Systems Engineer

NAES; Pleasant Hill (MO); On-site; USD 115,000 - 150,000; Full time

Job summary

NAES seeks a Systems Engineer at the Dogwood Energy Facility near Pleasant Hill, MO, to provide technical ownership and engineering support for 2x1 combined-cycle operations, focusing on controls, instrumentation, and automation.

You will troubleshoot complex control issues, analyze performance, develop engineering solutions, support outages, and drive reliability improvements across gas turbines, HRSGs, steam turbine, and balance-of-plant systems.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in engineering (Mechanical, Electrical, Controls, Chemical) or equivalent power generation/industrial experience.
• Extensive experience supporting control, instrumentation, and automation systems in combined-cycle power generation or heavy industrial environment.
• Strong knowledge of gas turbines, HRSGs, steam turbines, generators, and balance-of-plant systems with troubleshooting ability.
• Experience configuring, programming, troubleshooting control systems using MOC processes.
• Experience conducting RCA and corrective actions.
• Experience supporting plant startups, outages, maintenance.
• Knowledge of cybersecurity, backup and recovery, and NERC requirements.
• Valid U.S. driver's license.

Responsibilities

• Provide technical leadership in configuration, troubleshooting, maintenance, and optimization of control, instrumentation, and automation systems.
• Support assigned plant systems across gas turbines, HRSGs, steam turbine, generators, and balance-of-plant systems.
• Monitor system performance, alarms, process data, and operating trends.
• Implement improvements to enhance reliability, availability, and performance.
• Provide technical support for DCS, PLC, SCADA, controls, instrumentation, and balance-of-plant automation.
• Lead Root Cause Analysis investigations and develop corrective actions.
• Troubleshoot complex equipment and control issues, coordinating with Operations, Maintenance, OEMs, and technical resources.
• Develop engineering solutions addressing deficiencies and opportunities for reliability/performance improvement.
• Support plant startups, shutdowns, outages, and major maintenance with technical scopes and testing procedures.
• Manage engineering and control system projects through implementation using MOC processes.
• Maintain control system standards, drawings, documentation, and system information for configuration accuracy.
• Evaluate condition, lifecycle, obsolescence, and recommend upgrades and maintenance strategies.
• Analyze plant performance to identify efficiency losses and system interactions affecting heat rate and output.
• Support network reliability and security through proper access, backup/recovery, and cybersecurity practices.
• Collaborate with Operations, Maintenance, Engineering, and technical resources to resolve issues and improve operations.

Skills

Root Cause Analysis

Troubleshooting

Engineering Support

Control System Knowledge

Team Collaboration

Education

Bachelor’s degree in Mechanical, Electrical, Controls, or Chemical Engineering

Tools

DCS

PLC

SCADA

Control System Programming

Job description

The Dogwood Energy Facility, located near Pleasant Hill in Cass County, Missouri, approximately 35 miles southeast of Kansas City, operates within the northern SPP reliability council region. The plant operates a 2x1 configuration featuring Siemens Westinghouse 501F gas turbines, Toshiba HRSGs, and a Toshiba steam turbine. The facility maintains a strong reliability culture and a collaborative maintenance team environment.

Opportunity Summary

As the Systems Engineer at Dogwood Energy Facility, you’ll provide technical ownership and engineering support for assigned systems across the plant’s 2x1 combined-cycle operation, with emphasis on controls, instrumentation, and automation. The role puts your expertise to work troubleshooting equipment and control issues, analyzing system performance, developing engineering solutions, and supporting projects, outages, and major maintenance. Your contributions will directly influence reliability, plant efficiency, and long-term asset performance through root cause analysis, lifecycle planning, cybersecurity, and continuous improvement.

Your scope of responsibility as Systems Engineer includes the following primary functions:

• Provide technical leadership in the configuration, troubleshooting, maintenance, and optimization of control, instrumentation, and automation systems supporting combined-cycle operations.
• Provide technical leadership and engineering support for assigned plant systems and equipment across the gas turbines, HRSGs, steam turbine, generators, and balance-of-plant systems.
• Monitor system performance, alarms, process data, and operating trends.
• Implement improvements that enhance plant reliability, availability, and performance.
• Provide technical support for DCS, PLC, SCADA, controls, instrumentation, and balance-of-plant automation.
• Lead Root Cause Analysis (RCA) investigations involving control systems, instrumentation, automation, equipment failures, system deficiencies, forced outages, and significant operating events, and develop and implement effective corrective actions.
• Troubleshoot complex equipment, process, mechanical, electrical, instrumentation, and control issues affecting plant systems, coordinating with Operations, Maintenance, OEMs, and technical resources as needed.
• Develop engineering solutions and technical recommendations to address equipment deficiencies, recurring problems, system limitations, and opportunities for reliability and performance improvement.
• Support plant startups, shutdowns, planned outages, and major maintenance by developing technical work scopes, evaluating repair strategies, developing control testing procedures, and verifying equipment readiness for service.
• Manage engineering projects, control system projects, equipment modifications, system upgrades, and reliability improvements from technical evaluation through implementation using established Management of Change (MOC) processes.
• Maintain control system standards, network architecture, logic diagrams, engineering documentation, drawings, specifications, calculations, equipment histories, and system information to ensure configuration accuracy and effective technical knowledge management.
• Evaluate the condition, lifecycle, and obsolescence of assigned systems and equipment and recommend upgrades, replacements, spare parts, maintenance strategies, and long-term asset plans.
• Analyze plant and system performance to identify equipment limitations, efficiency losses, and system interactions affecting heat rate, output, availability, and overall plant performance.
• Support control system network reliability and security through appropriate access, configuration, backup and recovery practices, and compliance with applicable cybersecurity requirements.
• Partner with Operations, Maintenance, Engineering, and technical resources to resolve system issues, establish reliability priorities, and support safe, efficient, and compliant plant operations.

