Skip to content

Paying your bills during the Canada Post service disruption. Learn more

Home › Careers › Apprenticeships, training, and co-ops › Technologist Trainee Programs › Graduate Technologist Trainee

Graduate Technologist Trainee

Develop the skills and experience to be a technologist

As a Graduate Technologist Trainee (GTT) at BC Hydro, you play a vital role in the delivery of electricity to homes and businesses across B.C. You join a structured career development program designed to provide the skills, knowledge, and experience required to become a fully qualified technologist in our Distribution Design, Engineering, Transmission Maintenance, or Apparatus Testing divisions.

What you learn and experience

The GTT program is designed to translate academic knowledge into practical experience to make the candidate a highly valued employee. Depending on the division, the GTT program is two or four years of on-the-job training, supplemented by classroom training, reports and presentations, and technical courses and seminars. Most streams incorporate rotations during the first two years, with possible relocation throughout B.C.

Each division seeks different areas of expertise and offers unique opportunities for candidates with a technology background:

Divisions Duties Disciplines

 

Distribution Design

Four-year program
  • Be the main point of contact for customers wishing to obtain service from BC Hydro at distribution voltages.
  • Design and prepare cost estimates for a variety of single and three phase overhead and/or underground distribution projects.
  • Produce civil and electrical construction drawings, develop cost estimates, and conduct field studies.

 

  • Electrical Engineering


     

 

Engineering

Two-year program
  • Performs a variety of complex technical, financial and support functions relating to the administration, planning, project management, design, construction, commissioning, operation and maintenance of generation, transmission, and/or station plant.
  • Major responsibilities vary greatly depending upon which Engineering department GTTs are hired into.
  • Civil Engineering
  • Environmental Engineering
  • Instrumentation Engineering
  • Mechanical Engineering
  • Electrical Engineering

Transmission Maintenance

Two-year program
  • Perform a variety of technical, administrative, and planning functions related to the maintenance of transmission lines, including planning minor relocations, estimating, scheduling, acceptance inspections, construction, and monitoring.
  • Coordinate and/or performs activities involved in the tendering and inspection of transmission slope stability, erosion, and civil work.

 

 
  • Geomatics
  • Environmental Engineering
  • Forest & Natural Areas Management
  • Civil Engineering
  • Electrical Engineering
  • Construction Management
  • Mechanical Engineering
  • Geographic Information Systems

Apparatus / Power Equipment Testing

Four-year program
  • Perform a variety of high-voltage tests for the acceptance, maintenance, and failure investigation on a variety of power apparatus and equipment throughout the province.
  • Electrical Engineering (Electrical Power and Industrial Control option or equivalent)


Qualifications: what you bring

  • You've completed a diploma in the relevant discipline from a program nationally accredited by The Canadian Technology Accreditation Board, or other training equivalent to Canadian Technology Standards.
  • You enjoy working both in the outdoors and in the office, sometimes in remote locations and in all weather conditions.
  • You hold a valid B.C. driver's class 5 license or equivalent.
  • You have strong written and verbal communication skills.
  • You have strong interpersonal skills and are able to work well with both employees and customers.
  • You have excellent computer literacy.
  • You have a keen interest and lifelong commitment to learning.
  • You have good analytical skills.

How our program works

The GTT program openings are posted once a year, typically in December or January, with a hire start date in June. Once you successfully finish the training program, you will get a full-time Technologist position.

Where you train and work

As a trainee, you'll work in one of our regional offices. Depending on the program, you'll likely do a minimum of one rotation to ensure you gain the maximum training and experience. Locations can be anywhere in the province of B.C., such as Burnaby, Prince George, Fort St John, Vernon, Surrey, Terrace, Kamloops, Dawson Creek, Cranbrook, Nanaimo, and Victoria.

Pay and benefits

You'll be paid while you learn and you'll receive increases during the program according to the pay scales in the MoveUP collective agreement.

You learn and work in a healthy and safe environment supported by a competitive benefit package that includes:

  • Comprehensive, customizable medical benefits package
  • Mental health credit of $2,750 per year
  • Minimum 15 paid vacation days per year to start
  • Flexibility to work at home some days, based on your job type
  • Maternity and parental/adoption leave top-up
  • A guaranteed lifetime pension