Operations Expert

Wärtsilä•Houston, TX

7d•Hybrid

About The Position

Wärtsilä is an innovative technology company and a forerunner in the Marine and Energy markets. Every day, we put our hearts and minds into enabling sustainable societies through innovation in technology and services. We are now looking for an Operations Expert to join our Operations Management Support team in North America. In this role, you will serve as a subject matter expert in 4-stroke engines and power plant operations, providing proactive operational guidance and advanced remote technical support to our contractual customers. You will analyze equipment performance, troubleshoot technical challenges, help prevent operational disruptions, and identify solutions that create value for our customers. This is a hybrid position based in Houston, Texas, requiring at least two days per week in the Houston office. Candidates based in or within commuting distance of the greater Houston area are preferred. The position primarily provides remote operational support, with occasional travel based on customer and business needs. In this role, you will report to the Area Manager, Operations Management Support, Americas.

Requirements

A bachelor’s or master’s degree in Mechanical Engineering, Electrical Engineering, or a related technical field.
At least five years of hands-on experience with 4-stroke engines.
At least five years of experience with engine control systems.
Strong knowledge of power plant operations, reciprocating internal combustion engine technologies, and auxiliary systems.
Experience with performance monitoring, operational data interpretation, and trend analysis.
Ability to interpret technical drawings, process flow diagrams, and operational data.
Strong troubleshooting, analytical, and problem-solving capabilities.
Excellent written and spoken English.
Strong communication, collaboration, and customer-support skills.
Proficiency in Microsoft Office, including Outlook, Teams, Word, Excel, and PowerPoint.
Ability to participate in the rotating emergency-support schedule.
Ability to work from the Houston office at least two days per week.
Willingness and ability to travel occasionally based on business needs.

Nice To Haves

Experience in Field Service, Technical Service, power plant operations, control room operations, or remote plant support.
Knowledge of fuel, lubricating oil, and water management.
Understanding of automation, remote connectivity, and cybersecurity principles related to plant operations.
Commercial and contractual awareness.
Preferable experience using SAP, Salesforce, or similar ERP and CRM platforms.
Experience with process improvement, technical training, or competence-development activities.
Familiarity with Wärtsilä products, services, operational processes, or customer agreements is a plus to have.

Responsibilities

Providing proactive daily operational support to contractual customers, including advanced remote troubleshooting for 4-stroke engines, engine control systems, auxiliary systems, and electrical and automation equipment.
Supporting failure prevention, operational adjustments, performance fine-tuning, testing, and recovery activities in line with the First Time Right principle.
Understanding customer business drivers, contractual requirements, operational priorities, and their impact on plant performance.
Using graphical and trend analysis to identify performance deviations, operational disturbances, emerging risks, and improvement opportunities.
Conducting remote operational assessments and preparing clear reports based on technical findings, operational data, and equipment performance trends.
Anticipating and helping mitigate potential outages, equipment failures, and operational disruptions.
Applying technical knowledge of remote operations, connectivity, automation, and operational cybersecurity.
Building trusted customer relationships through active listening, regular communication, and practical recommendations.
Managing and documenting customer support requests, technical findings, recommended actions, and follow-up activities in the applicable systems.
Identifying value-adding opportunities related to mechanical, electrical, automation, and operational services.
Collaborating with local and global colleagues to share technical knowledge, discuss operational cases, and continuously improve customer support.
Completing required administrative activities, including travel arrangements and expense reports, accurately and on time.