Operations Expert

Wärtsilä Corporation; Houston (TX); Hybrid; USD 90,000 - 130,000; Full time

Job summary

Wärtsilä Corporation in North America is seeking an Operations Expert to join the Operations Management Support team. The hybrid role in Houston focuses on proactive remote technical support for 4-stroke engines and power plant operations, with travel as needed.

You will analyze performance, troubleshoot issues, and deliver value through expert guidance. The candidate will lead operational assessments, prepare reports, and collaborate with global colleagues to improve customer support and

Qualifications

• Bachelor's or Master's degree in Mechanical or Electrical Engineering or related field.
• At least five years hands-on experience with 4-stroke engines.
• At least five years experience with engine control systems.
• Strong knowledge of power plant operations, IC engine tech, and auxiliary systems.
• Experience with performance monitoring and trend analysis.

Responsibilities

• Provide proactive daily operational support to contractual customers, including advanced remote troubleshooting for engines, control systems, auxiliary systems, and electrical and automation equipment.
• Support failure prevention, operational adjustments, performance tuning, testing and recovery activities.
• Analyze customer business drivers, contractual requirements, and plant performance impacts.
• Use trends and data to identify deviations, risks, and improvement opportunities.
• Prepare clear reports based on technical findings and equipment performance trends.
• Anticipate and mitigate outages, equipment failures and disruptions.
• Collaborate with global colleagues to share knowledge and improve support.
• Complete administrative tasks including travel arrangements and expense reports.

Skills

4-stroke engines

Engine control systems

Power plant operations

Data interpretation

English communication

Microsoft Office

Travel flexibility

Education

Bachelor's or Master's in Mechanical/Electrical Engineering

Tools

SAP

Salesforce

ERP/CRM platforms

Job description

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Wärtsilä is an innovative technology company and a forerunner in the Marine and Energy markets. Every day, we put our hearts and minds into enabling sustainable societies through innovation in technology and services.

We are now looking for an Operations Expert to join our Operations Management Support team in North America.

In this role, you will serve as a subject matter expert in 4-stroke engines and power plant operations, providing proactive operational guidance and advanced remote technical support to our contractual customers. You will analyze equipment performance, troubleshoot technical challenges, help prevent operational disruptions, and identify solutions that create value for our customers.

This is a hybrid position based in Houston, Texas, requiring at least two days per week in the Houston office. Candidates based in or within commuting distance of the greater Houston area are preferred.

The position primarily provides remote operational support, with occasional travel based on customer and business needs.

In this role, you will report to the Area Manager, Operations Management Support, Americas.

Your role and responsibilities

As an Operations Expert, your work will focus on:

Providing proactive daily operational support to contractual customers, including advanced remote troubleshooting for 4-stroke engines, engine control systems, auxiliary systems, and electrical and automation equipment.

Supporting failure prevention, operational adjustments, performance fine-tuning, testing, and recovery activities in line with the First Time Right principle.

Understanding customer business drivers, contractual requirements, operational priorities, and their impact on plant performance.

Using graphical and trend analysis to identify performance deviations, operational disturbances, emerging risks, and improvement opportunities.

Conducting remote operational assessments and preparing clear reports based on technical findings, operational data, and equipment performance trends.

Anticipating and helping mitigate potential outages, equipment failures, and operational disruptions.

Applying technical knowledge of remote operations, connectivity, automation, and operational cybersecurity.

Building trusted customer relationships through active listening, regular communication, and practical recommendations.

Managing and documenting customer support requests, technical findings, recommended actions, and follow-up activities in the applicable systems.

Identifying value-adding opportunities related to mechanical, electrical, automation, and operational services.

Collaborating with local and global colleagues to share technical knowledge, discuss operational cases, and continuously improve customer support.

Completing required administrative activities, including travel arrangements and expense reports, accurately and on time.

To be successful in this role, we expect you to have

A bachelor’s or master’s degree in Mechanical Engineering, Electrical Engineering, or a related technical field.

At least five years of hands-on experience with 4-stroke engines.

At least five years of experience with engine control systems.

Strong knowledge of power plant operations, reciprocating internal combustion engine technologies, and auxiliary systems.

Experience with performance monitoring, operational data interpretation, and trend analysis.

Ability to interpret technical drawings, process flow diagrams, and operational data.

Strong troubleshooting, analytical, and problem-solving capabilities.

Excellent written and spoken English.

Strong communication, collaboration, and customer-support skills.

Proficiency in Microsoft Office, including Outlook, Teams, Word, Excel, and PowerPoint.

Ability to participate in the rotating emergency-support schedule.

Ability to work from the Houston office at least two days per week.

Willingness and ability to travel occasionally based on business needs.

Skills and experience that will support your success

Experience in Field Service, Technical Service, power plant operations, control room operations, or remote plant support.

Knowledge of fuel, lubricating oil, and water management.

Understanding of automation, remote connectivity, and cybersecurity principles related to plant operations.

Commercial and contractual awareness.

Preferable experience using SAP, Salesforce, or similar ERP and CRM platforms.

Experience with process improvement, technical training, or competence-development activities.

Familiarity with Wärtsilä products, services, operational processes, or customer agreements is a plus to have.

This position participates in a rotating 24/7 emergency-support schedule. On-call coverage is generally assigned for one week at a time, from Monday through Sunday, and is shared among designated team members. Compensation for on-call coverage and any applicable overtime will be provided in accordance with the employee’s classification, Wärtsilä policies, and applicable law. Additional details will be discussed during the recruitment process.

Why you and us?

You will join an experienced and collaborative team supporting customers operating complex power plants across North America. This role gives you the opportunity to apply your technical expertise to real operational challenges, influence plant performance, share ideas with colleagues, and develop solutions that create long-term customer value.

Candidates for regular U.S and Puerto Rico positions must be a U.S. citizen, national, or an alien admitted as permanent resident, refugee, asylee with valid work permit or temporary resident under 8 U.S.C. 1160(a) or 1255a(1). Individuals with temporary visas such as E, F-1, H-1, H1B, H-2, L, B, J, or TN or who need sponsorship for work authorization now or in the future, are not eligible for hire.

Individuals hired for positions that require on-site customer interactions and/or in‑person travel may be required to be fully vaccinated against COVID‑19 or other country‑specific vaccinations, unless otherwise prohibited by law.

Wärtsilä North America values our employees. We offer a competitive salary and comprehensive benefits package. Wärtsilä North America is an EOE/AA employer.

At Wärtsilä we value, respect and embrace all our differences, and are committed to diversity, inclusion and equal employment opportunities; everyone can be their true self and succeed based on their job‑relevant merits and abilities.

Effective January 2025, Wartsila companies in the USA have implemented a new hybrid work model. Most employees who live within 40 miles of an office will work 2 days per week in office. This model will provide our employees the flexibility of working from home, while also providing the benefits of in‑person collaboration twice a week. We will be happy to provide more information during your interview process.

Please note that according Wärtsilä policy, voluntary consent for a security check may be required from candidates being considered for this position, depending on the applicable country.

Wärtsilä is a global leader in innovative technologies and lifecycle solutions for the marine and energy markets. Our team of 18,300 professionals, in more than 230 locations in 77 countries, shape the decarbonisation transformation of our industries across the globe. Read more onwww.wartsila.com .