Careers

Position Summary:

The Power Plant Systems Engineer is responsible for implementing and coordinating engineering support functions for plant operations and maintenance in Bridgeport, CT. This includes providing technical support for daily operations, analyzing plant breakdowns, and recommending corrective action. The engineer also oversees project planning and execution, vendor and contractor management, and predictive and preventive maintenance techniques. Additionally, the engineer serves as the technical contact point for insurance issues and provides IT support.

Principal Job Duties and Responsibilities:

1. Department Head: Establish goals and objectives for the engineering group and organize the various functions in the department with defined areas of responsibility and performance standards. The main departmental functions include engineering, plant performance, operations and maintenance support, safety and environmental compliance support, and IT support (including DCS).
2. Development and Monitoring: Ensure the development, implementation, and evaluation of plant-specific performance monitoring related to availability improvements and thermal efficiency.
3. Plant Improvements/Capital Process: Manage plant improvements by compiling necessary data, investigating alternatives, and making economic evaluations to ensure improved plant safety, availability, efficiency, and environmental performance. Assist in investigating plant problems and incidents and provide analysis, recommendations, and follow-up plans. Lead the plant's configuration (management of change) process.
4. Issue Tracking: Implement and maintain a tracking system for plant issues that impact safety, environmental compliance, equipment condition, budget, or generation.
5. Equipment Maintenance: Utilize tools and analysis techniques to identify developing equipment issues and provide assistance in the development of preventative and scheduled maintenance activities.
6. Root Cause Analysis: Evaluate equipment failures and assist with root cause analysis to prevent recurrence. Investigate plant problems, incidents, accidents, and unusual events, and provide analyses, recommendations, reports, and appropriate follow-up plans.
7. Documentation and Reporting: Maintain and update the plant drawing files and files on equipment, testing, unit availability, generation and downtime statistics, thermal performance, DCS configuration, and water chemistry.
8. Budget Control: Direct and control engineering expenditures to remain within budget guidelines and provide relevant input to the budgetary process.
9. Vendor/Contractor Management: Provide necessary technical support in the preparation of bid specifications, evaluation of vendor/contractor bid proposals, and monitoring of contractor work performance to ensure contract compliance.
10. IT Administration: Assure IT administration, including DCS, through which repairs, modifications, and software changes are completed safely and without impacting unit operation.
11. Interdepartmental Collaboration: Interface with and support the Administration, Operation, Maintenance, Environmental Health and Safety departments in achieving their goals and objectives by providing technical input.
12. Internal and External Coordination: Coordinate with Corporate Engineering, external maintenance and engineering firms, manufacturer sales representatives and service personnel, and vendors to discuss field changes, equipment modifications, resolve problems, and exchange information. Maintain frequent internal contact with various plant personnel to resolve problems, provide technical support, and exchange information.
13. Other Duties: Perform other duties as assigned.
14. Safety and Compliance: Follow all safety/environmental policies, procedures, and rules, and participate in training. Promote the Company's highest value, EH&S, and NERC Compliance through actions and conduct to positively affect morale.

Education/Experience Required:

Job Qualifications:

1. A bachelor's degree in engineering, or equivalent, plus a minimum of ten years of relevant power plant-related experience.
2. A thorough understanding of power plant operations, including knowledge of operations and maintenance components of the plant. Proficient knowledge of computer and control systems is needed. Knowledge of chemistry related to power plant operations and water treatment programs is required. Basic accounting principles, budgets, bid proposals, and contract evaluation are necessary. Knowledge of chemistry, physics, engineering, and plant operations is beneficial.
3. An ability to plan, coordinate, and direct programs and tasks involved with the engineering component of the plant, which influences the entire plant operation. Analyze and interpret data to make sound professional judgments and recommendations. Strong management and motivational skills are necessary for dealing with others.
4. At least five years of experience supervising technical, supervisory, and administrative personnel is required. Strong leadership skills are necessary.
5. Professional Engineering license in the state of Connecticut is strongly encouraged.
6. Must be able to read, write, speak, and understand English.