Perform other duties as assigned to support safe, reliable, and compliant plant operations.

NAES Safe

Safety is a core value at NAES, and as a condition of employment, all employees are expected to remain mentally alert and work safely at all times. Employees must also adhere to all safety warnings and posted signs while on company property. Additionally, they are required to follow all NAES safety rules and procedures. Adherence to these safety responsibilities is one of the key factors in the evaluation of each employee’s performance.

Working Relationships

The Systems Engineer reports to the Plant Manager and collaborates closely with plant management, Environmental, Safety, and Administrative teams, as well as NAES Corporate Support Services. The role also provides technical guidance and support to Operations and Maintenance personnel to promote safe, reliable, and compliant plant operations.

Physical Requirements And Working Conditions

Physical requirements include standing for extended periods of time, climbing stairs and ladders, working from elevated platforms and walkways at varying heights, and routinely lifting up to 50 pounds. Power plant environment that may involve entering confined spaces, crawling through narrow areas, and handling hazardous materials, with exposure to fumes, extreme temperatures, and noise. Work may include high heat near equipment and varying outdoor weather conditions. Some duties may require the use of protective equipment, which can include hard hats, safety glasses, and eye protection, air masks/respirators, ear protection, chemical suits, flame-resistant clothing (FRC), hot gloves, high-voltage protective gear, and fall protection. Fit testing for respirators may be required. Strict smoking restrictions apply in and around the facility.

Fitness for Duty

All personnel will participate in the Fitness for Duty Program, which includes a post-offer physical examination, drug screening, and post-employment random drug screening.

Work Schedule

The Systems Engineer typically works a Monday through Friday day shift during regular business hours. This position will require extended hours, flexible shifts, weekends, holidays, and on-call availability as needed to support plant operations and business needs.

Compensation

This position offers an annual base salary ranging from $115,000 to $150,000 and includes eligibility for an annual performance bonus.

Technical Expertise & Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Mechanical, Electrical, Controls, Chemical Engineering, or a related engineering discipline is required. Equivalent power generation, plant engineering, technical, or military experience may be considered in lieu of formal education.
• Extensive experience providing engineering support and supporting control, instrumentation, and automation systems in combined-cycle power generation or comparable heavy industrial environment, with proficiency in DCS, PLC, and turbine and generator controls.
• Strong technical knowledge of combined-cycle plant systems and equipment, including gas turbines, HRSGs, steam turbines, generators, and balance-of-plant systems with the ability to troubleshoot complex mechanical, electrical, and process issues.
• Demonstrated experience configuring, programming, troubleshooting, testing, and optimizing control systems, including control logic, sequencing, permissives, control loops, and system alarms using established MOC processes.
• Experience analyzing equipment condition, operating data, and plant performance to identify degradation, efficiency losses, reliability risks, and opportunities for system improvement.
• Demonstrated experience conducting Root Cause Analysis (RCA) and developing corrective actions for equipment failures, system deficiencies, forced outages, and recurring performance issues.
• Experience supporting plant startups, shutdowns, planned outages, and major maintenance, including technical work scopes, repair evaluations, equipment testing, and return-to-service activities.
• Working knowledge of control system documentation, configuration management, backup and recovery, cybersecurity, and applicable NERC regulatory requirements.
• Must possess a valid, unrestricted U.S. driver’s license and ensure it remains in good standing at all times.

About NAES

NAES Corporation is a leading provider of operations, maintenance, and engineering services for energy facilities. We serve clients across the power generation, oil and gas, and renewable energy sectors throughout North America and internationally, supporting the full life cycle of power generation and other industrial facilities.

NAES is committed to fostering a diverse and inclusive workplace. Employment decisions are based on merit and qualifications, without regard to race, color, religion, national origin, sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, age, disability, military status, USERRA-protected status, or any other characteristic protected by applicable federal, state, or local law.