Senior Industrial Electrician

GKN Aerospace · El Cajon, CA

Level: Technician
Team: Reliability
Experience asked: 7+ years
Industry: Aerospace & defense
Posted: 11 days ago

The role in 30 seconds

A technician-level reliability role at GKN Aerospace (aerospace & defense) in El Cajon, CA. Troubleshoot, repair, and maintain high voltage electrical distribution systems, motor controls, VFDs, PLC-controlled equipment, and production support systems.

They ask for: 7+ years
Tools it names: Root cause, PLC

Read from the posting. The full description is below.

From the plant jobs report · week of November 2, 2026

Maintenance Technician roles in California: typical posted base $72k–$116k.

Median of the low and high ends of 8 live postings that list pay, out of 127 maintenance technician openings in California, read from manufacturers' own careers sites.

California plant jobs report →Pay by team and state →What moves pay →

How this role compares

Against 132 other live reliability postings in California.

Base pay: Not listed in this posting
Experience asked: More than usual (7+ vs 4+)

Skills these teams ask for most

Team leadership 35%
✓ PLC 32%
Welding 29%
Tooling 26%

✓ = this posting asks for it too. % = share of similar postings that mention it.

It asks for 7+ years. If you're close, apply anyway: requirements are a wish list. Talk to someone doing this work there first.

At a glance

Pulled from the posting text. If it's not listed here, the posting didn't say.

How to get in at this plant

Five moves over a week or two. The first one takes ten minutes.

1
Pick 2–3 people on the Reliability team at GKN Aerospace
Engineers who joined in the last year or two reply the most. Use the team search on this page to find them.
2
Send a short, curious note
One real question about their work. No favors yet. Each person gets a different note, written for this role.
3
Turn a reply into a short call
Questions worth asking about this team:
- What does a normal week look like on your team?
- How did you land the job? What stood out in your interviews?
4
Apply with someone vouching for you
If the call went well, ask whether they’d pass your résumé to the hiring manager. Send your résumé link, apply that day, and let them know.
5
Bring proof to the interview
One page of before-and-after numbers from projects you led: scrap, OEE, cycle time, cost. Plant managers hire on results.

This plant: GKN Aerospace in El Cajon

4 other open roles at this site.

Manufacturing Engineer - Product & Planning · Manufacturing
Manufacturing Engineer - Tooling · Manufacturing
Maintenance Technician (Mechanic & Electrical) · Reliability · Technician
Manufacturing Engineer II - Materials & Processes - Repair Solutions · Process

Full description from GKN AerospaceAs posted on their careers site.Show

Job Summary

The Senior Industrial Electrician is responsible for the safe, reliable, and efficient operation of site electrical systems across a multi-building manufacturing campus. This role serves as the primary owner of the facility's electrical infrastructure, including power distribution equipment, breakers, disconnects, motor controls, and electrical upgrades. The position provides expert troubleshooting, maintenance, project leadership, and electrical system reliability support for production and facility operations.

Job

Responsibilities

◆Own the maintenance, reliability, and performance of electrical systems across a 9-building industrial campus.
◆Troubleshoot, repair, and maintain high voltage electrical distribution systems, motor controls, VFDs, PLC-controlled equipment, and production support systems.
◆Lead electrical infrastructure upgrades, including breakers, disconnect switches, panelboards, transformers, motor control centers, buss duct, and distribution equipment.
◆Plan and coordinate electrical shutdowns, tie-ins, and equipment replacements while minimizing operational impacts.
◆Perform root cause analysis of electrical failures and implement corrective actions to improve system reliability.
◆Read and interpret electrical schematics, one-line diagrams, construction drawings, and technical documentation.
◆Ensure compliance with NEC, NFPA 70E, lockout/tagout, and all applicable electrical safety requirements.
◆Manage electrical contractors and vendors supporting maintenance, repair, and capital improvement projects.
◆Maintain accurate documentation of electrical assets, system modifications, and maintenance activities in the CMMS.
◆Support equipment installations, commissioning activities, and facility expansion projects.
◆Develop and execute preventive and predictive maintenance strategies for critical electrical assets.
◆Identify and prioritize electrical reliability improvements and capital replacement needs.
◆Ability to use power and mechanical tools.
◆Work at heights (forklift, scissor lift, boom lift).
◆Run conduit & pull wires.

Job

Qualifications

✓7+ years of industrial electrician experience in manufacturing, industrial, aerospace, or large facility environments.
✓Extensive experience with 480 VAC power distribution systems and industrial electrical infrastructure.
✓Strong troubleshooting experience with motor controls, VFDs, PLC-controlled equipment, relays, contactors, and electrical control systems.
✓Experience planning and executing electrical equipment upgrades, replacements, and shutdown activities.
✓Ability to read and interpret electrical schematics, one-line diagrams, and technical drawings.
✓Thorough understanding of NEC, NFPA 70E, and industrial electrical safety practices.
✓Experience using electrical test equipment including multimeters, clamp meters, and insulation resistance testers.
✓Experience documenting work and maintaining asset records in a CMMS.
✓Demonstrated ability to work independently and serve as the site's electrical subject matter expert.

Preferred Qualifications

✓Journeyman Electrician License or equivalent electrical certification.
✓Experience managing electrical projects and contractors.
✓Experience with Allen-Bradley, Siemens, or similar PLC platforms.
✓Experience supporting manufacturing, aerospace, semiconductor, or other critical industrial facilities.
✓Thermography, power quality, arc flash, or electrical reliability experience.
✓Experience with emergency power systems, UPS systems, generators, and critical infrastructure.

Show full description ↓

Fantastic challenges. Amazing opportunities.

GKN Aerospace is reimagining air travel: going further, faster and greener! Fuelled by great people whose expertise and creativity sets the standards in our industry, we’re inspired by the opportunities to innovate and break boundaries. We’re proud to play a part in protecting the world’s democracies. And we’re committed to putting sustainability at the centre of everything we do, opening up and protecting our planet. With over 16,000 employees across 32 manufacturing sites in 12 countries we serve over 90% of the world’s aircraft and engine manufacturers and achieved sales of £3.6bn in 2025. There are no limits to where you can take your career.

Desired Competencies

+Electrical system ownership mindset
+Advanced troubleshooting and root cause analysis
+Project management and execution
+Strong safety leadership
+Effective communication with operations, engineering, and contractors
+Reliability-focused decision making
+Ability to prioritize work in a fast-paced manufacturing environment

We’ll offer you fantastic challenges and amazing opportunities. This is your chance to be part of an organisation that has proven itself to be at the cutting edge of our industry; and is committed to pushing the boundaries even further. And with some of the best training on offer in the industry, who knows how far you can go?

A Great Place to work needs a Great Way of Working

Everyone is welcome to apply to GKN. We believe that we can only achieve our ambitions through a coming together of diverse minds who enjoy collaborating in an inspirational environment. Through our commitment to diversity, inclusion and belonging and by living our five powerful principles we’ve created a culture where everyone feels welcome to contribute. It’s a culture that won us ‘The Best Workplace Culture Award’. By embracing and celebrating what makes us unique we encourage everyone to bring their full self to work.

We’re also committed to providing an accessible recruitment process, so if you require reasonable adjustments at any stage during our recruitment process please get in touch and let us know.

We are the place where human dreams, plus human endeavour, shape the future of aerospace innovation and technology.