unusual conditions, and make repairs or adjustments as required.
• Perform periodic and special preventive maintenance checks, including testing, dismantling, replacing scheduled work elements, lubricating, packing, and repairing units.
• Install replacement or new equipment, including floodlights, signals, and fixtures.
• Repair any electrical unit on board, including motors, pumps, generators, control panels, and special equipment.
• Itemize materials and parts used and report actions taken, need for further attention, and unusual results.
• Cope with unanticipated problems and emergencies independently in the absence of the supervising engineer.

Skills & Qualifications

• Demonstrated ability to repair electrical equipment, apply drawings, perform tests, use hand tools, and observe gauges.
• Knowledge of electrical equipment and theory, instruments, and technical practices used in shop and trade.
• Troubleshooting and fault-finding skills for electrical systems.
• Ability to lift and carry tools, equipment, and parts weighing up to 40 lbs, with occasional lifting over 40 lbs.
• Ability to work from ladders, scaffolding, and platforms and in hard-to-reach, confined, and noisy environments.
• Willingness to work an irregular schedule of 15 consecutive working days followed by 13 consecutive days off.
• Willingness to serve a two-year probationary period if applicable.

Sitting at the intersection of overseas facilities management and electrical trade expertise, the Assistant Electrician shapes the repair, maintenance, installation, and modernization of electrical systems and building equipment at an OCONUS location while reporting malfunctions to the Assistant O&M Manager. Operating across a multinational workforce and harsh environmental conditions, this role shapes the safe, code-compliant functionality of electrical infrastructure in a complex international setting.

Duties

• Perform repair, maintenance, installation, and modernization of electrical systems and building equipment.
• Locate and determine electrical malfunctions using test equipment.
• Repair malfunctions by replacing burned-out elements, fuses, and defective wiring, and by cleaning, repairing, or replacing motors.
• Test electrical equipment, including motors, heaters, and controls, for safety and efficiency using standard test equipment.
• Install fixtures, wiring conduits, motors, and other electrical equipment.
• Inspect circuits for specified shielding and grounding.
• Report malfunctions or non-compliance with the Statement of Work to the Assistant O&M Manager.
• Perform inspections and prepare written reports.
• Perform administrative tasks as directed, including ordering materials, inventorying, scheduling work, and preparing reports.
• Maintain custodianship of the work area and manage tools, equipment, and spare parts for electrical operations.
• Take initiative to analyze situations and make technical decisions based on specifications, safety, and electrical codes.
• Maintain effective, timely, and respectful communication and interaction with other employees and management.

Education & Experience

• High school diploma or GED and successful completion of an apprenticeship program required.
• Electrical AA/AS degree from a two-year college or equivalent field experience preferred.
• Journeyman Certificate required.
• Minimum 5 years of electrical experience in operations and maintenance services required.
• Minimum 3 years of experience in an Outside the Continental United States (OCONUS) environment required.
• Previous electrical experience in an OCONUS environment with a multinational workforce or in harsh environmental conditions preferred.
• Experience working with SOW, electrical diagrams, and blueprints required.
• Knowledge of applicable US codes and acceptable trade practices required.
• Knowledge and experience of occupational hazards of the electrical trade and related safety precautions required.
• Understanding of frequency converters and uninterrupted power supply (UPS) systems required.
• Computer skills in Microsoft Word and Excel required.
• Cross-cultural sensitivity with an international perspective required.
• Proficiency in English sufficient to meet job requirements and comply with safety, health, and security measures required.

A key member of the packaging equipment maintenance team, the Assistant Electrician leads the diagnosis, repair, and continuous improvement of electrical and electronic control systems, including PLCs, MMIs, and embedded processors, across designated manufacturing facilities. Collaborating across project teams, outside support vendors, and QA processes, this role builds regulatory compliance and production uptime by executing IQ/OQ testing and ensuring all work meets the Ontario Electrical Safety Code and applicable GMP standards.

