Real Time Trader/Dispatcher I

nrg Energy; Houston (TX); On-site; USD 70,000 - 110,000; Full time

Job summary

NRG Energy in Houston, TX seeks a Real-Time Trader/Dispatcher I for live operational execution, real-time market response, and unit dispatch across PJM, NYISO, ISO-NE. You will coordinate with traders, plant staff, and ISO control centers, making timely decisions with potential operational, reliability, and financial impact.

Responsibilities include dispatch actions, monitoring market conditions, and maintaining logs.

Qualifications

• High School Diploma or GED or equivalent military experience.
• Bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university (preferred).
• Intermediate proficiency with Microsoft Office Suite.

Responsibilities

• Comply with NERC Reliability Standards, ISO rules and tariffs and NRGL policies.
• Start, stop, dispatch, or adjust generating units based on constraints and market conditions.
• Monitor unit status, market prices, bid curves, operating limits, and weather.
• Communicate with PJM, NYISO, ISO-NE, Balancing Authorities and internal teams clearly.
• Own current-day and intraday operational updates and shift logs.
• Maintain awareness of unit availability and fuel constraints for DG assets.
• Complete required training and obtain PJM and NERC certifications as required.

Skills

Situational awareness

Independent decisions

Clear communication

Multitasking

Reliability and accountability

Education

High School Diploma or GED

Bachelor’s degree (preferred)

Job description

Career Opportunities: Real Time Trader/Dispatcher I (45599)

Requisition ID45599-Posted09/14/2026-Energy Marketing/Trading-United States-TX-Houston

Welcome to the intersection of energy and home services. At NRG, we’re all about propelling the next generation of leaders forward. We are driven by our passion to create a smarter, cleaner and more connected future. We deliver innovative solutions that make our customers’ lives easier—helping them power, protect, and intelligently manage their homes and businesses. To do this, we need creative and talented people to join our company.

We offer a dynamic work environment and a unified and inclusive culture. NRG fosters a strong sense of belonging that leads to better collaboration and business performance. Our company programs are designed to help employees develop the skills they need for success now and in the future. In everything we do, we aim to champion our employees and bring value to our customers, investors and society.

More information is available at www.nrg.com. Connect with NRG on Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn and X.

Job Summary:

The Real-Time Dispatcher works within NRG’s NERC-qualified operating environment and is responsible for live operational execution, real-time market response, unit dispatch, optimization, communication, and short-horizon decision-making across PJM, NYISO, and ISO-NE. This role coordinates with Day-Ahead traders and schedulers, plant and field personnel, Transmission Operators, Reliability Coordinators, ISO control centers, and fuel support groups while making timely decisions that may carry operational, reliability, compliance, and financial impact.

• Comply with applicable NERC Reliability Standards, ISO rules and tariffs, and NRG policies and procedures while supporting reliable Bulk Electric System operations.
• Start, stop, dispatch, or adjust generating units based on unit capability, plant status, market conditions, ISO instructions, fuel constraints, reliability needs, and commercial opportunity.
• Monitor unit status, market prices, bid curves, operating limits, weather, transmission constraints, outages, fuel conditions, and short-horizon system outlooks.
• Communicate with PJM, NYISO, ISO-NE, Balancing Authorities, Reliability Coordinators, Transmission Operators, plants, field personnel, and internal commercial teams using clear and disciplined communication practices.
• Own current-day and intraday operational updates, including forced outages, derates, returns to service, operating limitations, emergency tickets, and material asset status changes in approved ISO and internal tools.
• Support Distributed Generation assets by maintaining awareness of unit availability, testing schedules, alarms, fuel constraints, and expected run conditions.
• Execute documented Day-Ahead handoff instructions, after-hours reoffers, OATI tagging support, gas scheduling actions, and related tasks when authorized and supported by clear instructions.
• Maintain accurate shift logs, document decisions and notifications, provide structured shift turnover, and elevate compliance, reliability, operational, contractual, or risk concerns as appropriate.
• Complete required training, maintain applicable continuing education requirements, obtain PJM certification within 6 months of hire, and obtain NERC certification within 18 months of hire.
• This job description reflects an assignment of essential functions; it does not prescribe or restrict the tasks that may be assigned. Other duties and tasks may be assigned at the Company’s discretion.

Working Conditions:

• Requires participation in a rotating 24-hour operational schedule, including days, nights, weekends, holidays, and work outside regular business hours.
• Initial training may occur during regular business hours, Monday through Friday, for up to three months.
• Must remain awake, attentive, and fully engaged during assigned shifts and be available for storm, emergency, or event-duty coverage, including extended shifts when required.
• High School Diploma or GED equivalent, relevant experience, or equivalent military experience.
• Intermediate proficiency with Microsoft Office Suite.
• Ability to work a rotating 12-hour shift schedule, including days, nights, weekends, holidays, and required event coverage.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university.
• Previous energy industry, generation dispatch, power operations, scheduling, control-room, or market operations experience.
• NERC or PJM certification.
• Familiarity with PJM, NYISO, ISO-NE, eDART, Markets Gateway, ISO market systems, unit dispatch tools, or gas scheduling processes.

Additional Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities:

• Strong situational awareness and ability to identify abnormal operating, reliability, or market conditions.
• Ability to make independent decisions, exercise sound judgement, and act confidently under time pressure and ambiguity.
• Clear, accurate, and professional communication by phone, email, Teams, and shift logs.
• Ability to manage multiple tasks while maintaining accuracy, attention to detail, and compliance discipline.
• Commitment to disciplined execution, clear handoffs, continuous learning, reliability, accountability, teamwork, and commercial awareness.

NRG Energy is committed to a drug and alcohol-free workplace. To the extent permitted by law and any applicable collective bargaining agreement, employees are subject to periodic random drug testing, and post-accident and reasonable suspicion drug and alcohol testing. EOE AA M/F/Protected Veteran Status/Disability. Level, Title and/or Salary may be adjusted based on the applicant's experience or skills.

EEO is the Law Poster (The poster can be found at http://www.eeoc.gov/employers/upload/poster_screen_reader_optimized.pdf)

Official description on file with Talent.

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