Control Room Operator (Combined Cycle)

Job Summary 

The Combined Cycle Control Room Operator is the "Pilot" of a high-efficiency power station. Operating from a central Distributed Control System, you are responsible for the safe start-up, operation, and shutdown of Gas Turbine Generators, Heat Recovery Steam Generators, and Steam Turbine Generators.

Unlike simple cycle plants, you manage two thermodynamic cycles simultaneously. You must balance the rapid response of the gas turbines with the thermal inertia of the steam cycle, ensuring grid demand is met while maintaining strict environmental compliance and steam chemistry limits.

Key Responsibilities

• Plant Operations & Grid Synchronization: Execute cold, warm, and hot start-ups. You will accelerate the Gas Turbine to full speed, synchronize to the grid, and gradually warm the HRSG and Steam Turbine to manage thermal stress. Respond to Automatic Generation Control signals from the ISO/Dispatcher, ramping megawatt output up or down to chase renewable energy fluctuations or meet peak demand. Monitor thousands of data points via the DCS (e.g., Emerson Ovation, Siemens T3000, GE Mark VIe), scanning for alarms, trends, and process deviations.

• Steam Cycle & HRSG Management: Critical management of HRSG drum levels (HP/IP/LP). You must balance feedwater flow against steam production to prevent "carryover" (water entering the turbine) or "burnout" (tubes running dry). Control attemperators and steam bypass valves to maintain precise superheat and reheat temperatures. Monitor the Air Cooled Condenser or surface condenser to ensure optimal backpressure (vacuum), which directly impacts plant efficiency (Heat Rate).

• Environmental Compliance: Actively manage the Selective Catalytic Reduction and CO catalysts. You will adjust Ammonia injection rates to keep NOx levels within the tight limits of the air permit. Monitor Continuous Emissions Monitoring Systems data. You are authorized and obligated to take corrective action—up to and including tripping the unit—if emissions limits are threatened.

• Shift Leadership & Safety: Direct the activities of the Auxiliary Operators via radio, instructing them to perform valve lineups, inspect equipment, or take local chemistry samples. Act as the primary clearance holder. You will develop and issue Lock-Out/Tag-Out boundaries to safely isolate high-energy systems for maintenance. Lead the response to unit trips, load rejections, or plant fires, executing "Safe Park" procedures to protect capital equipment.

Qualifications

• Education: High School Diploma or GED.
• Experience: 5+ years of power plant operations experience. Control Room experience is highly preferred, specifically on DCS platforms.

Technical Skills: 

• Deep understanding of Thermodynamics (Brayton and Rankine cycles).
• Ability to interpret Logic Diagrams (SAMA/Boolean) and P&IDs.
• Understanding of Generator excitation and voltage control.
• Ability to remain calm under high-pressure scenarios (e.g., a unit trip during peak summer load).

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: Strong background in Combined Cycle or Simple Cycle power plant operations. Siemens or Mitsubishi GT experience preferred.