Operations & Maintenance (O&M) / Power Plant Technician

The Operations & Maintenance (O&M) Technician supports the safe, reliable operation and maintenance of the Power Plant, a 62 MW combined-cycle cogeneration facility producing both electricity and thermal energy. This hands-on role assists with operating combustion turbines, HRSGs, steam turbines, generators, and balance-of-plant equipment while performing routine inspections, preventive maintenance, and troubleshooting activities. The position offers structured training and development toward Control Room Operator (CRO) qualification within a collaborative power generation environment.

Scope of responsibility as O&M Technician will include the following primary functions:

• Support the safe, efficient, and reliable operation of the plant by performing field operations, monitoring, maintenance, and safety activities in coordination with the Control Room Operator.
• Receive shift turnover, review logs, and inspect equipment while identifying special instructions and abnormal operating conditions.
• Monitor and operate boilers, gas and steam turbines, auxiliaries, and balance-of-plant equipment. Perform start-up, shutdown, and routine operations under the direction of the Control Room Operator.
• Prepare equipment for service and perform inspections and operational tests to verify proper performance and prevent downtime.
• Identify, report, and respond to abnormal equipment conditions while maintaining accurate operating logs and equipment records.
• Monitor emissions control systems and promptly notify the Control Room Operator of regulatory deviations.
• Collect water samples and perform chemical testing in accordance with plant procedures and laboratory safety requirements.
• Safely handle hazardous chemicals, perform transfer operations, and respond to spills or leaks in accordance with emergency procedures.
• Operate electrical breakers and switches and perform lockout/tagout procedures to safely isolate equipment for maintenance.
• Perform scheduled operational and reliability testing of critical plant equipment, including lubrication, protection, fire protection, and chemical safety systems.
• Perform routine maintenance, minor repairs, calibration, and troubleshooting of mechanical, electrical, instrumentation, and control systems. Support planned and unplanned outages.
• Assist with inspection and troubleshooting of PLC, DCS, and other plant control systems to ensure reliable automation.
• Coordinate onsite contractor and vendor activities and provide status updates to the Control Room Operator.
• Maintain clean, organized, and safe work areas throughout the facility.
• Maintain CMMS work orders and accurately document maintenance activities, spare parts usage, and inventory transactions.
• Perform additional duties as directed by control room staff and plant management to support effective plant operations
  
  Work Schedule

• The O&M Technician normally works a Monday through Friday day-shift schedule. Extended hours, flexible shifts, weekends, holidays, and periodic callouts or on-call assignments may be required based on plant operations, workload demands, outages, and business needs.
• Occasional travel to provide backup O&M support to Sterling Power Plant as needed.

Core Qualifications and Skills

• High school diploma or equivalent required; an associate degree in power plant technology, engineering technology, or a related technical field is preferred. Equivalent military or industry experience may be considered.
• Experience supporting operations and maintenance activities in a power generation or heavy industrial facility; combined-cycle experience is preferred.
• Working knowledge of gas turbines, steam systems, HRSGs, generators, pumps, valves, compressors, and other balance-of-plant equipment.
• Basic understanding of plant operations, startup and shutdown procedures, instrumentation, controls, and electrical systems.
• Ability to inspect equipment, perform basic troubleshooting, interpret operating procedures and technical drawings, and accurately document operational activities.
• Familiarity with preventive maintenance programs, CMMS applications, and safe work practices, including OSHA requirements and Lockout/Tagout (LOTO).
• Strong communication, teamwork, and problem-solving skills with a commitment to safety and continuous improvement.
• Must possess a valid, unrestricted U.S. driver’s license and ensure it remains in good standing at all times.