Operations Technician

TXU Energy; Odessa (TX); On-site; USD 85,000 - 110,000; Full time

Job summary

Vistra Energy is seeking a Control Room Operator for the Odessa, Texas plant. You will monitor and control gas turbines, steam turbine, generators, and water-treatment systems from the control room and in the field, performing startups, shutdowns, and load changes under direction.

Responsibilities include responding to alarms and emergencies, maintaining logs, and coordinating with the Control Room Coordinator and Operations Manager.

Qualifications

• High school diploma or GED.
• Ability to complete OEPP operator qualifications through WPO, APO, and CRO positions.
• Willingness to work rotating 12-hour day and night shifts, overtime, and outages.
• Ability to learn plant control, electronic log, work-management, and admin systems.

Responsibilities

• Operate gas turbines, steam turbine, generators, water-treatment systems, and balance-of-plant equipment per procedures.
• Monitor plant conditions via DCS, alarms, trends, and field indications; respond to abnormal conditions.
• Perform startups, shutdowns, load changes, and transfers under direction of the Control Room Coordinator.
• Respond to upsets, trips, alarms, and emergencies; stabilize conditions and communicate status and needs.
• Coordinate operations and maintenance activities; maintain logs and shift turnovers.

Skills

Control-room experience

Board-operator experience

Education

High school diploma or GED

Tools

Ovation DCS

GE Mark VI

Job description

Job Summary

The Control Room Operator is responsible for the safe, reliable, compliant, and efficient operation of Odessa Ector Power Plant. The role monitors and controls plant systems from the control room and in the field; performs startups, shutdowns, and load changes; responds to abnormal and emergency conditions; and supports water-treatment, plant chemistry, maintenance, and performance activities. This position reports to the Operations Manager and normally works under the day-to-day direction of the Control Room Coordinator. The successful candidate must complete and maintain qualification as a Water Plant Operator, Auxiliary Plant Operator, and Control Room Operator in accordance with the plant qualification program.

Job Description

Operate the gas turbines, steam turbine, generators, water-treatment systems, and associated balance-of-plant equipment in accordance with approved procedures, operating limits, and dispatch requirements. Monitor plant conditions through the distributed control system (DCS), alarms, trends, field indications, and operator rounds; identify abnormal conditions and take timely, appropriate action. Perform plant startups, shutdowns, load changes, equipment transfers, and other evolutions safely and efficiently under the direction of the Control Room Coordinator. Respond promptly to plant upsets, equipment failures, trips, alarms, and emergencies; stabilize plant conditions and communicate status, risks, and resource needs. Maintain awareness of market and dispatch conditions, plant capability, equipment limitations, and maintenance status; coordinate operating decisions with the Control Room Coordinator. Conduct field rounds and complete accurate equipment logs. Identify adverse trends, deficiencies, and emerging equipment problems, and initiate or support corrective action. Collect water and process samples, perform required testing, maintain proper plant chemistry control, and communicate results requiring review or action. Complete clear, accurate, and timely operating records, including logbook entries, electronic logs, work permits, event documentation, and shift-turnover information. Coordinate operations and maintenance activities, including equipment releases, clearances, return-to-service testing, and verification of plant configuration. Perform preventive maintenance and minor operator maintenance tasks within assigned qualifications and plant procedures. Follow all safety, environmental, and regulatory requirements, including lockout/tagout, work-control, and applicable hazardous-work permitting processes. Review operating procedures and training materials, identify needed improvements, and support procedure revisions and continuous-improvement activities. Maintain required qualifications and complete assigned training. Develop the knowledge and capabilities needed to support or provide relief coverage for the Control Room Coordinator when formally qualified and designated. Perform other duties consistent with the position and operational needs of the plant.

Performance Expectations

Demonstrate safe, conservative, and procedure-driven decision-making. Support environmental compliance and accurate, complete operating records. Promote reliable plant operation by preventing avoidable trips and identifying equipment issues early. Support plant availability, efficient startups, operating efficiency, and responsible cost control without compromising safety or compliance. Communicate effectively across shifts and work collaboratively with operations, maintenance, management, and support personnel.

