Plant Engineer

Opportunity Summary

The Plant Engineer will support two generating facilities: Faribault Energy Park and the MRS plant site. Faribault Energy Park is a 1x1 combined-cycle facility consisting of one GE 7FA gas turbine and one GE A-10 steam turbine. A major capital project is scheduled within the next year to upgrade the existing 7FA.03 gas turbine to a 7FA.05 configuration, including replacement of the gas turbine, compressor, and exhaust systems. The Plant Engineer will play a key role in supporting this upgrade.

Responsibilities

• Evaluate system performance, troubleshoot issues, and implement technical improvements at Minnesota River Station and Faribault Energy Park.
• Maintain and analyze Siemens SGT 800 turbine and auxiliary systems at Minnesota River Station, and GE Frame 7FA turbines at Faribault, evaluating efficiency, heat rate, and availability trends.
• Optimize Distributed Control Systems (DCS) and PLCs for safe, efficient startup, shutdown, and peaking operations.
• Implement monitoring programs such as vibration analysis, thermography, and oil analysis, ensuring accurate instrumentation and measurement systems.
• Administer the Configuration Control Program to ensure documentation accuracy and compliance.
• Collaborate with vendors, engineering firms, and contractors to resolve technical issues, implement field modifications, and optimize labor and resources.
• Support reliability studies and manage capital improvement projects to maximize availability, efficiency, and cost-effectiveness.
• Ensure NERC compliance by coordinating audits, maintaining and updating procedures, and supporting training efforts.
• Assist operations and maintenance teams with startup, shutdown, and troubleshooting to ensure safe and reliable plant performance.
• Travel to and provide operational and engineering support at the Faribault Energy Park, assisting with maintenance, reliability initiatives, and plant optimization.
• Maintain and report on compliance with safety, environmental, and emissions regulations, supporting internal and external audits.
• Develop and maintain Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) and training materials, providing guidance to plant personnel for consistent and safe operations.
• Analyze operational and performance data, generating reports to support management decisions and optimize peaking plant schedules.
• Participate in NAES Safety and Regulatory Compliance Programs, promoting a strong safety culture and adherence to regulatory requirements.
• Perform additional assignments from the Plant Manager that contribute to overall plant efficiency, reliability, and effectiveness.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Electrical Engineering or a related field is required.
• Relevant industry or military experience may be considered in lieu of education.
• Demonstrated proficiency in power plant operations and engineering, including turbine and auxiliary systems, maintenance processes, and startup/shutdown procedures.
• Experience performing root cause analysis for equipment failures or forced outages and preparing clear reports with actionable recommendations.
• Knowledge and hands-on experience with control systems (DCS/PLC) and performance monitoring tools to optimize plant efficiency, heat rate, and availability.
• Proficiency with condition monitoring, diagnostics, and instrumentation, including vibration analysis, thermography, oil analysis, and calibration of measurement systems.
• Experience implementing cost-effective reliability improvements, preventive maintenance, and capital projects to maximize availability and minimize downtime.
• Working knowledge of safety, environmental, and regulatory compliance, including emissions monitoring, CEMS/DAHS, and applicable air, water, and waste regulations.
• Ability to develop SOPs, train staff, and coordinate with vendors or contractors, ensuring consistent, safe, and efficient plant operations.
• Strong analytical, communication, and resource management skills, including budgeting, reporting, inventory oversight, and the ability to perform other assigned engineering tasks.
• Must possess a valid, unrestricted U.S. driver’s license and ensure it remains in good standing at all times.