Chemical Technician

Southern Company • Cartersville, GA

12h • Onsite

About The Position

The responsibilities of the plant Chemical Technician will include performing technical and analytical services essential to the operation of a fossil fuel power plant. This role involves ensuring chemical protection of steam generating equipment to minimize outages due to corrosion and deposits, and minimizing the loss of efficiency and possible replacement of water treatment, steam generating, condensing, and turbine mechanical components. The technician will also assist in ensuring compliance with applicable environmental, safety, and health regulations, including ash pond inspections, dikes and wells reporting, and drinking water reporting. Key duties include operating and maintaining water treatment plants for de-ionized/ultra-pure water production, conducting various sampling and analytical testing (water, boiler/turbine cleaning samples, oil, coal ash, metal deposits, plant effluents, Flue Gas Desulphurization), and calibrating/maintaining laboratory and on-line equipment and instrumentation. The role also requires maintaining inventory of bulk chemical and laboratory supplies, operating condensate polishers, providing equipment lockouts, operating and maintaining sewage treatment plants, and operating wastewater treatment equipment in compliance with guidelines. Specific tasks include performing duties in the main lab and water analysis labs, generating water quality reports, collecting regulatory water samples, conducting air in leakage surveys, and ensuring laboratory areas meet housekeeping standards.

Requirements

• Possess a valid driver's license
• Must qualify on the EEI Technician Occupations Selection System (TECH) pre-employment test
• Pass a drug test, physical and background investigation
• BS or BA degree in chemistry or physical science field (minimum of 25 quarter hours or 12 semester hours of chemistry) required
• Experience and competency in the use, calibration and maintenance of laboratory instrumentation/equipment
• Knowledge of proper analytical methods and techniques is required
• Broad knowledge of analytical, inorganic, oil, environmental and water chemistries required
• Ability to understand mechanical and electrical theories and fundamentals
• Ability to read and interpret information presented in graphic form (examples are blueprints, diagrams, drawings, graphs and plots)
• Understanding handling requirement of hazardous materials (HAZMAT)
• Demonstrate behaviors that align with our organization's "Our Values" ideals.
• Be dependable and punctual
• Ability to use proper personal protective equipment (PPE) daily including protective eyewear, natural fiber or fire retardant clothing and steel-toe or composite-toed shoes
• Ability to wear respiratory protection periodically
• Ability to work shifts, evenings, nights, weekends, and holidays is required
• Ability to work in non-temperature controlled environments (extreme heat & cold)
• Ability to work in an environment that could include fly ash, coal dust, and chemical fumes, toxic or caustic chemicals
• Available for call-out and overtime is required
• Ability to work with limited supervision in a team environment
• Ability to take initiative required to manage projects and address issues
• Ability to work in extreme noise and vibration
• Ability to work around moving equipment or objects
• Ability to perform some physical activities while wearing respirators with filter cartridges or self-contained breathing apparatuses in a power plant environment
• Ability to lift and/or carry up to 50 lbs.
• Ability to climb ladders, bending, reaching , working at different elevations
• Basic mechanical skills and / or knowledge

Nice To Haves

• Previous experience in large water treatment facility is preferred. This would include operating and maintaining clarification, filtration, reverse osmosis and de-ionization systems
• High level of knowledge of chemical treatment methods and operation of water treatment plant is preferred.
• Collect samples from inside the power plant and water treatment plant; Analyze water and ash samples.
• Ability to troubleshoot mechanical systems, read and understand schematic diagrams and identify plant water process problems is preferred.

Responsibilities

• Working safely and being accountable for your safety and the safety of your coworkers
• Provide chemical protection of the steam generating equipment to minimize outages due to corrosion and deposits in the steam/water cycle components
• Minimize the loss of efficiency and possible replacement of water treatment, steam generating, condensing and turbine mechanical components
• Assist in ensuring compliance with applicable environmental, safety and health regulations: ash pond inspections, dikes and wells reporting, drinking water reporting, etc.
• Operate and maintain water treatment plant for production of de-ionized/ultra-pure water
• Conduct sampling of water, boiler/turbine cleaning samples, oil, coal ash, and metal deposits
• Perform analytical testing and monitor plant effluents
• Perform analytical testing and monitoring of Flue Gas Desulphurization (scrubber)
• Calibrate and maintain laboratory and on-line equipment and instrumentation
• Maintain bulk chemical and laboratory supplies inventory
• Assist regulatory compliance personnel to help ensure compliance with applicable environmental, safety and health regulations
• Operate condensate polishers
• Provide equipment lockouts – according to the plant LOTO procedure
• Operate and maintain sewage treatment plants
• Operate wastewater treatment equipment in compliance with state and federal guidelines
• Perform duties in the main lab
• Perform QA/QC on instrumentation
• Maintain and calibrate bench top instrumentation
• Inventory lab equipment and reagent chemicals
• Perform duties in the Water Analysis labs
• Generate water quality reports
• Collect regulatory water samples
• Conduct air in leakage surveys
• Ensure all laboratory areas meet housekeeping standards outlined by the plant

Benefits

• competitive base salary
• annual incentive awards for eligible employees
• health, welfare and retirement benefits designed to support physical, financial, and emotional/social well-being
• incentive program

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Entry Level