Control Room Operator (Coal) 

Job Summary 

The Coal Control Room Operator is the primary authority responsible for the safe and efficient operation of a multi-unit coal-fired steam electric generating station.

Operating from a central Distributed Control System, you will manage the entire Rankine Cycle: from the coal yard to the switchyard. This involves coordinating the pulverization of fuel, managing high-pressure super-critical or sub-critical boilers, operating steam turbines, and overseeing complex Flue Gas Desulfurization (FGD) systems to ensure strict environmental compliance.

Key Responsibilities

• Boiler & Fuel Management: Monitor and adjust coal feeders and pulverizers (ball mills/bowl mills) to ensure proper fuel fineness and flow rates to the burners. Actively manage air-to-fuel ratios, burner tilt, and damper positions to maintain stable fireball combustion and optimal furnace exit gas temperatures. Control feedwater flow and firing rates to maintain critical steam drum levels, superheat temperatures, and reheat pressures. Execute sootblowing sequences (cleaning ash from boiler tubes using high-pressure steam) to maintain heat transfer efficiency and prevent slag build-up.

• Turbine-Generator Operations: Execute turbine roll, heat soak, and synchronization to the electrical grid. Ramp megawatt output up or down based on Automatic Generation Control signals or dispatcher requests. Continuously track turbine vibration, bearing temperatures, and seal oil systems to detect early signs of mechanical distress.

• Environmental Systems: Manage the Flue Gas Desulfurization system, regulating limestone slurry injection to remove Sulfur Dioxide (SO2). Operate Electrostatic Precipitators or Baghouses, adjusting T-R sets (Transformer-Rectifiers) to ensure opacity remains clear. Control Ammonia injection in SCR (Selective Catalytic Reduction) systems. Monitor Continuous Emissions Monitoring Systems data in real-time; you have the authority and obligation to derate or trip the unit if emissions limits are threatened.

• Plant Coordination & Safety: Direct the actions of Outside Operators (Auxiliary Operators) to perform local valve alignments, clear coal feeder jams, or inspect bottom ash systems. React immediately to tube leaks, loss of vacuum, or unit trips, executing "Safe Park" procedures to protect capital equipment. Serve as the primary isolation authority, issuing Lock-Out/Tag-Out clearances for maintenance on high-energy systems.

Qualifications

Education: High School Diploma/GED.

Experience: 5+ years of power plant experience, typically progressing from Coal Yard to Ash Handler to Auxiliary Operator to CRO. Proven experience with DCS platforms (Emerson Ovation, ABB Bailey, Foxboro, or Siemens T3000).

Technical Knowledge:

• Deep understanding of thermodynamics, heat transfer, and fluid flow.
• Knowledge of coal characteristics (BTU content, moisture, sulfur) and how they affect combustion.
• Expert knowledge of LOTO and Confined Space procedures.

Requirements

• Travel: Ability to travel 75% to 100% of the time, often on short notice, to project sites globally, sometimes for extended durations.
• Strong verbal, written, analytical and interpersonal skills.  

• Excellent customer, communication, and interpersonal skills. 

• Ability to work independently. 

• Ability to complete multiple projects within time constraints.  

• Strong organizational skills.  

• Valid jurisdictional driver license.  

• Ability to work holidays, weekends, and overtime.  

• Ability to work both indoors and outdoors, requiring physical activity, including climbing ladders, working at elevations, bending, twisting, kneeling, crawling, pushing/pulling, standing, walking, and lifting 50 pounds.

• Ability to work in areas that may be noisy, cold, hot, dirty, and able to wear personal protective equipment.  

• Ability to meet appropriate physical requirements as determined by the corporate Health & Safety Department as prerequisites to perform certain tasks or training activities, for example, pulmonary function testing for respiratory protection, if required.

• Must be legally eligible to work in the United States without sponsorship. 

Safety 

• Adhere to safety regulations and procedures.
• Wear appropriate personal protective equipment (PPE)

** This job description in no way states or implies that these are the only duties to be performed by this employee. He or she will be required to follow any other instructions and to perform any other duties requested by his or her supervisor. Qualifications are representative of minimum levels of knowledge, skills, and/or abilities. To perform this job successfully, the employee must possess the abilities or aptitudes to perform each duty proficiently. Continued employment remains on an “at-will basis.” 

      Equal Opportunity Employer

Experience needed: Extensive experience in control room operations at large coal fired power generation facilities.