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City of Austin - JOB DESCRIPTION

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Power Plant Specialist
FLSA: Standard/Non-Exempt EEO Category: (70) Skill Craft
Class Code: 16360 Salary Grade: ZT3
Approved: Last Revised: September 11, 2017

Purpose:
 

Work to be performed under minimal supervision for the mastered craft and general supervision of other work. Trouble shoot and resolve routine or complex equipment problems requiring mastery in one AND competency in a another of the following areas: demonstrated ability in maintenance of electrical, mechanical, or instrumentation/control equipment, ability to operate power plant equipment and provide and utilized appropriate documentation and system updates of work orders.   Develop work plans by researching and determining operational or equipment repair requirements. 

 
Duties, Functions and Responsibilities:
  Essential duties and functions, pursuant to the Americans with Disabilities Act, may include the following. Other related duties may be assigned.
The “Power Plant Specialist” position requires demonstrated competency in one craft and mastery in a second different craft.  NOTE:  In the descriptions below, Mastery of a craft includes the higher proficiency terms in square brackets “[]” whereas competency does not.
The following is required for the Operations Craft:
1. [Estimates or] gathers information to determine starting time for the idle generation units and follows prescribe startup procedures to bring units on line at a specified time.
2. [Autonomously] implements the changes of loading of turbine/generator as required from the DCS (Distributed Control System) console or through other electronic control systems.
3. Reads meters and records data at specified intervals in appropriate logs and computers [and interprets results from the readings].
Duties 4-12 are availabe at Austin Energy Power Plants
The following is required for the MECHANICAL craft:
1. [Responsible for] installs, repairing and maintaining structural or mechanical equipment at the plant including, turbines; pumps; piping systems; boilers; cooling towers; condensers; scrubber; pressure vessels; and all other associated systems and equipment to maintain efficient plant production of electrical energy.
2. Performs [or directs] millwright functions in setting up; aligning; balancing; and testing various machinery and equipment, such a turbines; pumps; shafts; bearings; gearboxes; and valves.
3. Work with precision tools and instruments within close tolerances to maintain precision alignment and balance which is critical for maximum life and performance of machinery and equipment.  [Evaluate the measurements to ensure they meet designed tolerances.]
Duties 4-11 are availabe at Austin Energy Power Plants
The following is required for the ELECTRICAL craft:
1. [Troubleshoot,] maintain, repair, program, and replace complex electrical equipment, A/C and D/C control circuits, magnetic starters, interlock systems, and alarms, to ensure reliable and safe electric generation.
2. Maintain and calibrate electrical equipment such as circuit breakers, [main generator, voltage regulator, exciter, protection circuits and relays,] in plant transformers, bushings, transfer switches, and other electrical devices.
3. [Set up and test various electrical equipment with the use of special testing devices to measure voltage, current, and resistance or locate faults, malfunctions, or device failures.]
Duties 4-8 are availabe at Austin Energy Power Plants
The following is required for the INSTRUMENTATION AND CONTROL craft:
1. [Responsible for] installs, calibrating, testing, troubleshooting, and maintaining protective circuits, computers, metering, monitoring, and control systems on boilers, turbines, generators, and plant auxiliary equipment.
2. Remove, dismantle; clean; maintain; and assemble instruments and replace defective components.  [Perform in shop bench work and component troubleshooting on instrumentation.]
3. [Reads, and interprets electric generating plants piping & instrument diagrams, wiring and logic diagrams to locate, identify, troubleshoot, and repair plant systems, instrumentation interlocks, etc.]
Duties 4-9 are availabe at Austin Energy Power Plants
Responsibilities - Supervisor and/or Leadership Exercised:
  [Provide leadership], work assignments, evaluation, training, and guidance to others.]
Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities:
  Must possess required knowledge, skills, abilities, and experience and be able to explain and demonstrate, with or without reasonable accommodations, that the essential functions of the job can be performed.
  • Knowledge of lock out/tag out procedures for removing equipment from service for maintenance.
  • Knowledge of proper methods and procedures used in cleaning work area and equipment.
  • Knowledge of applicable procedures, methods, equipment, tools, and materials involved in the operations, maintenance and repair of large equipment.
  • Knowledge of safety rules, codes and regulations applicable when working on or near energized electrical systems, steam systems, and high-pressure water systems.
  • Ability to make accurate gauge readings.
  • Skill in establishing and maintaining good working relationships with other City employees and the public.
  • Skill in performing basic mathematical calculations.
  • Skills for mastery in one maintenance craft or in the operations craft AND competency in a different maintenance craft or operations craft.
  • Ability to reference/interpret technical manuals sufficient to perform job tasks.
  • Ability to work in extreme environments. (Hot or Cold)
  • Ability to climb ladders and work in a noisy environment.
  • Ability to lift 50 pounds.
  • Ability to wear a respirator where work environment requires.
  • Ability to work 12 hour rotating shifts if work assignment requires.
  • Ability to sit in front of a computer control console for a 12 hour shift if work assignment requires.
  • Ability to use various hand and power tools.
  • Ability to train others and assign work.
Minimum Qualifications:
 
  • Graduation from an accredited high school or equivalent and five (5) years experience performing a maintenance or operations craft in a power plant or heavy industrial environment. 
  • Associates Degree may be substituted for two years of experience.
Licenses and Certifications Required:
 
  • None.

This description is intended to indicate the kinds of tasks and levels of work difficulty required of the position given this title and shall not be construed as declaring what the specific duties and responsibilities of any particular position shall be. It is not intended to limit or in any way modify the right of management to assign, direct and control the work of employees under supervision. The listing of duties and responsibilities shall not be held to exclude other duties not mentioned that are of similar kind or level of difficulty.