O&M Plant Technician Lead (Outside)

American Electric Power•Oregon, OH

7d•$48 - $62

About The Position

Perform highly skilled work in the safe and efficient operation and maintenance of a gas/oil-fueled electric generating unit, including gas and steam turbines, generators, boilers and heat recovery steam generators (HRSGs), transformers, pumps, condensers, switchyard, and auxiliary equipment. Operate the plant during startup, shutdown, steady-state, and abnormal conditions, and direct the work of outside operators, support personnel, and contractors. Help develop operating procedures for abnormal conditions and direct troubleshooting of complex equipment and system problems. The role includes technical work inspecting, repairing, maintaining, installing, and constructing plant equipment and structures; troubleshooting electrical and electronic systems, digital controls, communications, instrumentation, interlocks, computers, annunciators, and recorders; and conducting chemical analyses, industrial hygiene and environmental testing, and calculations related to plant operating efficiency. The technician is responsible for environmental reporting and compliance with environmental and OSHA regulations, and conducts tests, surveys, and layout work for plant projects. The role also communicates and coordinates activities affecting safe and efficient plant operations, supports development plans and feedback for employees in lower classifications, and provides leadership among peers and represents the company in the community. The position calls for ethical, safety-focused work and effective communication with AEP employees and contractors. The technician operates and monitors generating equipment, responds to alarms and abnormal conditions, maintains plant chemistry and water treatment, coordinates unit output with the Production Optimization Group, and performs or directs electrical, instrumentation, controls, mechanical, predictive, and preventive maintenance. The role uses work management systems and software applications to manage work orders and related records, analyze operating trends, and support plant reliability and efficiency.

Requirements

High school diploma or GED required.
Minimum of 7 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 preferred.

Responsibilities

Demonstrate ethical behavior and leadership in safe and healthy work practices and environmental stewardship; follow operating practices and applicable governmental and company regulations.
Operate and direct personnel in the startup, operation, control, synchronization, and shutdown of turbines, generators, condensers, boilers/HRSGs, boiler feed pumps, exciters, transformers, switchyard, and auxiliary equipment.
Operate valves, pumps, and controls from the control room and remote locations; respond to abnormal equipment conditions and out-of-specification parameters in accordance with plant guidelines.
Monitor plant instruments and recording devices, compare results with standards, make adjustments as required, and enter and review logbook data.
Monitor alarms and unusual conditions, maintain equipment within established standards, and report irregular or abnormal operating conditions to supervision.
Maintain and monitor boiler water and other plant cycle chemistry by reviewing data, collecting and analyzing samples, making or directing adjustments, and operating 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, and direct others performing this work.
Conduct electrical interlock and circuit-breaker trip checks, interlock tests, and functional tests of control systems and instrumentation; monitor control systems and make program modifications using a computer interface terminal.
Use elementary, schematic, wiring, and controls diagrams and electrical and instrumentation test equipment to troubleshoot and repair plant systems and equipment.
Perform and direct mechanical maintenance, including equipment alignment and rebuilds, machine-shop and portable machining work, and repairs to rotating equipment, valves, actuators, and piping.
Perform and direct predictive and preventive maintenance through inspection, monitoring, lubrication, testing, and corrective maintenance; conduct chemical tests and equipment inspections.
Maintain tools, equipment, and work areas in clean and orderly condition; analyze predictive maintenance data and recommend actions to address potential equipment liabilities; assist in developing predictive maintenance program requirements.
Use work management systems to initiate, retrieve, approve, and update work orders, material requests, budget and variance reporting, preventive maintenance records, and time entry.
Use applications and software such as DCS, P-GADS, TAPIS, and PI to extract data, analyze trends, and report status in support of plant reliability and efficiency.
Develop and participate in operating procedures for abnormal conditions; conduct tests, surveys, and layout work on plant projects.
Perform environmental reporting and support compliance with environmental and OSHA regulations.
Coordinate activities affecting safe and efficient plant operation in a distracting, multitasking environment.
Prepare and participate in development plans for employees in lower classifications and provide effective feedback; provide peer leadership and represent the company in the community.