Electrical Specialist - Switchgear

Bilfinger is an international industrial services provider with a vision to be the No. 1 for its customers in enhancing efficiency and sustainability within the process industry. Bilfinger’s comprehensive portfolio spans the entire value chain, from consulting & engineering to prefabrication & installation, access & insulation, and services that improve the asset performance of industrial plants.

The company operates in three geography-based segments: Western Europe, Central Europe, and International, with primary activities in Europe, North America, and the Middle East. Its process industry customers come from markets such as chemicals & petrochemicals, energy, oil & gas, and pharma & biopharma. With about 31,000 employees, Bilfinger upholds the highest standards of safety and quality, generating revenue of €5.4 billion in the financial year 2025. To achieve its goals, Bilfinger has identified two strategic levers: Operational Excellence to continuously improve its own efficiency and performance, and Market Expansion to strengthen customer orientation and establish Bilfinger as the partner of choice.

Job Description

Electrical Specialist - Switchgear

Position

Electrical Specialist - Switchgear

Department

Electrical / Maintenance

Industry

Oil & Gas / Petrochemical / Energy

Job Purpose

The Electrical Specialist - Switchgear will provide specialized technical expertise in the inspection, maintenance, troubleshooting, condition monitoring, reliability improvement and lifecycle management of LV/MV/HV/EHV switchgear systems.

The role will support the Company in maintaining high availability and reliability of electrical switchgear, identifying potential failures, managing critical spares, implementing OEM recommendations, supporting shutdown activities and providing technical assistance during electrical failures and abnormal events.

Key Responsibilities

1. Switchgear Technical Support

• Provide specialist technical support for LV, MV, HV and EHV switchgear systems.

• Demonstrate strong knowledge of different switchgear technologies, manufacturers and configurations, including Schneider Electric and other major OEMs.

• Maintain detailed technical and manufacturing records for each switchgear system.

• Review switchgear performance and identify potential reliability and operational risks.

• Provide technical assistance during switchgear failures, trips, alarms and abnormal operating conditions.

2. Maintenance & Condition Monitoring

• Develop, review and execute preventive and predictive maintenance strategies for switchgear.

• Perform switchgear health assessments and condition monitoring.

• Monitor equipment alarms and operating parameters to identify early signs of deterioration.

• Review preventive-maintenance work requests and ensure timely execution.

• Support troubleshooting, inspection, testing and corrective maintenance activities.

• Recommend maintenance improvements based on equipment condition, operating history and OEM guidelines.

3. Spare Parts Management

• Periodically review switchgear spare-parts requirements and availability.

• Identify critical, strategic and long-lead switchgear spares and submit recommendations for procurement.

• Coordinate with the Procurement and Warehouse teams to ensure availability of critical spares.

• Support SAP EAM/PM material codification and equipment master-data activities.

• Review warehouse stock and preservation status of critical components, including:

  • Auxiliary contactors and relays

  • Tripping and closing coils

  • Spring-charging motors

  • SF₆-related components and sensors

  • Limit switches

  • Circuit breakers

  • Operating mechanisms and associated spares

• Develop and implement effective spare-parts preservation methodologies.

4. Obsolescence & Lifecycle Management

• Identify end-of-life (EOL), obsolete and unsupported switchgear components.

• Develop recommendations for replacement, refurbishment or upgrade of obsolete components.

• Coordinate periodic replacement of components in accordance with OEM recommendations and lifecycle requirements.

• Support modernization and reliability-improvement programs for existing switchgear systems.

5. Failure Investigation & Reliability

• Prepare detailed switchgear failure and incident reports.

• Conduct or support Root Cause Analysis (RCA) for recurring failures.

• Develop corrective and preventive action recommendations.

• Review electrical incidents, trips, blackouts, near misses and abnormal events.

• Identify recurring failure patterns and recommend measures to improve equipment reliability and availability.

• Maintain accurate records of work performed, parts replaced, failure history and equipment performance.

6. Shutdown & Inspection Activities

• Provide specialist supervision during planned shutdowns and slowdowns.

• Supervise busbar and busduct inspections.

• Support inspection and maintenance of circuit breakers, switchgear panels, busbars, mechanisms and associated components.

• Review inspection findings and recommend remedial actions where required.

• Ensure maintenance activities are carried out in accordance with approved procedures, OEM recommendations and applicable electrical standards.

7. Emergency Technical Support

• Provide specialist technical assistance during critical switchgear failures and electrical emergencies.

• Support troubleshooting and restoration activities to minimize equipment downtime.

• Provide technical support outside normal working hours when required for critical failures or plant emergencies.

8. Continuous Improvement

• Identify opportunities to improve switchgear maintenance strategies, reliability and availability.

• Participate in continuous improvement and electrical reliability initiatives.

• Benchmark maintenance practices against OEM recommendations and industry best practices.

• Develop technical procedures, maintenance recommendations and reliability-improvement initiatives.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's Degree in Electrical Engineering or equivalent.

• Additional technical certifications in electrical systems, switchgear or condition monitoring will be an advantage.

Experience

• Significant experience in switchgear engineering, maintenance, inspection, troubleshooting and condition monitoring.

• Experience with LV/MV/HV/EHV switchgear is required.

• Experience in Oil & Gas, Petrochemical, Refinery, LNG, Power or Process Industries is highly preferred.

• Experience with major OEM switchgear such as Schneider Electric, ABB, Siemens, GE or equivalent.

• Strong experience in circuit breakers, switchgear mechanisms, protection systems, busbars and busducts.

• Experience in shutdown/turnaround inspection and maintenance activities is preferred.

Technical Skills

The candidate should have strong knowledge of:

• LV/MV/HV/EHV switchgear

• Circuit breakers and operating mechanisms

• Auxiliary contacts and relays

• Tripping and closing mechanisms

• Spring-charging motors

• SF₆ circuit breakers and associated monitoring systems

• Busbars and busducts

• Switchgear condition monitoring

• Electrical testing and diagnostic equipment

• Power-quality and harmonics measurement

• Electrical protection and monitoring systems

• Switchgear monitoring/diagnostic software

• EOL and obsolete component replacement

• OEM maintenance guidelines

• Electrical safety and applicable international standards

Software / Systems

• SAP EAM / SAP PM or equivalent CMMS/EAM system.

• Switchgear monitoring and diagnostic software.

• Microsoft Office and technical reporting tools.

Key Competencies

• Strong technical and analytical skills.

• Excellent troubleshooting and failure-analysis capability.

• Ability to interpret electrical drawings, technical manuals and OEM documentation.

• Strong communication and technical-reporting skills.

• Ability to work independently and coordinate with Operations, Maintenance, Procurement and Engineering teams.

• Strong focus on equipment reliability, safety and availability.

• Ability to provide technical support during emergency situations.

Preferred Certifications / Knowledge

Knowledge of applicable IEC, IEEE, NEMA and relevant electrical/Oil & Gas standards will be an advantage.

Key Performance Areas

• Switchgear availability and reliability

• Reduction in unplanned electrical failures

• Preventive-maintenance compliance

• Critical spare availability

• Reduction of obsolete components

• Effective shutdown inspection and maintenance

• Timely failure investigation and corrective actions

• Accuracy of equipment and maintenance records

• Continuous improvement of switchgear maintenance practices

If you have any questions please contact Gelson Dsouza ([email protected]).

Bilfinger is an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to ethnicity, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability or other characteristics protected by law.

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