Plant Operator

Title: Plant Operator

Position Type: Contract

Location: Waco, TX

Reports to: Plant Manager

Status: Non-exempt

Key Project Requirements:

- Prior operating experience with gas turbines, boilers/HRSGs, steam systems, and water treatment equipment in a power generation or heavy industrial setting.

- Familiarity with plant control and monitoring systems such as GE Mark VI, Valmet DNA, or PARCview (or similar DCS/SCADA platforms)

- Working knowledge of water treatment systems, including sampling, chemistry testing, and operation of RO units, softeners, and condensate polishers.

Job Summary:

NAES is seeking an experienced Plant Operator to support a cogeneration facility in Waco, TX. The Plant Operator will play a key role in ensuring the safe, efficient, and reliable operation of critical plant assets, including gas turbines, package boilers, HRSG, water treatment systems, and steam systems. This role involves performing rounds, monitoring equipment performance, conducting water chemistry testing, troubleshooting operational issues, and supporting outage and maintenance activities.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities:

- Operate all plant equipment within design, operational, and environmental limits.

- Perform daily rounds, monitor system performance, and conduct troubleshooting to resolve operational issues.

- Execute lockout/tagout (LOTO) procedures and maintain strict compliance with all safety policies.

- Manage and perform water treatment activities including sampling, testing, backwashes, regenerations, and resin/media replacement for multimedia filters, RO filters, softeners, and condensate polishers.

- Operate and monitor package boilers and HRSGs, including combustion controls, emissions management, interlock testing, flame safety testing, and water chemistry adjustments.

- Support gas turbine operations including startups, shutdowns, filter replacements, combustion controls, interlock and safety testing, and performance monitoring.

Job Requirements:

- Working knowledge of gas turbine, boiler, HRSG, and steam system operations.

- Understanding of water treatment systems, including multimedia filters, RO, softeners, and condensate polishers.

- Familiarity with control systems such as GE Mark VI, Valmet DNA, or PARCview, or similar DCS/SCADA platforms.

- Strong background in safety practices, including LOTO/PTW, hazard recognition, and environmental compliance.

Education / Experience:

- High school diploma or GED required

- 3+ years of experience in power plant, cogeneration, or heavy industrial operations.

- Hands-on experience with gas turbines, boilers/HRSGs, and water treatment systems strongly preferred.