O&M Plant Technician Lead (Outside)

American Electric Power•Oregon, OH

4d•$48 - $62

About The Position

The O&M Plant Technician Lead performs highly skilled work to operate and maintain a gas- and oil-fueled electric generating plant and its turbines, generators, boilers and heat recovery steam generators, transformers, pumps, condensers, switchyard, and auxiliary equipment. The role operates the plant during startup, shutdown, steady-state operation, and abnormal conditions, and directs outside operators, support personnel, and contractors. It also contributes to operating procedures, troubleshooting, equipment maintenance and repair, chemical testing, environmental compliance, and plant project work. The position coordinates activities that affect safe and efficient plant operation, supports development of lower-classification employees, and provides leadership among peers. The technician lead operates and maintains generation equipment and plant systems, monitors plant conditions and alarms, and responds to abnormal conditions. The role directs operation and maintenance work, including mechanical, electrical, instrumentation, controls, predictive, and preventive maintenance. It uses work-management systems and plant software to support reliability and efficiency, and is responsible for environmental reporting and compliance with environmental and OSHA regulations. A high school diploma or GED is required. An associate degree in a technical field is preferred. A minimum of seven years of relevant power generation experience and demonstrated ability to lead work and provide technical guidance are required. The listed compensation range is $47.59–$61.87.

Requirements

High school diploma or GED.
At least seven years of experience in power generation operations, maintenance, instrumentation and controls, electrical, or mechanical work.
Demonstrated ability to lead work activities and provide technical guidance to others.
Equivalent combinations of formal education, apprentice training, military technical training, and power-generation experience will be considered.

Nice To Haves

Associate degree in a technical field.

Responsibilities

Demonstrate ethical behavior and leadership in safe and healthy work practices and environmental stewardship; follow applicable company and governmental safety, health, and environmental requirements.
Start up, operate, control, synchronize, and shut down turbines, generators, condensers, boilers and HRSGs, boiler feed pumps, exciters, transformers, switchyard equipment, and auxiliary equipment; direct other personnel performing these tasks.
Operate valves, pumps, and controls from the control room and remote locations, and take appropriate action when equipment conditions are abnormal or parameters are outside specification.
Monitor plant instruments and recording devices, compare readings with standards, make operating adjustments, and enter and review logbook data.
Monitor and respond to alarms and unusual conditions, and report irregular or abnormal operating conditions to supervision.
Monitor boiler-water and plant-cycle chemistry; review operating data, collect and analyze samples, adjust chemistry as required, direct others in making adjustments, and maintain and operate the water treatment plant.
Communicate with the corporate Production Optimization Group to obtain dispatch orders, confirm status and abnormal conditions, and regulate unit output according to requirements and plant conditions.
Monitor, inspect, install, remove, test, adjust, calibrate, troubleshoot, and repair electrical, electronic, instrumentation, and plant-control systems and components; direct others performing this work.
Conduct electrical interlock and circuit-breaker trip checks, interlock tests, and functional tests on control systems and instrumentation; monitor control systems and make program modifications through a computer interface terminal.
Use schematics, wiring diagrams, and control diagrams to troubleshoot and repair systems with electrical, mechanical, pneumatic, or hydraulic components, and use electrical and instrumentation test equipment to troubleshoot and calibrate equipment.
Perform and direct mechanical maintenance, including equipment alignment and rebuilds, use of machine-shop and portable machining equipment, and repairs to rotating equipment, valves, actuators, and piping.
Perform and direct predictive and preventive maintenance, including inspection, monitoring, lubrication, testing, corrective maintenance, and chemical testing to assess plant equipment and operation.
Maintain tools, equipment, and work areas in a clean and orderly condition; analyze predictive-maintenance data, recommend actions for potential equipment liabilities, and assist with predictive-maintenance program requirements.
Use work-management systems to initiate, retrieve, approve, and update work orders, material requests, budgets and variance reports, preventive-maintenance tasks, and time entries.
Use applications and software such as DCS, P-GADS, TAPIS, and PI to extract data, analyze trends, and report status to support plant reliability and efficiency.
Develop or participate in development of operating procedures for abnormal conditions, and perform or direct troubleshooting of complex equipment and controls problems.
Perform environmental reporting and comply with environmental and OSHA regulations; conduct tests, surveys, and layout work for plant projects.
Communicate and coordinate activities affecting safe and efficient plant operation in a distracting, multitasking environment.
Prepare and participate in development plans for lower-classification employees and provide effective feedback.
Provide leadership among peers and represent the company in the community.