Minimum Qualifications

High school diploma or GED. Ability to successfully complete the OEPP operator qualification program through the WPO, APO, and CRO positions. Ability and willingness to work rotating 12-hour day and night shifts, overtime, emergency call-ins, and outage assignments. Effective verbal and written communication skills, including the ability to provide clear work direction, complete permits, document plant conditions, and conduct thorough shift turnovers. Basic computer proficiency and the ability to learn plant control, electronic log, work-management, and administrative systems. Ability to exercise sound judgment, work effectively with limited supervision, and respond appropriately during abnormal or emergency conditions. Ability to successfully complete required pre-employment controlled-substance screening and other applicable employment requirements.

Preferred Qualifications

Three or more years of control-room or board-operator experience. Three or more years of combined-cycle power-plant operating experience. Experience operating gas turbines, steam turbines, generators, and balance-of-plant systems. Experience operating and troubleshooting Ovation DCS and GE Mark VI turbine control systems, including alarm response, plant startups, and shutdowns. Water-treatment or power-plant chemistry experience. Relevant military power-generation or comparable industrial process-operations experience.

Working Conditions

Work is performed in a control-room and industrial power-plant environment, both indoors and outdoors. The position may require exposure to heat, cold, high noise levels, rotating equipment, chemicals, and other industrial hazards while using required personal protective equipment. The employee must be able to walk and stand for extended periods, climb stairs and ladders, and access plant equipment areas, with or without reasonable accommodation. Regular attendance, punctuality, and reliable response to assigned shifts, overtime, emergencies, and outage work are essential. This position description summarizes the principal duties and requirements of the role. It is not intended to include every task or responsibility that may be assigned.

Job Family

Plant Operations Company Luminant Generation Company LLC Locations Odessa, Texas Texas.

We are a company of people committed to: Exceeding Customer Expectations, Great People, Teamwork, Competitive Spirit and Effective Communication.

Company Overview

It is the policy of the Company to comply with all employment laws and to afford equal employment opportunity to individuals in all aspects of employment, including in selection for job opportunities, without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, pregnancy, national origin, age, disability, genetic information, military service, protected veteran status, or any other consideration protected by federal, state or local laws.

If you are an individual with a disability and need assistance submitting an application or would like to request an accommodation, please email us at [e-mail] to make a request.

Vistra (NYSE: VST) is a leading Fortune 500 integrated retail electricity and power generation company based in Irving, Texas, that provides essential power resources to customers, businesses, and communities from California to Maine. Vistra is the largest competitive power generator in the U.S., with a capacity of approximately 41,000 megawatts, or enough to power 20 million homes, operating in all of the major competitive wholesale markets in the country. Vistra is a leader in the energy transformation and expansion with an unyielding focus on reliability, affordability, and sustainability, powered by a diverse portfolio that includes natural gas, nuclear, coal, solar, and battery energy storage facilities. The company continues to grow its zero-carbon resources, operating the second-largest fleet of competitive nuclear power plants in the country, substantial battery energy storage capacity, and a growing number of solar facilities. Vistra is one of the largest competitive electricity providers in the country and takes an innovative, customer-centric approach to retail, offering solutions to meet customers’ needs, including more than 50 renewable energy plans. Through its family of retail brands, Vistra serves approximately 5 million residential, commercial, and industrial retail customers. As a leader in the responsible transformation of the country’s energy supply, Vistra has made significant progress toward its 2030 and 2050 targets. The company has committed to a 60% reduction of Scope 1 and 2 greenhouse gas emissions by 2030, as compared to our 2010 baseline, and net-zero carbon emissions by 2050, assuming necessary technological advancements and public policy incentives are achieved. Vistra’s hardworking team is committed to its purpose, “lighting up lives, powering a better way forward” and is guided by four core principles: we do business the right way, we work as a team, we compete to win, and we care about our stakeholders, including our customers, our communities where we work and live, our employees, and our investors.