Ernesto Castillo

Job Title: Electrical Test Technician Trainee

Company: Los Angeles Department of Water and Power

Location: Gardena, Calif.

Age: 26

Years on the Job: 4

Interests: Staying active, being outdoors, and having fun with his wife, whether it be working on cars or riding motorcycles

Once Ernesto Castillo started taking classes through the Electrical Construction & Maintenance program at Los Angeles Trade-Technical College (LATTC), he discovered his passion for hands-on work, troubleshooting, and problem solving.

“Everything clicked right away, and I knew I wanted to pursue this as a career,” said Castillo, who was born and raised in Harbor City, Calif. “The instructors at Trade Tech were experienced technicians who taught real-world lessons and pushed me to keep developing my skills. That foundation, along with the mentorship I’ve received at LADWP, really fueled my passion for the electrical industry and motivated me to keep growing in this career.”

After completing the program, he worked for two years as a passenger boarding bridge technician and a senior programmable logic controller (PLC) technician for the baggage handling system at the Los Angeles International Airport (LAX).

“As a senior PLC, I got exposed to supervisory control and data acquisition (SCADA) systems and was tasked with replacing entire nodes and motors,” he said. “That experience gave me a strong foundation in hands-on troubleshooting and industrial experience early on in my career.”

Now, as an electrical test technician trainee at the Los Angeles Department of Water and Power (LADWP), he’s enjoying the work and the opportunity to keep building his skill set.

“School gave me a strong foundation on electrical theory and wiring, but it was working at LAX that really taught me how to think and make difficult, critical decisions under pressure and solve real-world electrical and mechanical problems — all while keeping my team and myself safe,” he said. “Now with LADWP, I’m continuing to hone these skills by getting more hands-on experience and learning from the more experienced technicians around me.”

As an electrical test technician trainee at LADWP, he is responsible for testing, troubleshooting, and commissioning electrical equipment tied to Los Angeles’s power distribution network.

To support LADWP’s goals of improving grid reliability and modernizing aging infrastructure, he is testing and commissioning electrical protective relays and verifying breaker trip circuits to prevent equipment failures. When working in the electrical industry, technology is very important, said Castillo, who would like to continue to grow on the power distribution side and eventually lead a new generation of technicians.

“In my role, I'm helping LADWP stay ahead by working hands-on with the systems that make a modern grid possible,” he said.

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