Auxiliary Operator / Operator Trainee

Talen Energy; Berwick (Columbia County); On-site; USD 39,000 - 52,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health care

Dental

Vision

Prescription plans

Life insurance

Disability insurance

401(k)

Vacation

Sick time

Job summary

Talen Energy is seeking qualified candidates for a hands-on role at the Freedom facility in Berwick, PA. The position requires vocational training or mechanical experience with a preference for 2–4 years in a power plant environment.

You will work with demineralizers, compressors, turbines, and related equipment, performing inspections, maintenance, and data collection while supporting outages and plant improvements. The role requires a 12-hour rotating shift and a commitment to safety.

Qualifications

• Vocational training and/or mechanical experience required.
• Prefer candidates with 2–4 years of power plant experience.
• Demonstrates knowledge of all facets of power plant operations.
• Capable of writing operating procedures, work requests, and reports.
• Proficient in reading mechanical drawings, electrical one-lines, P&IDs.

Responsibilities

• Perform piping and conduit installation for system upgrades and modifications.
• Operate demineralizers, compressors, and turbine components.
• Inspect each system and maintain equipment.
• Record data from meters and gauges to verify operating conditions.
• Maintain cleanliness and participate in facility improvements and audits.
• Assist with procurement and CMMS data entry as needed.
• Support outage planning and major program responsibilities.
• Coordinate with vendors for timely repairs of equipment.
• Operate and maintain plant equipment with supervision as directed.
• Assist with root cause analysis of failures and training programs.

Skills

Power plant ops

Mechanical knowledge

Diagnostics

MS Office

Reading drawings

Safety compliance

Equipment maintenance

Water chemistry

Communication skills

Microsoft Office

Education

High School Diploma or equivalent

AA or technical school preferred

Tools

CMMS

MS Office (Excel/Word)

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

Talen is a leading independent power producer and energy infrastructure company dedicated to powering the future. We own, operate, and optimize high-quality power infrastructure across the United States. Our generation portfolio includes 15 generation locations capable of producing approximately 15.6 GW of power. Talen’s fleet generates electricity using a diverse mix of fuels, ranging from zero-carbon nuclear energy—including the Susquehanna nuclear facility—to natural gas, coal, and oil. We produce and sell electricity, capacity, and ancillary services into wholesale power markets across the United States, with generation assets located in key power markets. Our team is committed to generating power safely and reliably and delivering the most value per megawatt produced.

Talen is also powering the digital infrastructure revolution. We are well-positioned to capture this growing industry, as artificial intelligence data centers increasingly demand more reliable, clean power. We have an inclusive, diverse, respectful, and collaborative workplace, and a strong commitment to innovation, teamwork, and integrity.

Talen is headquartered in Houston, Texas.

Talen Energy is committed to providing a safe, drug and alcohol-free workplace. Consistent with applicable law and any collective bargaining agreements, positions may be subject to pre‑employment, random, post‑accident, and reasonable suspicion drug and alcohol testing.

Talen Energy is an equal opportunity employer dedicated to diversity and the strength it brings to the workplace. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, age, sex, religion, national origin, veteran status, sexual orientation, genetic information, gender identity, disability, perceived disability, or any other protected characteristic as may be defined by applicable law.

For more information visit www.talenenergy.com.