Plant Technician II

Socket.dev; Minnesota; On-site; USD 41,000 - 45,000; Full time

Job summary

Antora Energy in Big Stone City, SD, is seeking a Plant Technician II to operate thermal energy storage and boiler systems, support installation and commissioning, and collaborate with engineering and maintenance teams to safely run first-of-a-kind industrial installations.

You will perform hands-on diagnostics, implement SOPs, mentor teammates, and uphold strict safety standards while helping demonstrate long-duration energy storage technology.

Qualifications

• High school diploma or technical/vocational training required.
• 3+ years in operations with control systems (DCS/SCADA/PLCs).
• Strong knowledge of health and safety regulations in hazardous environments.
• Experience with test equipment, calibration, and diagnostics.
• Understanding of energy storage, boilers and steam systems.
• Ability to start up/shut down systems and respond to emergencies.

Responsibilities

• Operate boilers, generators, control systems, and balance-of-plant equipment.
• Solve complex technical problems with minimal oversight.
• Prioritize tasks within a trade or functional area.
• Develop SOPs to improve operations and maintenance.
• Perform hands-on diagnostics and rebuild large industrial machinery.
• Maintain high safety and regulatory compliance.

Skills

Plant operations

Control systems

Safety compliance

Troubleshooting

Mentoring/train others

SOP creation

Education

High school diploma or technical training

Tools

DCS/SCADA/PLC

Test equipment/calibration

Job description

Antora Energy delivers affordable, reliable energy to industry, data centers, and the grid. Our thermal batteries turn low-cost electricity into always-on heat and power, without supply-constrained critical minerals or multi-year construction timelines.

We are growing our company with people who put team and mission first, value connection through laughter and joy, and work with humility and openness. We are committed to building a diverse, passionate, and creative team dedicated to a future powered by abundant, clean, low-cost energy.

Position Summary

The Plant Technician II is responsible for controlling and operating thermal energy storage and boiler systems. Also will be supporting maintenance of plant systems during the installation, commissioning, and operations phases of the project. The Plant Technician II will collaborate with internal engineering, operations, and maintenance teams to safely construct, commission, and operate first-of-a-kind industrial installations of the Antora thermal battery.

The Plant Technician II will be a key technical member of a cross-functional and rapidly growing organization, whose work will directly contribute to the demonstration of a first of a kind long-duration energy storage technology.

Roles & Responsibilities

• Performs a wide range of advanced operational and technical responsibilities requiring specialized knowledge of plant systems, including boilers, generators, control systems, and balance-of-plant equipment.
• Frequently exercises sound judgment on complex and varied technical problems, relies on strong problem-solving skills with minimal oversight, escalating when necessary
• Independently prioritizes and manages tasks within a specific trade, technical group, or functional area.
• Delivers consistently high-quality work, often reviewing and validating the work of others to ensure adherence to advanced technical standards.
• Accountable for tasks where errors can have significant consequences and are typically not subject to routine checks.
• Responsible for lock out tag out programs, hot work permits, job hazard analysis, confined space entries and more during operations, maintenance, and outage planning.
• Operates with minimal supervision, setting and managing personal work schedules, and may assist in directing the efforts of others based on established priorities.
• Regularly mentors and trains team members, providing hands‑on instruction in complex technical processes and procedures.
• Responsible for creating and maintaining standard operating procedures (SOPs) that improve operations and maintenance using ‘Best Practices’.
• Perform hands‑on work to diagnose, test, and rebuild large industrial machinery.
• Maintains a high safety standard and compliance standard with regulatory codes.

Key Qualifications

• High school diploma, technical/vocational training, or equivalent military experience required.
• Professional with 3+ years of operations experience familiar with control systems (DCS/SCADA/PLCs etc)
• Extensive knowledge of health and safety regulations, with a strong background in environments involving hazardous energy, chemicals, and waste materials—including proper handling and storage procedures
• Skilled in the use of test equipment and calibration tools, with hands‑on experience in machinery repair and control system diagnostics.
• Solid understanding of energy storage processes, including steam generators, boilers, and auxiliary systems
• Ability to perform routine inspections, system startups/shutdowns, and emergency response procedures

Additional Qualifications Desired

• Experience with processes engineering of systems like combined heat and power plants, boilers, steam generators and high temperature fluid loops.
• Experience with Ignition SCADA.
• Experience with medium voltage and low voltage power systems
• Solid foundational understanding of chemistry, physics, electricity, and mathematics.
• Experience with boiler operations, steam systems, and water chemistry.
• Knowledge of South Dakota Boiler Codes - ASME Boiler and Pressure Vessel Code (BPVC) sections 1 and 4, South Dakota Legislature Codified Laws Chapter 34-29AASME PTC4

Work Location: Onsite - Big Stone City, South Dakota

Salary Range: $30-33/hr

Salary Basis: Hourly

Please note that the salary range listed above reflects Antora Energy's estimated pay for this position. The actual salary offered will be within the posted range and determined based on several factors including but not limited to a candidate's experiences, credentials and expertise, as they pertain to the position's requirements.

In addition to a competitive base salary, Antora Energy’s Total Rewards program includes equity compensation in the form of stock options, a premium health benefits package with life and disability insurance, a 401K plan with employer contributions, flexible spending accounts, and an industry leading paid-time-off policy that features flexible and inclusive holiday observance, as well as paid volunteer time off.

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When it comes to stopping climate change, we need everyone. We believe that having a diversity of backgrounds and experiences strengthens all of us, and we strive to create an environment where every one of us is empowered to create meaningful change.