Technical Responsibilities

• Diagnose, maintain, modify, and repair machine control systems and hardware and software interfaces, including programmable controllers, MMIs, and embedded processor systems.
• Use electrical documentation to diagnose electrical and electronic problems and complete necessary repairs.
• Diagnose, repair, and calibrate electronic equipment to component level, including fault-finding at circuit board level and replacing components with original or cross-referenced substitutes.
• Document electrical modifications and installations.
• Report problems with existing equipment and recommend solutions using the current validated QA process.
• Select and specify hardware and supplies required for the job, including cross-referencing and substituting OEM components for locally manufactured parts.
• Initiate, review, rewrite, and communicate SOPs and work instructions related to the role.
• Plan and initiate projects from the design stage, sourcing components and coordinating outside support vendors.
• Execute IQ, OQ, and pre-validation testing.
• Ensure all work is completed in full compliance with Ontario Electrical Safety Code, current Good Manufacturing Practices, good documentation practices, and applicable SOPs, ESA, and CSA standards.
• Improve safety, productivity, and regulatory compliance of packaging and production equipment and processes throughout designated facilities.

Experience & Qualifications

• Electronics, Electro-Mechanical Technician, or Technologist Diploma is a definite asset.
• Industrial Electrician or Construction and Maintenance Electrician license.
• Current electrical license 309A (Construction and Maintenance) required.
• Minimum of 5 years of experience troubleshooting electronic and electrical control systems in a manufacturing environment required.
• Experience programming and troubleshooting Allen-Bradley SLC500 PLCs using RSLogix500 software required.
• Extensive knowledge of Omron, Siemens Simatic 7, Klockner Muller, and Toshiba PLCs is a definite asset.
• Proficiency in AutoCAD, WD Tool Box, Microsoft Word, Excel, and Project required.
• Strong organizational and interpersonal skills with the ability to plan and complete projects within business deadlines required.
• Self-motivated with a willingness to learn new skills required.

Reliable plant operations depend on the Assistant Electrician, who delivers the repair, calibration, and certification of industrial electrical, electronic, mechanical, and pneumatic facilities, including logic controllers, by executing tasks through SAP and supporting project teams for electrical and instrumentation installations. Based within a manufacturing environment and serving as a key contact for the Maintenance planner on scheduling and day-to-day planning, this role enables continuous plant availability and a strong safety culture.

Accountabilities

• Identify, document, and maintain all production, facility, and support electrical equipment in the Maintenance Management System.
• Execute tasks assigned through SAP and complete work orders after execution.
• Repair, maintain, calibrate, modify, and test industrial electrical, electronic, mechanical, and pneumatic facilities, including logic controllers and related equipment.
• Diagnose and correct malfunctions in, and calibrate, test, and certify electrical and electronic equipment.
• Utilize electrical and electronic test instruments, measuring devices, and shop tools.
• Utilize schematics, blueprints, wiring diagrams, vendor manuals, and applicable national, provincial, and municipal specifications, codes, and ordinances.
• Support project teams for electrical, instrument, control, and pneumatic installations and manage and execute small in-house projects.
• Provide support and coordinate with the Maintenance planner on day-to-day planning and scheduling tasks.
• Participate actively in implementing the 5-S program and follow Good Manufacturing Practices, SOPs, safe working habits, and a commitment to continuous improvement.
• Complete mandatory electrical safety training to qualify as competent to perform electrical switching and isolations.
• Support the site for off-hour call-outs and standby duty on weekends on a rotation basis.
• Maintain housekeeping in the workshop and parts store.

