Lead Power Plant Technician

Vicinity Energy; Boston (MA); On-site; USD 135,000 - 145,000; Full time

Job summary

Vicinity Energy is seeking a Lead Power Plant Technician to operate a combined cycle facility in Cambridge, MA. The role requires guiding plant operations with minimal supervision and reporting to the Operations Manager.

The position requires active MA Second Class Engineer's License and will involve a rotating shift schedule, strict safety practices, and coordination with contractors and external entities.

Qualifications

• Active MA Second Class Engineer's License required.
• License to MA Grade 2 Industrial Wastewater Treatment within 6 months of employment.
• Minimum 6 years of experience operating gas/steam turbines, generators, HRSGs, boilers, and related equipment.
• Knowledge of how plant operations relate to energy markets.

Responsibilities

• Operate the combined cycle generating facility and plant equipment with minimal guidance.
• Keep management informed of plant operations and issues.
• Record readings, logs and maintenance actions.
• Coordinate with external entities (Commercial Operations, NStar, ISO).
• Follow operating procedures to ensure safe and compliant operation.
• Manage lock-out/tag-out procedures and confined space safety.

Skills

Operate power plant equipment

Team leadership / directing others

Communicate with stakeholders

Safety compliance

Education

High School Diploma or GED

MA Second Class Engineer's License

MA Grade 2 Industrial Wastewater Treatment License (within 6 months)

6+ years operating plant equipment (gas turbines, steam turbines, boilers, etc.)

Tools

Control room interfaces

Plant operation systems

Job description

Vicinity Energy is North America's largest provider of district energy solutions, offering low carbon energy to most of the iconic buildings you see in the skylines of Boston, Cambridge, Philadelphia, Baltimore and many other cities in the US. As a member of the communities we serve, all of us at Vicinity understand the critical role we play in reducing the impacts of climate change and being a leader in decarbonization. We are committed to net zero and eliminating our reliance on fossil fuels, but we need the best and the brightest minds on our team to help us reach our goal, not only for us as a company, but for our customers, our communities, and our planet.

Summary

The Lead Power Plant Technician is responsible for operating the combined cycle generating facility and power plant equipment with minimal guidance or assistance. The ideal candidate will keep management fully informed of plant operations, unusual conditions and faulty equipment. This is a full-time hourly position located in Cambridge, Massachusetts. This position requires UWUA Local 369 Union membership and reports to the Operations Manager. The hourly rate for this position is $67.42.

Responsibilities

• Operate the combined cycle generating facility and power plant equipment with minimal guidance or assistance.
• Keeps management fully informed of plant operations, unusual conditions, and faulty equipment.
• Operate power plant equipment through control room interfaces or locally.
• Takes readings and maintains records and logs.
• Records equipment problems on work notifications/requests and documents maintenance actions taken.
• Communicate and respond to all outside entities including but not limited to Commercial Operations, NStar, and ISO.
• Uses facility operating procedures to operate equipment and ensure equipment is operated within acceptable parameters.
• Opens and closes valves as required for proper system operation and mechanical isolation.
• Opens and closes circuit breakers up to 480 volts as required for proper system operation and electrical isolation.
• Operate generator breakers manually, if required 115kV disconnects.
• Assist in troubleshooting plant control systems.
• Understands and complies with all regulatory procedures and facility safety programs. Follow all plant environmental permits.
• Performs all duties defined in policies and procedures as assigned, not limited to but including lock-out/tag-out of equipment including responsibility as LOTO Authority, LOTO Holder, and/or Authorized Employee; confined space entry including taking responsibility as Confined Space Authority, Entrant, and/or Attendant.
• Conducts and/or prepares and participates in job briefings, job safety analysis and contractor safety orientation.
• Directs, plans, and coordinates the work of others.
• All activities included under subordinate job classifications within roster.
• Assists other Job Classifications as assigned when combined cycle major equipment and boilers are not in operation.
• Coordinates with the Commercial Operations Station operation in satisfying market demands.
• Coordinates activities requiring interface between on-site auxiliary boiler systems owned by others and the station.
• Develops and submits internal incident reports as required.
• Coordinates work activities and clearances in accordance with Policies and Procedures not limited to, but including Lock-Out/Tag-out, Confined Space, Hot Work Permits, etc.
• Plans, schedules coordinates, and controls work sequences of shift operations and crafts.
• Instructs and directs activities of other employees while ensuring compliance with company safety and environmental procedures and policies.
• Oversees the activities of contracting crews.
• Approves notifications input on-shift.
• Conducts shift muster and job briefings with employees and contractors.
• Fulfill requirements of and sign MA DPS Shift Log.
• Dispatches and coordinates with maintenance activities when required.
• This position works a rotating shift schedule.

Basic Qualifications

• High School Diploma or GED.
• Holds an active MA Second Class Engineer's License.
• Must obtain MA Grade 2 Industrial Wastewater Treatment License in first 6 months of employment.
• Minimum of 6 years of experience operating equipment including gas turbines, steam turbines, generators, heat recovery steam generator, high pressure boilers, air compressors, water treatment equipment, and other auxiliary equipment.
• Demonstrates knowledge of the relationship between plant operations and energy markets.

Preferred Qualifications

• Demonstrates knowledge of the relationship between plant operations and energy markets
• Ability to read and interpret Process & Instrumentation Diagrams (P&IDs)

Other Qualifications

• Ability to instruct and direct activities of others
• Must possess basic computer literacy
• Have a good safety record.

Physical Requirements

• Must submit to a company provided physical and drug screening as part of the pre-employment screening process.
• Standing, sitting, climbing stairs, bending, stooping, pushing, pulling, walking on uneven surfaces, and grating, working from elevated platforms, scaffolding or ladders, required to lift up to and including 50 pounds and maneuver up to and including 100 pounds.
• Must qualify to wear a respirator.
• Ability to tolerate confined spaces, including manholes and varying temperatures and weather conditions.
• Exposed to temperature extremes, high noise level areas, high pressure steam lines, rotating equipment, and dusty/dirty environment.
• Required to wear PPE such as hard hat, safety glasses, safety shoes, hearing protection.

EQUAL EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITY POLICY STATEMENT Vicinity Energy is an Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO) employer. It is the policy of the Company to provide equal employment opportunities to all qualified applicants without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, age, protected veteran or disabled status, or genetic information.