Jonathan Persson works as a backup power technician at Transtema. He appreciates the freedom to plan his work independently, the opportunity to constantly see new environments, and the chance to tackle different challenges, which makes every day unique. Jonathan started at Transtema in the fall of 2023 but has worked as an electrician in the telecom sector for over five years.
What does it mean to work as a backup power technician?
– As a backup power technician, I handle the operation and maintenance of our clients’ backup power systems. Primarily, I do electrical work such as replacing batteries or maintaining backup generators. Besides that, I also handle other operational and maintenance tasks at the facilities, like ensuring heating and ventilation are working properly and that the building is in good shape overall
– I’m based at the Malmö office, but my assignments are spread mainly across Skåne, Småland, Kronoberg, and Halland, so I travel a lot for work. Sometimes, I go to other parts of Sweden if needed. One day, I might be working in the attic of an apartment building in central Malmö, and the next, I could be at a telecom mast in the middle of a cow pasture in the Småland countryside. I enjoy the variety and constantly being in new places and environments.”
Communication Networks – A Critical Function that Must Keep Running
A backup power system is designed to ensure our clients’ telecom facilities always have power, even during outages. This is a critical function for society, as communication must continue even when the power goes down.
– I perform preventive work to ensure the telecom facilities stay operational if the power goes out. If that happens, the backup power system will supply power to the telecom station, keeping mobile coverage functioning as it should. Being an electrician in telecom is a pretty niche field, and there aren’t instruction manuals for everything. It’s about learning from others and through hands-on experience. In the beginning, I reached out to colleagues to get help and learn how things were done. Now, I can be that colleague for new junior technicians who are learning the trade and need assistance.
What does a typical day look like for you?
– There aren’t really any typical days. My work is generally a seven-to-four job, Monday to Friday, but if we need to perform disruptive work like power changes or rewiring, it becomes evening and weekend work. I have a lot of freedom to plan my work, which I enjoy. Transtema’s Dispatch receives a list from our client with the tasks that need to be done, and then Dispatch assigns me the work orders. Once I know what needs to be done, I plan my workweek, but flexibility is key since urgent jobs often come up. Sometimes I’ll have a plan for the day, only to change it several times because of issues that need immediate attention. I think that’s part of the charm of my job—I never know exactly what will happen during the day.
– When urgent jobs come in, I don’t always know beforehand why an issue occurred. I’ll head to the site to troubleshoot and figure out what happened. Sometimes I can fix it right away; other times, I might need to set up a temporary solution and return later with a permanent fix. I handle the entire process, from troubleshooting to ordering materials, completing the work, and communicating with the client. In my role, it’s important to be able to take initiative and maintain a good dialogue with the client about the facility’s status.”
Enjoys Taking Responsibility and Working Independently
– My work mostly involves working alone, which I really enjoy. Currently, we have around 15 backup power technicians at Transtema spread across most of Sweden. Even though I handle most jobs independently, I have frequent contact with my colleagues and our clients. I’ve always appreciated working alone and have done so for most of my career. Working as a backup power technician suits me because the role involves taking a lot of responsibility, solving problems, and constantly learning something new.
