Operations and Maintenance (O&M) / Electrical Technician

The Commonwealth Chesapeake Peaker facility, located in New Church, VA, just 3/4 mile south of the Maryland border, plays a key role in the region's energy infrastructure. Built in 2000, the plant houses seven LM 6000 turbines with a total generating capacity of 315 MW at nominal load. Its strategic location ensures efficient and reliable energy production, helping meet regional power demand and supporting grid stability.

Opportunity Summary

The Operations and Maintenance (O&M) / Electrical Technician plays a key role in the safe operation and maintenance of the site's seven GE LM6000 simple-cycle combustion turbine generator sets and auxiliary equipment. This role involves performing electrical preventive maintenance, troubleshooting, and repair of critical plant systems, including process control devices, transformers, circuit breakers, and instrumentation. Completing the Chesapeake Operator certification program within the first year of employment and maintaining certification at all times is a key function of this role. With a strong focus on safety, reliability, and technical expertise, the technician plays a vital role in the efficient operation of the facility while developing specialized skills in power generation systems.

Primary Functions

Your scope of responsibility as O&M / Electrical Technician will include the following primary functions:

- Work as part of an efficient and motivated team to operate and maintain the facility, performing duties across various skill areas with minimal direction and supervision. Collaborate effectively to achieve plant goals and objectives, ensuring smooth information turnover between shifts and during project handoffs.

- Electrical preventive maintenance includes the calibration, testing, installation, troubleshooting, and repair of plant equipment such as process control devices, motors, generators, batteries, transformers, regulators, valves, circuit breakers, disconnect switches, analog/digital instrumentation, control relays, communication systems, lighting, and auxiliary equipment within the generating station and its associated substations.

- Mechanical preventive maintenance includes the calibration, testing, installation, troubleshooting, and repair of equipment such as aero-derivative turbines, generators, clutches, motors, pumps, compressors, and auxiliary systems. Additional tasks involve vibration analysis, laser alignment, and oil analysis.

- Once trained and qualified, instrumentation and controls preventive maintenance responsibilities include calibration, testing, installation, troubleshooting, and repair of plant hardware and software systems. This includes the turbine control system (MicroNet), balance of plant control system (Emerson DeltaV), telemetry/SCADA (GE Harris, OSIsoft Pi), plant servers, networking, updates, and security systems.

- Read and interpret complex blueprints, wiring, and schematic diagrams. Perform internal and external switching and tagging for mechanical and electrical systems.

- Efficiently use the computerized maintenance management system (Maximo) to generate tasks, work orders, and requisitions, and manage spare parts inventory. Maintain accurate logs, records, and pass-down information. Develop procedures, reports, log sheets, and checklists as required.

- With appropriate training, perform safe filling, shutdown, unloading, and inspection of diesel fuel handling, storage, and distribution systems.

- Complete the Chesapeake Operator certification program within the first year of employment and maintain certification at all times thereafter.

- Actively participate in the site's Safety Management, Environmental, EHS Contingency, and Maintenance Plans, ensuring compliance with safety protocols and regulatory requirements. Maintain high standards of safety and housekeeping in assigned maintenance areas.

- Safely operate vehicles, forklifts, man lifts, cranes, hoists, and welding/cutting tools as required for job duties. Utilize appropriate safety equipment and techniques in daily tasks.

- Perform other reasonable duties as assigned.

Major Equipment List

The O&M / Electrical Technician is responsible for maintaining and operating various equipment and components, including:

- GE LM-6000 aero-derivative turbine, controls, and auxiliaries.

- Alstom and Brush 50MW air-cooled generator, controls, and auxiliaries.

- Centrifugal inlet air chillers and controls.

- Rotary screw chillers and controls.

- Fuel oil centrifuges.

- Air compressors.

- Fuel distribution, storage, and unloading systems.

- Water supply systems, including demineralizers.

- Emerson/Control Dynamics distributed control system (DCS).

- Transformers, relays, circuit breakers, and related equipment.

NAES Safe

Safety is a core value of NAES and as a condition of employment, all employees are expected to be mentally alert and work safely at all times. Additionally, employees are required to adhere to all safety warnings and posted safety signs whenever on company property. Furthermore, employees must follow all NAES safety rules and procedures. Effectiveness in carrying out this responsibility is part of the evaluation of each employee’s performance.

Working Relationships

The O&M / Electrical Technician reports to the O&M Manager and cooperates with all plant personnel relative to the operation and maintenance of the facility.

Physical Requirements and Working Conditions

Physical requirements include standing for extended periods of time, stair and ladder climbing, and routinely lifting up to 50 pounds. Protective equipment must be worn in the performance of some duties (e.g., hard hats, safety glasses, air masks, ear protection, chemical suits, hot gloves, and high voltage protective equipment, etc.). Work with hazardous materials may be required. There are extensive smoking restrictions in and around the facility.

Working surfaces and terrain are varied: tile, concrete, stone/rock, grating, soil, and grass ground coverings. Access to areas include uneven surfaces, ladders, platforms, and while utilizing site procedures entry into areas with limited or confined access.

