Transformer Shop Refurbishment Technician

Transformer Shop Refurbishment Technician

Location: Tampa, FL
Pay: $35–$45 per hour
Employment Type: Direct Hire Opportunity

Superior Skilled Trades is partnered with a company seeking an experienced Transformer Shop Refurbishment Technician to join their team in Tampa, FL. This position is responsible for the hands-on refurbishment, repair, reassembly, and testing of small and medium substation and transmission-class power transformers in a controlled shop environment.

The ideal candidate has practical experience working with power transformers and understands transformer components, electrical testing, mechanical assembly, troubleshooting, and safe work practices. This role works closely with engineering, testing personnel, quality, and shop leadership to ensure refurbished transformers meet applicable specifications and are ready for service.

Responsibilities

- Inspect incoming transformers and document nameplate information, condition, damage, and missing components.
- Disassemble single-phase and three-phase transformers for inspection and refurbishment.
- Inspect cores, windings, insulation, leads, bushings, connections, tanks, and other transformer components for damage, wear, contamination, or defects.
- Repair or replace damaged electrical and mechanical components according to approved procedures.
- Clean and treat transformer cores, coils, tanks, and other components using appropriate processes and materials.
- Maintain proper cleanliness and moisture control when working with exposed transformer components.
- Reassemble cores, coils, leads, bushings, connections, and hardware using drawings, specifications, and approved procedures.
- Properly identify and document lead locations, polarity, tap positions, hardware, and component information during disassembly and reassembly.
- Assist with transformer oil processing, sampling, purification, filling, and leak checks as required.
- Perform electrical and mechanical testing on refurbished transformers.
- Set up and perform assigned transformer tests, which may include turns ratio, polarity, winding resistance, insulation resistance, excitation current, and other diagnostic tests.
- Review test results, identify abnormal readings, and troubleshoot potential electrical or mechanical problems.
- Verify test equipment, connections, transformer identification, and test procedures before testing.
- Escalate test results or repair conditions that require engineering or senior technical review.
- Maintain accurate refurbishment reports, test logs, photographs, repair records, and inspection documentation.
- Prepare completed transformers for painting, labeling, final inspection, and shipment.
- Operate hand tools, power tools, lifting equipment, forklifts, and overhead cranes safely.
- Follow all company safety procedures, including de-energization, electrical safety, material handling, chemical handling, and shop housekeeping requirements.
- Work with engineering and shop leadership to resolve defects, non-conformances, and issues identified during refurbishment or testing.

Qualifications

- High school diploma or GED required.
- Trade school, technical certificate, or electrical training preferred.
- 1–3+ years of hands-on experience working with electrical transformers, transformer refurbishment, transformer assembly, or related power equipment.
- Working knowledge of transformer components, construction, wiring diagrams, and electrical testing methods.
- Ability to read transformer nameplates, drawings, wiring diagrams, and test specifications.
- Experience using electrical test instruments and interpreting test results.
- Understanding of transformer diagnostic testing, including turns ratio, winding resistance, insulation resistance, polarity, and excitation current.
- Ability to troubleshoot electrical and mechanical faults.
- Experience with insulating oil handling, processing, or transformer oil systems is preferred.
- Familiarity with vacuum drying, oil purification, tank repair, or transformer leak testing is a plus.
- Forklift and/or overhead crane experience preferred.
- Ability to safely use hand tools, lifting equipment, and electrical test instruments.
- Strong attention to detail and ability to accurately document work and test results.
- Ability to work safely around electrical equipment, insulating oils, chemicals, and heavy transformer components.

Preferred Technical Knowledge

- Power transformer construction and refurbishment
- Transformer cores and windings
- Bushings and connections
- Tap changers and tap positions
- Transformer oil processing and filling
- Vacuum drying and moisture control
- Turns ratio testing
- Winding resistance testing
- Insulation resistance testing
- Excitation current testing
- Polarity testing
- Electrical and mechanical troubleshooting
- ANSI/IEEE/NETA standards and testing practices
- Transformer assembly and reassembly procedures
- Torque requirements and mechanical connections
- Forklift and overhead crane operation

What We're Looking For

The successful candidate will be a hands-on transformer technician , not simply someone with general electrical experience. The ideal candidate can explain how they have personally disassembled, inspected, repaired, reassembled, and tested transformers or comparable high-voltage electrical equipment.

Strong candidates should be comfortable identifying defects, following drawings and procedures, taking accurate measurements, troubleshooting abnormal test results, and documenting their work. They should also know when an issue requires escalation to engineering or shop leadership rather than making an unauthorized repair or technical decision.

Work Environment

- Controlled transformer shop environment
- Hands-on work with large electrical equipment and transformer components
- Frequent use of hand tools, electrical test equipment, lifting equipment, forklifts, and/or overhead cranes
- Exposure to insulating oils, cleaning chemicals, and industrial shop conditions
- Requires strong attention to safety, cleanliness, documentation, and quality throughout the refurbishment process
INDH