Senior Power Plant Performance Engineer

Placements24; Mbombela (Nelspruit); On-site; ZAR 900,000 - 1,500,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Competitive salary package

Medical aid

Provident fund

Performance-based bonuses

Professional development

Job summary

Placements24 seeks a Senior Power Plant Performance Engineer in Nelspruit to optimize efficiency, reliability, and output of power generation facilities. You will analyze plant data, identify improvements, troubleshoot issues, and implement strategies to enhance performance and reduce operating costs.

The role requires expertise in thermodynamics, combustion, and power plant cycles, with strong analytical and problem-solving skills.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Mechanical or Electrical Engineering or related field.
• Master's degree or Pr.Eng registration is highly desirable.
• Minimum of 7 years of experience in power plant operations or performance engineering.
• Strong knowledge of thermodynamics, heat transfer, fluid dynamics, and power plant cycles.
• Experience with performance monitoring software and data analysis tools.
• Proficiency in troubleshooting complex mechanical and electrical systems in a power plant environment.
• Excellent analytical, problem-solving, and decision-making skills.
• Strong communication and interpersonal skills, with teamwork ability.
• Experience with various power generation technologies (thermal, gas turbine, renewable).
• Ability to read technical drawings, P&IDs, and equipment manuals.
• Willingness to work occasional shifts or be on-call for Nelspruit area.

Responsibilities

• Monitor and report on performance of power plant equipment and systems (turbines, boilers, generators).
• Perform thermodynamic and efficiency calculations to identify deviations.
• Develop strategies to improve plant efficiency, reduce emissions, and minimize fuel use.
• Troubleshoot operational issues and provide technical recommendations.
• Lead root cause analysis for performance-related incidents and failures.
• Oversee calibration and maintenance of instrumentation and monitoring systems.
• Develop and maintain performance models for plant equipment.
• Support outage planning with performance input and analysis.
• Ensure compliance with environmental regulations and performance guarantees.
• Collaborate with operations and maintenance to implement improvements.
• Stay updated on new technologies for performance optimization.
• Prepare technical reports and present findings to management in Mpumalanga.

Skills

Thermodynamics

Power plant operations

Data analysis

Troubleshooting

Performance optimization

Communication

Education

Bachelor's degree in Mechanical or Electrical Engineering

Master's degree or Pr.Eng registration desirable

Tools

P&IDs interpretation

Performance monitoring software

Data analysis tools

Job description

About the Role

Our client, a major independent power producer, is seeking an experienced Senior Power Plant Performance Engineer to join their team in Nelspruit . This role is essential for optimizing the efficiency, reliability, and output of their power generation facilities. You will be responsible for analyzing plant performance data, identifying areas for improvement, troubleshooting operational issues, and implementing strategies to enhance overall plant efficiency and reduce operating costs. This position requires a strong understanding of thermodynamics, combustion, and power plant cycles, coupled with advanced analytical and problem-solving skills. You will work closely with plant operations, maintenance, and engineering teams to ensure optimal performance across all units.

Key Responsibilities

• Monitor, analyze, and report on the performance of power plant equipment and systems (turbines, boilers, generators, etc.).
• Conduct detailed thermodynamic and efficiency calculations to identify performance deviations.
• Develop and implement strategies for improving plant efficiency, reducing emissions, and minimizing fuel consumption.
• Troubleshoot operational issues and equipment performance problems, providing technical recommendations.
• Lead root cause analysis for performance-related incidents and equipment failures.
• Oversee the calibration and maintenance of plant instrumentation and performance monitoring systems.
• Develop and maintain performance models for power plant equipment.
• Support outage planning and execution by providing performance-related input and analysis.
• Ensure compliance with environmental regulations and performance guarantees.
• Collaborate with operations and maintenance teams to implement efficiency improvement initiatives.
• Stay abreast of new technologies and methodologies for power plant performance optimization.
• Prepare technical reports and present findings to plant management and stakeholders in Mpumalanga .

Requirements

• Bachelor's degree in Mechanical Engineering, Electrical Engineering, or a related field.
• A Master's degree or Professional Engineer (Pr.Eng) registration is highly desirable.
• Minimum of 7 years of experience in power plant operations or performance engineering.
• Strong knowledge of thermodynamics, heat transfer, fluid dynamics, and power plant cycles.
• Experience with performance monitoring software and data analysis tools.
• Proficiency in troubleshooting complex mechanical and electrical systems in a power plant environment.
• Excellent analytical, problem-solving, and decision-making skills.
• Strong communication and interpersonal skills, with the ability to work effectively in a team.
• Experience with different types of power generation technologies (e.g., thermal, gas turbine, renewable).
• Ability to interpret technical drawings, P&IDs, and equipment manuals.
• Willingness to work occasional shifts or be on-call as required for plant support in the Nelspruit area.

Benefits

• Our client offers a competitive salary package, comprehensive medical aid, a substantial provident fund, and performance-based bonuses.
• Employees benefit from ongoing professional development, including training programs and opportunities to attend industry conferences.
• This role provides a challenging and rewarding career path within the energy sector, with opportunities for advancement.
• The company culture promotes teamwork and operational excellence, located in the scenic province of Mpumalanga .