Assistant Director Second Class Power Plant Engineer

Operates, maintains, and/or repairs high pressure boilers and auxiliary machinery and equipment; cleans machinery and equipment; responds to emergencies or equipment breakdowns; maintains adequate supply of fuel; and performs related work to ensure the assigned power plant facility is operated and maintained safely and efficiently.

Supervision Received

Under general supervision of the Director of Boiler Plant and Utility Operations, or designee.

Supervision Exercised

May exercise direct supervision over 1–5 personnel, indirect supervision over 6–15 personnel, and functional supervision over 6–15 personnel.

Responsibilities

• Checks, inspects, and monitors machinery, equipment, and systems such as steam traps, heat control panels, safety valves, high and low water converters, steam reducing stations, gas systems, fire alarms, fire sprinklers, fire hydrant systems, standpipes, hot water preheat systems, oil jackets, generators (diesel, steam, turbine), pumps, water pumping stations, pneumatic temperature and pressure control systems, electrical systems, steam and water lines, refrigeration systems, air conditioning and ventilating systems, motor bearings, boiler fires, air compressors, smoke stack emissions, coiling oil tanks, and chemical tank levels to ensure safe, efficient, and pollution-free operation.
• Operates machinery and equipment such as chillers, boilers, generators, pumps, and valves to ensure power provision.
• Repairs, overhauls, and maintains machinery and equipment by replacing turbines, boilers, burners, motors, pumps, and compressors; using metal laths, electric hacksaws, pipe threaders, and other machine shop equipment; repairing pipes, valves, gauges; cleaning or replacing filters; lubricating equipment; and making minor electrical or plumbing repairs to prevent breakdowns.
• Cleans and maintains work areas, plant machinery, and equipment such as suction and discharge oil strainers, burners, boilers, and pumps to ensure safety and efficiency.
• Responds to emergencies and breakdowns by evaluating equipment or system problems, identifying issues under service contract and informing contractors, determining necessary repairs, deciding when to shut down equipment, transferring from automatic to manual operation, and operating the power plant by total steam when other systems fail to ensure uninterrupted service.

Working Conditions

• Exposure to hazards of gases, noxious fumes, high pressure boilers, steamlines, caustic or inflammatory chemicals, and high voltage.
• Exposure to intense heat, excessive noise, coal dust, asbestos, or inadequate ventilation.
• Lifting heavy objects.
• Variable shifts including weekends, holidays, and nights.
• Subject to standby (on-call) status.
• May work in a penal institution.

Requirements

• Knowledge of the principles of operation of industrial type heating systems.
• Knowledge of the types and uses of industrial type heating systems.
• Knowledge of the principles of pneumatics as applied to heating, ventilating, and air conditioning systems.
• Knowledge of the types and uses of pneumatic controls used in power plant operations.
• Knowledge of calibration and adjustment techniques for pneumatic control systems.
• Knowledge of the fundamentals of electrical practice.
• Knowledge of precision measuring equipment used in a power plant (e.g., manometers, voltmeters, anemometers, tachometers).
• Possession of a Second Class or higher Stationary Engineer’s license based on Massachusetts Department of Public Safety standards (Chapter 146 of the Massachusetts General Laws).

Benefits

This is a full-time, non-exempt, benefits-eligible position in the American Federation of State, County, and Municipal Employees (AFSCME) bargaining unit.

Pay

Annual base salary of $94,148.60 (grade 19, step 12).