Step 1 Apprentice to Plant Operator

Northwestern Energy•Aberdeen, SD

13d•$29 - $49•Onsite

About The Position

The Plant Operator in SD is responsible for operating power plants in a safe and accident-free manner and to maintain compliance with environmental permits and regulatory guidelines. We offer great benefits: NorthWestern Energy is a fully regulated electric and natural gas utility serving Montana, South Dakota and Nebraska. We employ over 1,600 amazing people and serve over 800,000 customers who are our neighbors in our communities. We are a top employer and offer competitive benefits, including: 401K with company match up to 4% and non-elective contribution up to 7% Healthcare and wellbeing programs, including dental and vision for you, your spouse and dependents, Health Savings Account (HSA), healthcare and dependent care flexible spending account (FSA) Employee Assistance Program (Offering up to six free counseling sessions, per person, per issue, per year for employees, spouses and dependents) Life Insurance (Company pays basic employee policy; spouse, dependent insurance also available) Tuition reimbursement Competitive pay (Scheduled performance-based wage increases and annual incentive opportunities.) Paid company endorsed volunteer opportunities Paid training opportunities Paid time off starting on your first day, plus 11 paid holidays Benefits may vary by position or as negotiated as part of a collective bargaining agreement. About this job: Perform, plan, organize, and direct work of operations and maintain the power plant in a safe, reliable, and compliant manner Maintain power generation and safeguard station equipment during emergency situations Perform startup and shutdown on plant components and auxiliaries Perform routine operational tests and adjustments on all power plant systems and components as required Conduct routine inspections of plant systems and equipment including reading and recording gauges and meters Assemble/disassemble, investigate, trouble shoot and repair problems including turbine control equipment, electrical and mechanical systems; provide follow-up reports/analysis as needed Perform preventive and predictive maintenance duties on all major equipment and systems as well as emergency backup systems Inspect, repair, install, and remove all types of electrical equipment including motors, generators, transformers, breakers, switches, control equipment, wiring, electrical signal and communication systems, and storage batteries Troubleshoot and correct, various instrumentation, mechanical, electrical, and human machine interface issues. Perform routine cycle chemistry testing, make necessary adjustments to optimize efficiency; this includes checking daily consumption rates of chemicals, gases, fuels, water, and other consumables; monitoring inventories and initiating action to replenish when appropriate Comply and follow all site safety requirements and procedures, identify and correct safety hazards including documented procedures and guidelines of external agencies Receive and respond to Southwest Power Pool ("SPP") generation requests. A dispatch call may require a 10-minute response time from startup to full load to comply with SPP guidelines. Represent NorthWestern Energy and interact effectively and responsibly with internal company employees and external agencies; includes providing feedback to production teams and operators Issue Lockout/Tagouts as required Complete and maintain accurate operating logs, records, time sheets, work orders and other administrative documents and computer operations Maintain and update plant operating manuals, technical references, prints and diagrams and preventive/predictive maintenance records; develop and revise plant operation and maintenance procedures Set up and operate machine shop tools and complete machine work to close tolerances; align and balance rotating equipment Perform shipping and receiving duties including material handling, operating forklift, and monitoring inventory; issue, receive and maintain spare parts inventory to ensure plant reliability Complete assigned training requirements Perform and maintain housekeeping standards and duties including sweeping, mopping, taking out trash, shoveling snow, or operating Bobcat to clear snow from main entry ways Must be able to work rotating shift work between the hours of 6am-midnight with occasional overtime on weekends and holidays as requested and to response to acute service needs. Rotating weekend standby Travel up to 25% and stay overnight on occasion Safely perform individual lifts of parts, equipment, and supplies weighing up to 50 pounds from floor to high chest level (less than 52" height) All NorthWestern Energy employees are required to adhere to company safety standards and the Code of Business Conduct & Ethics Ensure all actions are consistent with NorthWestern Energy's values, mission, and strategic business objectives

Requirements

Demonstrate and maintain a good safety record
High school diploma or equivalent
Complete and passed required pre-employment testing
Valid driver's license and satisfactory driving record
Commitment to safe working practices and knowledge of safety policies/procedures

