Working at the PUD: Careers that Power Community

When people think about careers in the energy industry, they often picture lineworkers restoring power after a storm or engineers designing complex grids. While those highly skilled employees are an essential part of the workforce, today’s utility industry offers far more opportunities than many people realize.

At Snohomish County PUD, employees work in a wide range of fields that help deliver reliable, affordable electricity to homes and businesses across the region. From engineering, environmental science and natural resources to communications, customer service, information technology, finance and public affairs, the utility depends on professionals with diverse skills and backgrounds to serve the community.

That diversity of careers reflects a broader trend across the energy sector. According to the Center for Energy Workforce Development, the energy industry supports approximately 8.4 million jobs nationwide, with opportunities spanning technical trades, engineering, environmental stewardship, cybersecurity, business operations and many other fields. The industry is expected to hire millions of workers in the coming decade as demand for energy and infrastructure continues to grow.

For many local residents, careers at the PUD provide an opportunity to build a meaningful profession while serving the place they call home. Employees live, work and volunteer throughout Snohomish County and Camano Island, helping maintain the infrastructure and services that communities depend on every day.

The PUD is also investing in the next generation of energy professionals. Through its Career-Connected Learning opportunities, students can explore real-world careers through videos, interviews and educational resources featuring employees in a variety of roles, including engineers, fisheries biologists, hydroelectric professionals, solar program managers and lineworkers. The program helps connect education with local industry and introduces young people to career possibilities they may not have previously considered.

Raising awareness of energy careers is more important than ever. The energy workforce is evolving rapidly alongside advances in technology, clean energy, grid modernization and growing electricity demand. At the same time, many employers face hiring needs and skills gaps that require coordinated efforts among utilities, educators and community partners.

That is one reason organizations across the country observe Careers in Energy Week each October. The annual event, taking place Oct. 19-23 this year, highlights the people who keep energy systems running and encourages students, job seekers and career changers to explore opportunities in the field. For more on Careers in Energy Week, visit cewd.org

For the PUD, the message is simple: energy careers are about more than keeping the lights on. They are careers with purpose, offering opportunities to solve problems, support communities and make a lasting impact. Whether someone is interested in skilled trades, science, technology, environmental stewardship, customer service or business operations, there is a place for many talents in the energy industry.

As the region grows and energy needs continue to evolve, the people who power local communities will remain one of the industry’s most important resources.

For a current list of job openings at the PUD, visit careers.snopud.com. Below are examples of two careers open at the time of this posting:

Wireman

If lineworkers maintain many of the wires and equipment you see along roads and in neighborhoods, wiremen help maintain much of the specialized electrical equipment that makes the grid work behind the scenes. The job involves installing, inspecting, maintaining, troubleshooting and repairing electrical equipment that helps control and deliver power across the PUD’s system. This can include equipment such as circuit breakers, switches, transformers, control systems and other components that allow electricity to move safely from the transmission system to the distribution system serving homes and businesses.

Power Generation Maintenance Planner Engineer

A Power Generation Maintenance Planner Engineer develops and coordinates the detailed plans that allow PUD crews to safely and efficiently maintain the equipment and infrastructure used to generate electricity at the PUD’s power plants, including the Jackson Hydroelectric Project. The position plans and coordinates maintenance work so crews can repair, inspect and maintain generating equipment with as little disruption as possible to power production.