Auxiliary Operator / Operator Trainee

Water Otter Job Board; Berwick (Columbia County); On-site; USD 60,000 - 90,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health, dental, vision plans

401(k) plan

Vacation and sick time

Job summary

Talen Energy operates the Freedom facility in Berwick, PA and seeks qualified candidates for a trainee-level role in power plant operations. The job requires vocational training or mechanical experience and 2–4 years of power plant exposure is preferred.

The role includes hands-on duties like piping installation, operating equipment, water chemistry management, maintenance, and participation in outage planning. A high school diploma is required; an AA/technical credential is preferred.

Qualifications

• Knowledge of power plant operations and safety procedures.
• Ability to write operating procedures and work requests.
• Strong communication skills, both verbal and written.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office (Excel/Word).
• Ability to read mechanical drawings, electrical one-lines, logic drawings, and technical manuals.

Responsibilities

• Install piping and conduit for plant upgrades and modifications.
• Operate demineralizers, compressors, and turbine components.
• Inspect watch systems and maintain equipment.
• Maintain and calibrate water chemistry and plant systems.
• Support capital projects and outages as assigned.

Skills

Power plant operations

Emergency decision making

Procedures writing

Verbal and written communication

MS Office (Excel/Word)

Reading mechanical drawings

Troubleshooting mechanical equipment

Repairing plant equipment

Welding and cutting

Water chemistry proficiency

Education

High school diploma or equivalent

Associate degree or equivalent preferred

Tools

P&ID interpretation

Drill press, pipe threading, grinder

Job description

This position would be located at the Talen Energy Freedom facility in Berwick, PA. We are looking for qualified candidates with a minimum of having vocational training and/or mechanical experience and prefer candidates with 2-4 years of power plant experience. .

Talen Energy offers an exceptional benefits program to its employees. Benefits include comprehensive health, dental, vision, prescription plans, life insurance, and disability insurance. In addition, employees are eligible to participate in Talen Energy’s 401(k) plan. Talen Energy also provides competitive vacation and sick time to its employees.

Duties and Responsibilities:

• Perform piping and conduit installation in the plant for system upgrades and modifications.
• Operate demineralizers, compressors, and turbine components.
• Perform Inspection of Watch on each system within the plant.
• Maintains equipment by tightening fittings, replacing valve packing, gaskets, valves, and gauges.
• Cleaning, replacing, oiling, and lubricating other component parts and equipment as required.
• Reads meters, gauges, or automatic devices to record data such as temperature of equipment, vibration of equipment, hours of operation, pressure, and fluid levels, water chemistry to verify operating conditions.
• Performs general housekeeping and continuous improvement of the appearance of the facility including painting projects as required. Maintains the cleanliness of all areas of the plant and control room.
• Performs capital project and/or major program responsibilities as assigned by Plant Management.
• Coordinates purchasing with appropriate personnel and vendors to achieve timely repair of plant equipment.
• Operate and maintains a Combined Cycle power generating facility equipment with minimal guidance or assistance as directed by and in coordination with the Lead.
• Identify and resolve emission monitoring problems (CEMS). Assist in calibrations and gas bottle change outs.
• Keeps Manager fully informed of unusual plant conditions and current job progress as the job relates to facility operations when assigned on- shift.
• Responsible for ordering chemicals through established vendors.
• Utilizes the facility’s computerized maintenance management system (CMMS).
• Works with the Manager in managing the plant’s inventory, performing audits as needed.
• Responsible for opening and closing circuit breakers as required for proper system operation and electrical isolation.
• Outage planning and scheduling involvement
• Assist with development of Operations and Maintenance procedures
• Assist with administering the Operator training program
• Assist with performing Root Cause Analysis of failures.
• May operate heavy equipment such man lift and forklift.
• Perform water chemistry analysis on heat recovery system generator (HRSG), auxiliary boiler, and cooling tower systems.
• Ensure water chemistry is within proper control ranges. Adjust water chemistry, as needed, by controlling chemical feed and/or blowdown rates. Work with plant chemist, operations, and water treatment vendor to properly monitor overall chemistry program
• Operate demineralized water system in accordance with OEM and plant procedures and monitor demineralized water to ensure quality is within acceptable limits.
• Reads, understands, and complies with all regulatory procedures and facility safety programs. Follow all plant environmental permits.

Required Skills Knowledge:

• Demonstrates knowledge of all facets of power plant operations.
• Demonstrates the ability to make competent decisions in emergency situations.
• Capable of writing operating procedures, work requests, written records.
• Demonstrate good verbal and written communication skills
• Proficient in Microsoft Office including Excel and Word
• Demonstrates the ability to read and interpret mechanical drawings, electrical one-lines, logic drawings, technical manuals, and P &ID's.
• Will write routine reports, solve practical problems, and clearly communicate tasks and needs, and training of other personnel.
• Mechanical, instrumentation and electrical equipment knowledge is required.
• Adept at troubleshooting and diagnosing problems with mechanical equipment with the ability to apply a resolution in a timely fashion.
• Proficient at repairing, replacing, dismantling, and inspecting defective plant equipment and parts such as pumps, valves, fans, gearboxes, demineralizers, compressors, and turbine components.
• Capable of operating welding and cutting equipment and completes metal fabrication projects.
• Proficient at Water Chemistry.
• Capable of setting up and operating a drill press, pipe threading machine, grinder, and other various tools to make and repair parts and equipment.

Experience:

Trainee:

Vocational training and mechanical experience

Education Requirements:

High School diploma or equivalent required. Associate degree (AA) or equivalent from a two-year college to technical school preferred

Physical Requirements:

• Ability to do walking, reaching, climbing, and lifting (up to 50 pounds).
• Must be willing to work a 12-hour rotating shift and be available to work for call-ins and work overtime as needed.

Must be Authorized to work in the USA