Professional Experience

• Journeyman Electrician certification required.
• Minimum 5 years of experience in an industrial environment required.
• Experience with industrial robotics is an asset.
• Working knowledge of Environment, Health and Safety legislation required.
• Familiarity with hazardous location electrical requirements required.
• Strong troubleshooting skills with demonstrated electrical and mechanical aptitude required.
• Strong ability to interpret blueprints required.
• Instrumentation background with knowledge of modern robot controllers required.
• Knowledge and experience in gas detector maintenance and calibration required.
• Working knowledge of grounding and bonding systems required.
• Knowledge of electronics and pneumatics, with the ability to integrate pneumatic and mechanical knowledge with electrical knowledge required.
• Control system (PLC) experience, including programming and troubleshooting, is an asset.
• Forklift and aerial work platform (scissor lift or boom lift) experience and certification are an asset.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Outlook, Word, Excel, and PowerPoint required.
• High level of interpersonal skills with effective oral and written communication skills required.

As the Assistant Electrician, this role owns the delivery of safe, effective, and timely electrical maintenance to equipment and ancillaries in a mining or heavy industry environment, performing fault-finding, inspections, and statutory electrical record-keeping to optimize plant operational capacity. The maintenance team relies on this work to uphold OHS standards, drive safety culture initiatives, and ensure quality notifications are raised and resolved within internal systems.

Job Functions

• Provide safe, effective, and timely electrical maintenance to equipment and ancillaries to optimize plant operational capacity.
• Perform accurate fault-finding and repairs on electrical systems and equipment.
• Complete inspections to identify faults.
• Raise quality notifications in internal systems for repair.
• Maintain statutory electrical inspections and records as required.
• Abide by all OHS standards and site safety rules.

Background & Experience

• Certificate IV Instrumentation and HV switching desirable.
• Confined Space and Work at Heights tickets desirable.
• Minimum 3 years of demonstrated experience in a similar role required.
• Strong ability to read and interpret electrical and mechanical schematics required.
• Exposure to mining, heavy industry, or manufacturing environments required.
• Strong safety mindset with the ability to drive safety culture initiatives required.
• Strong problem-solving abilities required.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills required.
• Intermediate to strong computer literacy required.

Assistant Electrician builds plant availability by troubleshooting PLC/HMI-controlled machinery, supporting the site's SCADA system, and extracting operational data from SAP within a food manufacturing environment. The work directly supports the wider Maintenance team in identifying and implementing improvements to maintenance work methods, enabling safe, professional, and timely completion of all installations and commissioning tasks.

What You'll Do

• Perform troubleshooting on plant equipment, including diagnostics and fault-finding on PLC/HMI-controlled machinery, and installations and commissioning where required.
• Support the site's SCADA system and extract required data from SAP.
• Assist the wider Maintenance team to identify and implement improvements to maintenance work methods.
• Procedure to improve machine availability.
• Perform all work in a professional, timely, and safe manner.

Minimum Qualifications

• Experience with PLC fault-finding, with Allen-Bradley and Siemens experience advantageous, required.
• Exposure to SCADA and SAP preferable.
• Food industry experience is an advantage.
• Ability to work autonomously as part of a wider team and to always work safely required.
• Ability to solve problems in a systematic manner required.

The Assistant Electrician owns the troubleshooting and repair of electrical wiring, PLCs, controllers, lighting controls, and electrical motors in a production environment, planning new or modified installations to minimize material waste. Reporting through the production maintenance structure and collaborating across all levels of the organization, this role shapes safe, code-compliant operations by enforcing OSHA regulations, managing equipment costs within budget, and maintaining consistent housekeeping standards.

Day-to-Day Responsibilities

• Troubleshoot and repair electrical wiring, PLCs, controllers, lighting controls, and electrical motors in a production environment.
• Maintain, install, rebuild, and repair equipment per specifications.
• Plan new or modified installations to minimize waste of materials.
• Ensure safety rules and regulations are followed and enforced and stay current on electrical codes and OSHA regulations.
• Maintain cost control for equipment and supplies within budget.
• Maintain general housekeeping.

Knowledge Skills & Abilities

• Good working knowledge of electronics and programmable logic controllers and their applications required.
• Strong maintenance skills.
• Good attention to detail and accuracy required.
• Ability to communicate effectively in writing and verbally required.
• Willingness and ability to work effectively within a team environment and across all levels of the organization required.