Renewable Ops Center Operator

Arizona Public Service - APS; Tempe (AZ); On-site; USD 90,000 - 130,000; Full time

Job summary

Arizona Public Service seeks a Renewable Operations Center Operator to coordinate day-to-day activities for a portfolio of renewable facilities including solar, energy storage, and micro-grid installations. You will monitor real-time performance, identify alarm conditions, and implement responses to protect safety and reliability from a 24/7 control room.

The role requires an Associate degree or equivalent experience in power/tech fields, with 2+ years in solar or generation plant operations.

Qualifications

• Two-year associate degree in electric power, electronics, mechanics or hydraulics.
• Plus two years of solar and/or generation plant maintenance, construction and/or operations experience.
• In lieu of Associates degree, combination of college coursework and/or experience in solar and/or generation plant maintenance, construction and/or operations positions equaling four years.
• Technical knowledge of Solar, Energy Storage, Wind, Micro-grid, Generation, electrical and SCADA systems.
• Technical knowledge in analyzing equipment performance and identifying performance issues using software tools.
• Ability to work rotating shifts.
• Experience working with SCADA systems and work management systems (e.g., Maximo).
• Experience using Microsoft Excel, Word and Outlook.

Responsibilities

• Operates and monitors a diverse portfolio of renewable generating facilities in a 24/7 control center.
• Identify and respond to alarm conditions to protect safety and production.
• Maintain logs and coordinate with Transmission Provider, Scheduling entity and others.
• Create work orders in Maximo and document control actions.
• Ensure safety procedures and NFPA/OSHA guidelines are followed during switching operations.

Skills

SCADA systems

Maximo

Solar generation

Rotating shifts

Electrical knowledge

Education

Associate degree

College coursework/experience

Tools

Maximo

Job description

Arizona Public Service generates reliable, affordable and clean energy for 2.7 million Arizonans. As the state’s largest and longest-serving energy provider, our more than 6,000 dedicated employees power our vision of creating a sustainable energy future for Arizona.

Summary

The Renewable Operations Center Operator coordinates the day-to-day operations activities for a diverse portfolio of renewable generating facilities (including Solar, Energy Storage and Micro-grid installations) from a set of computer consoles within a 24/7 control center. Performs monitoring activities by identifying and initiating appropriate responses for alarm conditions that may place safety or production at risk. Implements all applicable obligations as they apply to real-time operations fleet-wide. Works in a high stress environment where decisions directly impact personnel safety and equipment reliability.

Minimum Requirements

• A two-year Associates degree in an applicable technology area (e.g., electric power, electronics, mechanics or hydraulics)
• Plus two (2) years of solar and/or generation plant maintenance, construction and/or operations experience.
• In lieu of Associates degree, combination of college coursework and/or experience in solar and/or generation plant maintenance, construction and/or operations positions equaling four (4) years.
• Technical knowledge of general plant and system processes (Solar, Energy Storage, Wind, Micro-grid, Generation), electrical and SCADA systems.
• Technical knowledge in analyzing equipment performance and identifying performance issues using software tools.
• Ability to work rotating shifts.

Preferred Special Skills, Knowledge Or Qualifications

• Experience working with plant SCADA systems and work management systems (e.g., Maximo).
• Understanding of electronic power system protection equipment purpose and behavior.
• Experience using Microsoft Excel, Word and Outlook.

Major Accountabilities

• Performs system monitoring activities to anticipate and mitigate any system problems or issues and to recognize any high priority alarm conditions that may place the company at risk under applicable operating contracts and regulations.
• Reports capacity in real-time. Reports outages and ensures the forecasting system will capture any outages impact for subsequent hours by logging shortfalls. Maintains operator log for: tracking; capacity offline (to ensure accurate up-to-date forecasting); trouble conditions and status (for purposes of turnover); control actions implemented at the site; and interactions with external regulatory entities.
• Operates and monitors multiple power plant control system technologies across the fleet which requires mastery of multiple monitoring and control platforms. Take directions; identifies problems; conducts independent analysis and in collaboration with others (e.g., field technicians and engineers) and develops solutions. Creates work order in Maximo work tracking system.
• Initiates and documents an appropriate alarm response for all trouble indications. Coordinates immediate response for high-risk or high-impact trouble indications. Documents low-impact and low-risk trouble indications for planned response. Provides all notifications required to Transmission Provider, Scheduling entity and others.
• Provides safety review for any procedure written to a specific task by the maintenance team. For any medium voltage or high voltage switching operations, ensures that minimum isolation requirements are met according to O&M policies, Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) regulations, and National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) requirements. Ensures switching instructions are consistent with good utility practice.

Export Compliance / EEO Statement

This position may require access to and/or use of information subject to control under the Department of Energy's Part 810 Regulations (10 CFR Part 810), the Export Administration Regulations (EAR) (15 CFR Parts 730 through 774), or the International Traffic in Arms Regulations (ITAR) (22 CFR Chapter I, Subchapter M Part 120) (collectively, 'U.S. Export Control Laws'). Therefore, some positions may require applicants to be a U.S. person, which is defined as a U.S. Citizen, a U.S. Lawful Permanent Resident (i.e. 'Green Card Holder'), a Political Asylee, or a Refugee under the U.S. Export Control Laws. All applicants will be required to confirm their U.S. person or non-US person status. All information collected in this regard will only be used to ensure compliance with U.S. Export Control Laws, and will be used in full compliance with all applicable laws prohibiting discrimination on the basis of national origin and other factors. For positions at Palo Verde Nuclear Generating Stations (PVNGS) all openings will require applicants to be a U.S. person.
Pinnacle West Capital Corporation and its subsidiaries and affiliates ('Pinnacle West') maintain a continuing policy of nondiscrimination in employment. It is our policy to provide equal opportunity in all phases of the employment process and in compliance with applicable federal, state, and local laws and regulations. This policy of nondiscrimination shall include, but not be limited to, recruiting, hiring, promoting, compensating, reassigning, demoting, transferring, laying off, recalling, terminating employment, and training for all positions without regard to race, color, religion, disability, age, national origin, gender, gender identity, sexual orientation, marital status, protected veteran status, or any other classification or characteristic protected by law.
For more information on applicable equal employment regulations, please refer to EEO is the Law poster. Federal law requires all employers to verify the identity and employment eligibility of every person hired to work in the United States, refer to E-Verify poster. View the employee rights and responsibilities under the Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA).
In compliance with the Drug Free Workplace Act of 1988, the Company is committed to a work environment that is free from the effects of alcohol and controlled substances, and free from the abuse or inappropriate use of prescribed and over-the-counter medications. The Company requires employees to be subject to drug and alcohol testing that is job-related and consistent with business necessity, regulatory requirements and applicable laws.

Onsite:

• Employees are expected to reside in Arizona (or New Mexico for Four Corners-based employees).
• Role types are subject to change based on business need.