Overview
ABM Industries is seeking a Lead Testing Technician to join our Electrical Power Services team. This position serves as the highest-level field technical role within the organization and is responsible for leading complex testing, commissioning, troubleshooting, maintenance, and power system evaluation projects.
The Lead Testing Technician functions as the technical authority on assigned projects, providing leadership, oversight, mentorship, and advanced technical expertise for electrical power systems ranging from low-voltage distribution through medium- and high-voltage applications. This role independently performs complex investigations, develops technical recommendations, oversees project execution, ensures compliance with industry standards, and provides leadership to testing personnel across multiple crews and project sites.
NETA certification is not required; however, candidates should possess technical expertise, leadership capabilities, and field experience equivalent to an advanced senior electrical testing professional.
Pay: $75.00–$85.00 per hour
The pay listed is the salary range for this position. Any specific offer will vary based on the successful applicant’s education, experience, skills, abilities, geographic location, and alignment with market data.
You may be eligible to participate in a Company incentive or bonus program.
Benefit Information: ABM offers a comprehensive benefits package. For information about ABM’s benefits, visit ABM 2026 Employee Benefits | Staff & Management
Responsibilities
Essential Functions
- Lead acceptance testing, maintenance testing, troubleshooting, commissioning, startup, and system evaluation projects.
- Serve as the technical lead for complex electrical power system projects.
- Independently inspect, test, evaluate, troubleshoot, and commission:
- Low-, medium-, and high-voltage switchgear
- Protective relay systems
- Power transformers
- Instrument transformers
- Circuit breakers
- Power cables
- Motor control centers
- Automatic transfer switches
- Battery and UPS systems
- Grounding systems
- Protective control systems
- Critical power infrastructure
- Analyze complex test data and determine equipment condition, serviceability, root causes, and corrective actions.
- Perform advanced troubleshooting and failure analysis of electrical power systems.
- Review and interpret project specifications, commissioning plans, testing procedures, one-line diagrams, relay schemes, and construction documents.
- Develop testing procedures, switching plans, commissioning plans, and technical work instructions.
- Lead outage planning, electrical switching activities, startup events, and commissioning efforts.
- Provide technical oversight for field crews and project execution activities.
- Review and approve field reports, test documentation, technical findings, and recommendations.
- Interface directly with customers, facility management, consulting engineers, contractors, and project stakeholders.
- Support project managers with technical planning, scheduling, staffing, and execution strategies.
- Ensure compliance with company procedures, OSHA requirements, NFPA 70E, NETA standards, IEEE standards, and customer specifications.
- Conduct technical training and mentorship programs for Testing Technicians I, II, and Senior Testing Technicians.
- Support emergency response activities, critical outages, and major system restoration efforts.
Qualifications
Required Qualifications
- High school diploma or GED.
- Minimum 8–12 years of experience in electrical testing, commissioning, field service, utility operations, power generation, industrial maintenance, data centers, substations, or related electrical power systems work.
- Demonstrated experience serving as a lead technician, technical lead, crew leader, or project lead.
- Expert knowledge of:
- Electrical power systems
- Protective relaying
- Power system operations
- Testing and commissioning methodologies
- Power quality
- Electrical system troubleshooting
- Equipment maintenance strategies
- Extensive experience interpreting:
- One-line diagrams
- Three-line diagrams
- Schematics
- Protection and control drawings
- Construction documents
- Technical specifications
- Demonstrated ability to independently evaluate equipment condition and develop technical recommendations.
- Working knowledge of:
- NETA ATS
- NETA MTS
- IEEE standards
- ANSI standards
- NEC requirements
- OSHA regulations
- NFPA 70E
- Experience performing electrical switching, outage coordination, and commissioning activities.
- Advanced report writing and technical documentation skills.
- Valid driver's license and acceptable driving record.
- Ability to travel up to 75% as business needs require.
Preferred Qualifications
- Associate degree or higher in Electrical Technology, Engineering Technology, Electronics, Power Systems, or related field.
- Experience supporting mission-critical facilities, healthcare systems, utilities, substations, manufacturing facilities, or large industrial operations.
- Previous responsibility for managing multiple crews or large-scale testing projects.
- Experience reviewing or developing testing procedures and commissioning plans.
- OSHA 30, NFPA 70E, CPR/First Aid, and other advanced safety training.
- NETA certification or equivalent industry-recognized testing credentials.
Leadership Responsibilities
- Serve as the senior technical resource for assigned projects.
- Lead and mentor Testing Technician I, Testing Technician II, and Senior Testing Technician personnel.
- Provide technical review of testing methods, procedures, and reports.
- Promote and enforce a strong safety culture.
- Support recruiting, onboarding, training, and technician development initiatives.
- Assist project managers and operations leadership with workforce planning and project execution.
- Provide technical support during customer meetings, project planning sessions, and post-project reviews.
Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities
- Ability to independently execute highly complex testing and commissioning projects.
- Ability to lead multiple crews and coordinate simultaneous project activities.
- Advanced troubleshooting and analytical capabilities.
- Ability to evaluate system performance and equipment condition and provide actionable recommendations.
- Strong leadership, mentoring, and coaching skills.
- Strong customer-facing communication and presentation skills.
- Ability to make critical technical decisions in the field.
- Exceptional organizational, planning, and documentation skills.
- Commitment to safety, quality, operational excellence, and continuous improvement.
Physical Requirements
- Ability to lift, carry, push, and pull tools, materials, and testing equipment weighing up to 50 pounds.
- Ability to stand, walk, climb ladders, kneel, crouch, bend, and work in industrial environments.
- Ability to work in substations, electrical rooms, industrial facilities, outdoor environments, and mission-critical facilities.
- Ability to wear all required electrical PPE, including arc-flash and electrical safety equipment.
- Ability to work extended hours, nights, weekends, holidays, and emergency response assignments when required.
Career Progression
The Lead Testing Technician serves as the highest-level field technical role within Electrical Power Services and may progress into Project Manager, Operations Manager, Technical Manager, Engineering Support, or other leadership positions based on business needs and demonstrated performance.