Fitness for Duty

All employees will participate in the Fitness for Duty Program. This program includes post-offer physical examination and drug screening and post-employment random drug screening.

Work Schedule

The work schedule follows a rotating 12-hour shift pattern, alternating between day and night shifts. Position requires extended working hours and varied shifts with weekend and holiday work, as required by schedules, workload, and plant conditions. "On call" status will rotate weekends and may periodically be required throughout the week.

Compensation

The initial starting compensation will range from $35 to $45 per hour and will include an annual performance bonus.

Job Qualifications

- Ability to comprehend procedures and instructions relevant to the assigned area, typically obtained through four years of high school. A two-year degree/diploma may be substituted with related work experience on a year-for-year basis.

- Demonstrated expertise in the maintenance and troubleshooting of electrical systems in turbine generators, auxiliary equipment, and plant systems is essential. Familiarity with the specific challenges and safety protocols in a power generation environment is highly valued.

- Proficiency in electric generating equipment, including the repair and maintenance of turbine generators, along with knowledge of mechanical, electrical, instrumentation, or control systems, is desired.

- A strong foundation in both theoretical and practical knowledge of combustion turbine operations, industrial safety, hazardous waste management, and plant parameter inspection/recording is highly desirable.

- The ability to diagnose and troubleshoot complex electrical system issues is critical. Experience with electrical diagnostic tools and methods, such as power quality testing, fault detection, relay testing, and circuit analysis, is highly beneficial.

- Experience in the operation and maintenance of industrial chillers and aero-derivative turbines is a plus.

- Strong oral and written communication skills, with familiarity with computer-based productivity tools such as Microsoft software, work order databases (CMMS), maintenance logs, and procurement systems. Clear documentation and effective communication are necessary.

- Ability to work well with others, be self-directed, and apply creative solutions to unique instrumentation, electrical, and mechanical challenges, emphasizing teamwork and innovative thinking in complex situations.

- Must possess a valid and unrestricted driver's license, ensuring it remains in good standing at all times, allowing for travel as needed.

About NAES

NAES Corporation is the leading provider of operations, maintenance, and engineering services for energy facilities. We have established ourselves as a reliable partner for clients in North America and internationally, offering services across power generation, oil and gas, and renewable energy sectors. Additionally, our growing family of companies enables us to address the entire life cycle of power generation and other industrial plants.

NAES is committed to a diverse and inclusive workplace. It is the practice of NAES to seek employees of the highest quality and to select individuals on the basis of merit and competence, without regard to race, color, religion, national origin, gender, gender identity, sexual orientation, age, disability, military status or affiliation protected under USERRA, or any other basis of discrimination prohibited by applicable local, state and federal law.

Experience

Preferred

- Ability to comprehend procedures and instructions relevant to the assigned area, typically obtained through four years of high school. A two-year degree/diploma may be substituted with related work experience on a year-for-year basis.

- Demonstrated expertise in the maintenance and troubleshooting of electrical systems in turbine generators, auxiliary equipment, and plant systems is essential. Familiarity with the specific challenges and safety protocols in a power generation environment is highly valued.

- Proficiency in electric generating equipment, including the repair and maintenance of turbine generators, along with knowledge of mechanical, electrical, instrumentation, or control systems, is desired.

- A strong foundation in both theoretical and practical knowledge of combustion turbine operations, industrial safety, hazardous waste management, and plant parameter inspection/recording is highly desirable.

- The ability to diagnose and troubleshoot complex electrical system issues is critical. Experience with electrical diagnostic tools and methods, such as power quality testing, fault detection, relay testing, and circuit analysis, is highly beneficial.

- Experience in the operation and maintenance of industrial chillers and aero-derivative turbines is a plus.

- Strong oral and written communication skills, with familiarity with computer-based productivity tools such as Microsoft software, work order databases (CMMS), maintenance logs, and procurement systems. Clear documentation and effective communication are necessary.

- Ability to work well with others, be self-directed, and apply creative solutions to unique instrumentation, electrical, and mechanical challenges, emphasizing teamwork and innovative thinking in complex situations.

Education

Preferred

- Technical/other training or better in Power Plant Technology or related field

- High School or better

Licenses & Certifications

Required

- Driver's License

Skills

Preferred

- Electrical Hazard Awareness

- Electrical Systems

- Electrical

- Electrical Controls

- O&M - Operations & Maintenance

- Power Plant Operations

- Power Plant Fundamentals

- Power Generation

- CMMS

- Computer Skills

- Verbal and Written Communications

- Water Chemistry

Behaviors

Preferred

- Innovative: Consistently introduces new ideas and demonstrates original thinking

- Functional Expert: Considered a thought leader on a subject

- Team Player: Works well as a member of a group

Equal Opportunity Employer

This employer is required to notify all applicants of their rights pursuant to federal employment laws. For further information, please review the Know Your Rights notice from the Department of Labor.