Plant Operator

SCS Engineers; Elk River (MN); On-site; USD 41,000 - 69,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical insurance

Dental insurance

Vision insurance

Life insurance

Disability insurance

Employee Stock Ownership Plan (ESOP)

401K with employer match

Annual bonus program

Student debt employer contribution

Paid holidays

PTO

Paid parental leave

Job summary

SCS Engineers is seeking a hands-on RNG plant operator based in Elk River, MN. You will operate, monitor, and maintain landfill gas processing equipment, perform rounds, collect samples, and support startup/shutdown activities as directed by the Plant Supervisor/Lead Operator.

You will also participate in on-call rotations, adhere to safety procedures, and contribute to daily logs and reporting. This role includes participation in on-site maintenance and reliability tasks.

Qualifications

• Two years of plant operation and maintenance experience required.
• Technical aptitude related to mechanical, electrical, instrumentation, controls, gas processing.
• Ability to read operating procedures, mechanical drawings, P&IDs, and safety data sheets.

Responsibilities

• Operate, monitor, maintain, and repair RNG plant and landfill gas equipment.
• Perform plant rounds and verify operating conditions.
• Maintain logs and SCADA/HMI data for process control.
• Detect malfunctions and communicate issues to supervisor.
• Assist with startup/shutdown, lockout/tagout, and isolation tasks.
• Perform preventive maintenance and routine tasks.
• Collect samples for lab analysis and reporting.
• Record data and upgrade logs with shift notes.
• Respond to alarms during on-call periods.

Skills

Plant operation

Mechanical aptitude

SCADA/HMI

P&IDs

On-call readiness

Education

High school diploma or equivalent

Tools

SCADA/HMI systems

Job description

How You Can Make An Impact

• Be responsible for proper operation, monitoring, maintenance, and minor repair of RNG plant and landfill gas process equipment, including blowers, compressors, dehydration units, gas treatment systems, vessels, filters, pumps, condensate systems, flares, thermal oxidizers, analyzers, control valves, safety devices, and related balance‑of‑plant equipment.
• Perform routine plant rounds and verifies operating conditions, including pressure, temperature, flow, gas quality, utility status, equipment vibration/noise, alarms, and other process indicators.
• Maintain meters, gauges, instrument readings, SCADA/HMI information, analyzer data, and operating logs to confirm safe and reliable gas/liquids movement through the process system.
• Observe equipment operation to detect malfunctions, abnormal conditions, leaks, odors, nuisance alarms, or process deviations and promptly communicates issues to the Plant Supervisor/Lead Operator.
• Assist with startup, shutdown, lockout/tagout, equipment isolation, troubleshooting, and return-to-service activities in accordance with applicable procedures and direction from the Plant Supervisor/Lead Operator.
• Perform preventive maintenance, housekeeping, filter changes, lubrication, calibration support, condensate management, minor mechanical repairs, and other routine maintenance tasks within training and authorization.
• Collect gas, liquid, condensate, or process samples as needed for laboratory analysis, compliance monitoring, client reporting, or troubleshooting.
• Record operating data, maintenance activities, safety observations, alarm responses, operational changes, and shift notes in daily logs, work management systems, or other project reporting tools.
• Respond to alarms, callouts, and abnormal operating conditions during on-call periods and coordinates with the Plant Supervisor/Lead Operator and management as needed.

Qualifications

• Two years of mechanical, industrial, utility, landfill gas, gas processing, RNG, wastewater, manufacturing, power generation, or comparable plant operation and maintenance experience required.
• Technical aptitude related to mechanical, electrical, instrumentation, controls, compression, gas treatment, and process equipment operation and maintenance.
• Ability to read and understand operating procedures, mechanical drawings, P&IDs, equipment manuals, safety data sheets, maintenance instructions, and project specifications.
• Ability and willingness to work normal Monday through Friday business hours and participate in scheduled on-call rotation, including nights, weekends, holidays, alarm response, and emergency callouts when required.
• 40-hour Health & Safety, OSHA 29 CFR 1910.120, Confined Space Entry, Lockout/Tagout, and Trench Excavation Safety training preferred or required as assigned; high school diploma or equivalent preferred.
• Basic computer skills for email, daily logs, work orders, reporting systems, spreadsheets, SCADA/HMI review, and electronic documentation.
• Meet physical requirements for driving, walking inspections of improved and unimproved property, lifting and carrying equipment/mechanical components up to 50 lbs. unassisted, carrying and climbing ladders, operating electrical and hand tools, and providing services under varying weather conditions required.

Pay Range

USD $30.00 - USD $50.00 /Hr.

Additional Information

Please note that our pay ranges are determined by several factors, including relevant experience, internal pay equity, and location. They do not include any of the amazing benefits of being an employee-owned, which are listed below.

SCS is building a world where environmental systems and infrastructure strengthen the health, safety and resilience of communities — from reducing methane emissions at landfills to producing alternative energy, from repurposing contaminated properties to sequestering carbon.

As a 100% employee-owned firm, we bring a long-term perspective, personal ownership and shared success to everything we do. We live our values every day: We care. We are a team. We are tenacious.

Join us and be part of a team where your work has real impact — on the world and on your own growth.

As a growing firm, we offer excellent opportunities for career advancement and a comprehensive package, including:

• Medical, Dental, Vision, Life and Disability Insurance
• 100% employer-funded Employee Stock Ownership Plan (ESOP) and 401K including employer match
• Annual Bonus Program
• Student Debt Employer Contribution Program
• Paid holidays, PTO and Paid Parental Leave

SCS Engineers is an Equal Opportunity Employer (EOE). SCS provides equal employment opportunities to all qualified applicants without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, protected veteran or disabled status.

If you have questions, difficulty using our online system and/or you need an accommodation due to a disability then please contact us about your interest in employment at [e-mail]