Nice To Haves

Degree from an accredited Instrument Technician Program and 2-years work experience preferred
Minimum of 3 years operations and maintenance experience in gas turbine electrical power generation preferred
Working knowledge of rotating electrical and mechanical equipment and mechanical diagrams
Knowledge in working with systems up to 13.8 kV volts preferred
Knowledge and experience with installing and troubleshooting instrumentation and control equipment, relaying, and interface equipment including alarms, data loggers, historians, and Plant Information (PI)
Ability to work well with others and be self-directed
Apply creative solutions to unique mechanical and IC&E problems preferred
Must be able to effectively understand and work with plant drawings
Forklift operation certification preferred

Responsibilities

Perform, plan, organize, and direct work of operations and maintain the power plant in a safe, reliable, and compliant manner
Maintain power generation and safeguard station equipment during emergency situations
Perform startup and shutdown on plant components and auxiliaries
Perform routine operational tests and adjustments on all power plant systems and components as required
Conduct routine inspections of plant systems and equipment including reading and recording gauges and meters
Assemble/disassemble, investigate, trouble shoot and repair problems including turbine control equipment, electrical and mechanical systems; provide follow-up reports/analysis as needed
Perform preventive and predictive maintenance duties on all major equipment and systems as well as emergency backup systems
Inspect, repair, install, and remove all types of electrical equipment including motors, generators, transformers, breakers, switches, control equipment, wiring, electrical signal and communication systems, and storage batteries
Troubleshoot and correct, various instrumentation, mechanical, electrical, and human machine interface issues.
Perform routine cycle chemistry testing, make necessary adjustments to optimize efficiency; this includes checking daily consumption rates of chemicals, gases, fuels, water, and other consumables; monitoring inventories and initiating action to replenish when appropriate
Comply and follow all site safety requirements and procedures, identify and correct safety hazards including documented procedures and guidelines of external agencies
Receive and respond to Southwest Power Pool ("SPP") generation requests. A dispatch call may require a 10-minute response time from startup to full load to comply with SPP guidelines.
Represent NorthWestern Energy and interact effectively and responsibly with internal company employees and external agencies; includes providing feedback to production teams and operators
Issue Lockout/Tagouts as required
Complete and maintain accurate operating logs, records, time sheets, work orders and other administrative documents and computer operations
Maintain and update plant operating manuals, technical references, prints and diagrams and preventive/predictive maintenance records; develop and revise plant operation and maintenance procedures
Set up and operate machine shop tools and complete machine work to close tolerances; align and balance rotating equipment
Perform shipping and receiving duties including material handling, operating forklift, and monitoring inventory; issue, receive and maintain spare parts inventory to ensure plant reliability
Complete assigned training requirements
Perform and maintain housekeeping standards and duties including sweeping, mopping, taking out trash, shoveling snow, or operating Bobcat to clear snow from main entry ways
Must be able to work rotating shift work between the hours of 6am-midnight with occasional overtime on weekends and holidays as requested and to response to acute service needs.
Rotating weekend standby
Travel up to 25% and stay overnight on occasion
Safely perform individual lifts of parts, equipment, and supplies weighing up to 50 pounds from floor to high chest level (less than 52" height)
All NorthWestern Energy employees are required to adhere to company safety standards and the Code of Business Conduct & Ethics
Ensure all actions are consistent with NorthWestern Energy's values, mission, and strategic business objectives

Benefits

401K with company match up to 4% and non-elective contribution up to 7%
Healthcare and wellbeing programs, including dental and vision for you, your spouse and dependents, Health Savings Account (HSA), healthcare and dependent care flexible spending account (FSA)
Employee Assistance Program (Offering up to six free counseling sessions, per person, per issue, per year for employees, spouses and dependents)
Life Insurance (Company pays basic employee policy; spouse, dependent insurance also available)
Tuition reimbursement
Competitive pay (Scheduled performance-based wage increases and annual incentive opportunities.)
Paid company endorsed volunteer opportunities
Paid training opportunities
Paid time off starting on your first day, plus 11 paid holidays

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