Position Description

At Seattle City Light, we power Seattle and as a municipally owned utility, public service is at the core of our mission. We are one of the nation's largest municipally owned utilities in terms of the number of customers served. Over the years, we have been dedicated to delivering customers affordable, reliable, and environmentally responsible electricity services. And to this day, City Light aspires to be the nation's greenest utility by fulfilling our mission in an environmentally and socially responsible manner.

Seattle City Light is now accepting applications for our Pre-Apprentice Lineworker (PAL) Program. This paid six-month training position prepares individuals for success in the Lineworker Apprenticeship by providing hands‑on experience alongside skilled electrical Lineworkers on established work crews. Lineworkers play a vital role in delivering reliable electric service to more than 360,000 City Light customers, and Pre‑Apprentices are an important part of developing that future workforce.

After the 1,040‑hour training period, Pre‑Apprentices must meet all final program requirements to advance into the Lineworker Apprenticeship. These include demonstrating physical capacity, obtaining a Commercial Driver’s License (CDL), passing all working skills evaluations, and successfully completing climbing training. Individuals who do not meet these standards by the end of the program will be removed from the PAL Program and will not progress into the apprenticeship.

Apprenticeship is a system of education and training using a planned, closely supervised combination of hands‑on, on‑the‑job training, and academic classroom‑style education. Over the course of the paid training program, apprentices learn progressively more demanding components of their craft. This helps apprenticeship graduates to become qualified journey‑level workers when they successfully complete their training program. Seattle City Light apprenticeship programs are approved, registered, and monitored by the State of Washington Labor and Industries Apprenticeship and Training Council.

Those who successfully complete the PAL Program will advance to the Lineworker Apprenticeship Program and serve the standard one‑year probationary period as a Lineworker Apprentice. Apprentices then enter the 3.5‑year/7,000‑hour Lineworker Apprenticeship Program, where they learn to work with high‑voltage electricity serving customers throughout the Seattle distribution area.

All Lineworker Apprentices are required to adhere to the Standards of Apprenticeship, the City of Seattle’s Personnel Rules, and all other applicable policies and procedures.



Apprentices receive on‑the‑job training to perform progressively more difficult, physically demanding, and complex assignments. In addition to on‑the‑job training, apprentices must complete a minimum of 144 hours per year of evening academic coursework. Upon satisfactory completion of their apprenticeship and passing the journey‑level examination, Lineworker Apprentices may advance to the position of Journey‑level Lineworker.

Apprentice training standards are overseen by the Joint Apprenticeship Training Council, and the PAL Program is approved and accredited by the State of Washington.

To learn more about the Apprenticeship Program, visit: https://www.seattle.gov/city-light/about-us/careers/apprenticeships.

Job Responsibilities

- Repairs or replaces defective high‑voltage conductors, insulators, and related hardware.
- Repairs or replaces overhead and non‑network underground transformers.
- Inspects and installs underground vaults, conduit, and duct runs; installs new cable and equipment.
- Installs streetlight standards, fixtures, and relays.
- Strings wire and cables for electrical power transmission, distribution, and traffic light circuits.
- Inspects and troubleshoots electrical systems and equipment to repair malfunctions and restore electrical power.
- Inspects and repairs overhead distribution lines, towers, switches, utility poles, and related structures.

Lineworkers work outdoors in all types of weather and regularly perform work at varying heights, in and around high‑voltage and energized equipment, in construction zones, and around moving traffic. The work requires prolonged physical exertion and lifting objects weighing more than fifty pounds. Lineworkers must be available to work evenings, weekends, holidays, and extended hours during emergencies and outage situations.

Qualifications

Education:

High School graduate or HS equivalency, or Vocational School or associate’s degree graduate. Have a minimum of 1 year of HS or 1 quarter of post HS algebra, geometry or trigonometry with a minimum grade of 70% (or “C- Average”) or successful completion of the Basic Electricity Applied Math (BEAM) class.

Experience:

None required.

Certification/License:

Valid Washington State Driver’s License.



As part of the PAL program, workers will undergo commercial driver’s training and must obtain a Washington State Class ‘A’ Commercial Driver’s License (CDL-A).

Salary

The hourly compensation range is $50.28-$50.28.

Veterans

may receive preference points added to their overall competitive exam results. To receive preference points you must have served in the armed forces, have been honorably discharged, and, when requested, you must submit a long‑form DD214 with Box 24 indicating the nature of your discharge or NGB Form 22. This information will be requested if you advance to the competitive portion of the hiring process.

Professional Reference Checks

You will be asked to provide a minimum of three (3) professional references, of which one must be a former supervisor, or someone who oversaw your work quality and performance.

Additional Information

Please note this job advertisement is not designed to cover or contain a comprehensive listing of activities, duties, or responsibilities that are required of the employee for this job. Duties, responsibilities, and activities may change at any time with or without notice

Who May Apply

This position is open to all candidates that meet the qualifications. Seattle City Light values diverse perspectives and life experiences. Applicants will be considered regardless of race, color, creed, national origin, ancestry, sex, marital status, disability, religious or political affiliation, age, sexual orientation, or gender identity. Seattle City Light encourages people of all backgrounds to apply, including people of color, immigrants, refugees, women, LGBTQIA+, people with disabilities, veterans, and those with diverse life experiences.

Job offers are contingent on the verification of credentials and other information required by the employment process, including the completion of a background check. The background check will involve a criminal history check, which includes conviction and arrest records in compliance with Seattle’s Fair Chance Employment Ordinance, SMC 14.17 and the City of Seattle Personnel Rule 10.3 (Download PDF reader)(Download PDF reader). A driving history review may be conducted in compliance with SMC 4.79.020. Applicants will be provided with an chance to explain or correct background information.

The City of Seattle offers a comprehensive benefits package, including vacation, holiday, and sick leave, as well as medical, dental, vision, life and long‑term disability insurance for employees and their dependents.

To learn more about Seattle City Light, visit www.seattle.gov/city-light.

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📌 Pre-Apprentice Lineworker (Allendale North)
🏢 Seattle City Light
📍 Allendale North