District Cooling Plant Operator

Bravo Arabia; Jeddah; On-site; SAR 60,000 - 120,000; Full time

Job summary

Bravo Arabia is seeking a District Cooling Plant Operator in Jeddah to monitor and run all plant equipment, ensure safe operation, and maintain logs and shift handovers. You will manage chiller plants, pumps, cooling towers, BMS/SCADA alarms, and daily records while following SOPs and HSE procedures.

The role requires 2–5 years in district cooling or HVAC, familiarity with COP optimization, LOTO, and incident reporting. Shift-based work including nights and weekends may be required.

Qualifications

• Diploma or Bachelor's degree in Mechanical, Electrical, HVAC, or related engineering discipline.
• 2–5 years of district cooling, chiller plants, HVAC, or utility plant operations.
• Hands-on experience operating centrifugal/screw chillers, pumps, cooling towers, heat exchangers.
• Knowledge of BMS/SCADA monitoring, alarms, equipment sequencing and plant control systems.

Responsibilities

• Operate chillers, pumps, cooling towers and related equipment safely and efficiently.
• Monitor BMS/SCADA alarms and respond to abnormal readings.
• Maintain daily operating logs and shift handover reports.
• Assist with maintenance activities and LOTO procedures.
• Follow HSE procedures and emergency response protocols.

Skills

BMS/SCADA monitoring

Plant operation experience

Shift work

Education

Bachelor's degree in Mechanical/Electrical/HVAC engineering

Tools

BMS/SCADA Software

Job description

District Cooling Plant Operator

Roles and Responsibilities

1. Plant Operation Operate chillers, pumps, cooling towers, heat exchangers, TES and associated equipment safely and efficiently. Monitor chilled water supply return temperatures, flow, pressure and plant load. Maintain plant operation in accordance with approved SOPs operating procedures and control philosophy. Monitor equipment loading and ensure proper chiller pump sequencing and rotation. Adjust operating parameters to maintain required system performance and efficiency.
2. BMS / SCADA Monitoring Continuously monitor plant equipment through BMS SCADA. Review alarms, trips, abnormal readings and equipment status. Respond promptly to alarms and initiate corrective actions within the operator's authority. Maintain awareness of critical parameters and identify abnormal trends.
3. Equipment Inspection Conduct routine plant rounds and visual inspections. Check for abnormal noise, vibration, leakage, temperature, pressure and equipment condition. Inspect pumps, chillers, valves, electrical panels, cooling towers and other auxiliary systems. Report any abnormalities immediately to the Plant Supervisor Engineer.
4. Preventive / Corrective Maintenance Support Support the maintenance team during planned and corrective maintenance activities. Prepare equipment for maintenance including isolation and LOTO as required. Assist with equipment start-up and shutdown after maintenance. Verify equipment condition following maintenance before returning it to service.
5. Safety / Permit Compliance Follow all approved HSE procedures, LOTO requirements and work permit procedures. Ensure equipment is safely isolated before maintenance activities. Immediately report unsafe conditions, incidents, near misses and environmental hazards. Do not operate equipment outside approved operating limits without authorization.
6. Plant Start-up / Shutdown Perform normal and emergency start-up shutdown procedures as instructed. Coordinate equipment operation during planned shutdowns and system changes. Ensure standby equipment is available and ready for operation. Follow emergency response procedures during power failure, equipment trips or other abnormal conditions.
7. Water Chemical System Monitoring Monitor chilled-water system conditions, makeup water and chemical treatment parameters. Record relevant water quality readings and report abnormalities. Coordinate with the water-treatment team for sampling, dosing and corrective actions.
8. Operational Records / Reporting Maintain accurate daily operating logs equipment readings and shift records. Record chiller operating hours, electrical consumption, flow, temperatures, pressures and alarms. Record equipment trips, breakdowns, abnormal conditions and corrective actions. Prepare shift handover reports and communicate outstanding issues to the incoming operator.
9. Energy Performance Monitoring Monitor plant efficiency and identify abnormal energy consumption. Monitor chilled-water T flow and plant loading. Report low T, excessive flow, high pumping energy or other performance issues. Support optimization of plant operation to improve COP, kW TR and overall plant efficiency.
10. Shift Handover / Communication Conduct proper handover to the incoming shift operator. Communicate equipment status, ongoing maintenance, alarms, permits and operational constraints. Coordinate with the Plant Supervisor, maintenance team, BMS SCADA team and client representatives as required.
11. Emergency Response Respond immediately to equipment trips, power failures, high/low pressure, abnormal temperatures, leaks and other emergencies. Follow the approved emergency operating procedures. Escalate critical incidents to the Plant Supervisor Manager. Assist emergency response teams and provide accurate plant status information.
12. General Responsibilities Maintain good housekeeping in the plant and equipment areas. Ensure operating tools, equipment and documents are available and properly maintained. Follow approved SOPs, OEM recommendations and site-specific operating procedures. Maintain confidentiality and professionalism when dealing with client and plant information. Carry out any other operational duties assigned by the Plant Supervisor Manager.

Desired Candidate Profile

• Diploma or Bachelor's degree in Mechanical, Electrical, HVAC, or a related engineering discipline.
• 2-5 years of experience in district cooling, chiller plants, HVAC, or utility plant operations.
• Hands-on experience operating centrifugal/screw chillers, chilled water pumps, cooling towers, heat exchangers, and associated systems.
• Good understanding of BMS/SCADA monitoring, alarms, equipment sequencing, and plant control systems.
• Knowledge of chilled water systems, ΔT, flow, pressure, temperature, and basic plant performance parameters.
• Familiarity with SOPs, preventive maintenance, LOTO, work permits, and HSE requirements.
• Ability to identify abnormal equipment conditions and respond appropriately to alarms and operational issues.
• Good skills in maintaining daily operating logs, shift reports, equipment readings, and handover records.
• Ability to work effectively in shift-based operations, including nights, weekends, and public holidays when required.
• Strong communication, teamwork, and coordination skills.
• Ability to work independently and respond effectively during emergency and abnormal operating conditions.
• Working in prominent district cooling plants, industrial safety experience/certification would be an advantage.
• Transferable Iqama and valid driving license would be an advantage for KSA-based candidates.