Electrical & Controls Technician

Vallum Associates; Texas; On-site; USD 65,000 - 90,000; Full time

Job summary

Vallum Associates is developing an on-site power plant for a data center in Texas. We seek an Electrical & Controls Technician to support installation, commissioning, and ongoing maintenance of the plant’s electrical infrastructure and control systems.

The role focuses on surrounding plant equipment and interfaces, with generator units serviced by the manufacturer. The position requires practical experience with LV/MV distribution, switchgear, motor controls, and PLC-controlled systems, and

Qualifications

• Practical industrial electrical maintenance or commissioning experience in power generation, utilities, process plants, data centers, or comparable facilities.

Responsibilities

• Support installation, inspection, testing, and commissioning of LV and MV distribution equipment, switchgear, electrical panels, cabling, grounding, and associated plant systems.
• Diagnose electrical and controls faults involving pumps, motors, valves, drives, sensors, instrumentation, and auxiliary equipment.
• Support control panel checks, instrument calibration, loop checks, I/O testing, and functional testing alongside commissioning engineers and equipment vendors.
• Assist with testing electrical and control interfaces between generation blocks, plant auxiliaries, and the site distribution system.
• Support testing of operating sequences, alarms, interlocks, and emergency shutdown functions under approved commissioning procedures.
• Perform preventive and corrective maintenance, maintain accurate service records, and elevate defects affecting safe operation or plant availability.
• Coordinate with the general contractor, electrical contractors, OEM representatives, and the wider commissioning team.
• Follow approved isolation, lockout/tagout, permit-to-work, and electrical safety procedures. Undertake switching only where appropriately trained and authorized.

Skills

Electrical maintenance

Commissioning

PLC systems

Equipment wiring

Contractor coordination

Job description

Location: Texas

Vallum Associates is supporting the development of an on-site power plant serving a data center. The facility will incorporate modular generation, medium-voltage electrical distribution, heat recovery, cooling, and associated fuel and process systems. It will operate both connected to the utility grid and independently in island mode.

We are seeking an Electrical & Controls Technician to support installation, commissioning, and ongoing maintenance of the plant’s electrical infrastructure and control systems.

The generator manufacturer will commission and maintain the generator units themselves. This position focuses on the surrounding plant equipment and its interfaces.

Key responsibilities

• Support installation, inspection, testing, and commissioning of LV and MV distribution equipment, switchgear, electrical panels, cabling, grounding, and associated plant systems.
• Diagnose electrical and controls faults involving pumps, motors, valves, drives, sensors, instrumentation, and auxiliary equipment.
• Support control panel checks, instrument calibration, loop checks, I/O testing, and functional testing alongside commissioning engineers and equipment vendors.
• Assist with testing electrical and control interfaces between generation blocks, plant auxiliaries, and the site distribution system.
• Support testing of operating sequences, alarms, interlocks, and emergency shutdown functions under approved commissioning procedures.
• Perform preventive and corrective maintenance, maintain accurate service records, and elevate defects affecting safe operation or plant availability.
• Coordinate with the general contractor, electrical contractors, OEM representatives, and the wider commissioning team.
• Follow approved isolation, lockout/tagout, permit-to-work, and electrical safety procedures. Undertake switching only where appropriately trained and authorized.

Required experience

• Practical industrial electrical maintenance or commissioning experience in power generation, utilities, process plants, data centers, or comparable facilities.
• Experience working with LV distribution, switchgear, motor controls, and industrial electrical equipment.
• Ability to interpret electrical drawings, wiring diagrams, schematics, and equipment manuals.
• Familiarity with PLC-controlled equipment, instrumentation, and industrial control systems.
• Ability to work effectively with contractors and specialist equipment suppliers during construction and commissioning.

Preferred experience

• Hands-on MV equipment experience and relevant switching authorization.
• Exposure to grid-connected generation, microgrids, or islandable power systems.
• Experience with protective relays, SCADA, variable-frequency drives, or industrial communications.
• Experience supporting gas-handling or other industrial process equipment.