AE Operations & Maintenance Specialist Senior - Power Plant Water Lab

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By joining us, you become part of a community that values its people and is committed to making Austin the most thriving and resilient city in the country.

Under general supervision, performs complex tasks related to installation, maintenance, and operation of equipment in a utility facility, power, steam, or chiller operation.

Job Description:

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.

• Performs installation, maintenance, and repair/troubleshooting of electrical, mechanical and complex utility-related equipment/facilities. Calibrates sensors, controllers, and meters. Performs chemical testing. Reads gauges and meters. Monitors operation of equipment and machinery in work area.
  
• Enters data into computer concerning maintenance/repair schedules of equipment. Records data on appropriate form/log. Operates boiler, generator turbine, and/or other auxiliary/utility equipment.
  
• Reviews work for accuracy and completeness. Repairs, services, and/or installs components of the boiler, turbine, generator, and auxiliary systems of a utility facility, power, steam, or chiller operation.
  
• Performs preventive maintenance activities on utility equipment per specification(s). Plans work and identifies necessary resources: tools, equipment, parts, and labor.
  
• Performs lead activities in one or more of the following activities: HVAC, electrical, certified code welding, machining, steam turbine maintenance, gas turbine maintenance, boiler maintenance, or auxiliary equipment maintenance.
  
• Performs mechanical alignments for rotating equipment and their drivers. Troubleshoots mechanical systems and/or equipment. Disassembles and reassembles complex mechanical components. Determines close tolerance fit of associated parts.
  
• Performs installation and troubleshooting/maintenance on critical infrastructure, low-voltage lighting, electrical, and/or HVAC systems or low-voltage systems responsible for controlling high-voltage utility switch gear.
  

Responsibilities - Supervisor and/or Leadership Exercised:

May 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 basic methods, equipment, tools, and materials involved in the maintenance and repair of large and complex systems.
  
• Knowledge of operating procedures for steam turboelectric generators on high-pressure steam boilers and associated auxiliary equipment.
  
• Knowledge of safety rules, codes, and regulations applicable when working on or near energized electrical systems, steam systems, and high-pressure water systems.
  
• 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 operating procedures for firing and maintaining pressure on high pressure steam boilers and of the operation and maintenance of auxiliary equipment.
  
• Knowledge of boiler feed water chemical treatment and control.
  
• Knowledge of pressure, temperature, water level, and other types of indicating instruments used in operation of high-pressure boilers.
  
• Skill in establishing and maintaining excellent communication and working relationships with City employees and the public.
  
• Skill in oral and written communication.
  
• Skill in performing basic mathematical calculations.
  
• Skill in control procedures for operating auxiliary equipment.
  
• Ability to make accurate gauge readings.
  
• Ability to reference/interpret manual sufficient to perform job tasks.
  
• Ability to meet and maintain driver eligibility standards in the COA Driver Safety Program.
  
• Ability to drive, inspect, and maintain various electric utility vehicles.
  

Minimum Qualifications:

Graduation from an accredited high school or equivalent, plus five (5) years of experience in a field related to the installation, operation, and/or maintenance of a utility facility, power, steam, or chiller operation.

Licenses and Certifications Required:

• Valid Texas class C driver license or ability to obtain within ninety (90) days of employment.
  
• Ability to produce and maintain an acceptable driving record.
  

Physical Requirements:

• Moderate bending, lifting, walking, carrying, climbing ladders, and using a force equal to lifting up to fifty pounds.
  
• Must be able to work a varying shift work schedule.
  
• Must be able to work in confined areas.
  
• Must be able to work on elevated structures.
  
• Must be able to work under emergency and all weather conditions.
  

Preferred Qualifications:

• Experience working in a heavy industrial environment.
  
• Experience operating Reverse Osmosis water treatment equipment.
  
• Experience developing, implementing and maintaining standard chemistry operating procedures.
  
• Knowledge of working safely with hazardous chemicals.
  
• Experience working with water boiler chemistry.
  
• Experience with wet-chem tests (i.e. pH, phosphates, etc.)
  
• Experience working with open and closed loop cooling systems including cooling towers.
  
• Experience or knowledge in maintenance or operation of a raw water clarifier unit
  

Notes to Candidate:

This position is responsible for water chemistry, chemical applications, and the operation and maintenance of chemical delivery systems, chemical inventory and ordering/receiving chemicals, and chemical contractor oversight. This position performs specialized chemical analyses on samples to support environmental compliance for electric generating facilities. Calibrates sensors, controllers, and meters. Performs chemical testing. Reads gauges and meters. Monitors operation of equipment and machinery in work area.

Works holidays weekends and emergency's as need to support the plant. M-F 07:30 -15:00. There is a 4-10 option. THERE IS NO WORK FROM HOME OPTION.

This has been designated as an Essential Employee position. In the event of a City-designated emergency, Essential Employees provide services that impact the public health, safety, utility services, and welfare of members of the Austin community and other employees and ensure the continuity of essential operations. In such an emergency, Essential Employees may be called back in, may be required to modify their schedule, may be assigned to a City-designated work site, or may be retained on site to assist with operations and recovery.

Work Location: Sand Hill Energy Center, 1101 Fallwell Ln., Del Valle, TX 78617

Pay Range: $34.46 (min) to $43.41 (mid)

Days/Hours: Monday through Friday 7:30 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. There is a 4-10 option. Works holidays weekends and emergency's as need to support the plant.

Working with Austin Energy provides a number of health and welfare benefits such as low-cost medical, dental, vision, paid leave time, a highly competitive retirement plan, career development opportunities and more. Please click HERE for more information.

Employment Application:

• The City of Austin employment application is an official document; incomplete applications will not be considered.
  
• Please be sure to detail on the application all current and previous employment that you wish to be considered as part of your qualifications.
  
• The Employment Record should be complete with job titles, employment dates, job duties, functions, and responsibilities for each position held. Starting salary will be based on overall relevant experience from your application.
  
• Résumés will not be accepted and statements such as “see résumé” will not be accepted. You may use “N/A” for fields that are not applicable.
  
• Please note that Austin Energy may close the job posting at any time after 7 days from the date of the initial advertisement. Once the job posting has closed, applications cannot be changed.
  

If you are selected as a top candidate:

• Verification of your education (which may include high school graduation or GED , undergraduate and/or graduate degrees) will be required. You must provide proof of education from an accredited organization/institution. You must also provide proof of your professional licenses or certifications.
  

Driving Requirement:
This position requires a “Class C” or the ability to acquire within 90 days of your hire date. External New Hires must meet the City of Austin’s Driver Record Evaluation ( DRE ) requisite . To be considered for a driving position, applicants cannot have more than three moving violations or a total of six Driver Record Evaluation points within a period of thirty-six (36) months.

This position requires a criminal background investigation for a NERC Clearance.

Important Note to Applicants:
Please be aware that the Job Posting Close Date reflects the final day to apply, but the posting will close at 11:59 PM the day before the date listed. All application steps, including attachments and submission, must be fully completed before that time.

We also recommend that you save or print a copy of the job posting for your records. Once a posting has closed, it will no longer be viewable in the system.

EEO Statement for City of Austin:

The City of Austin will not discriminate against any applicant or employee based on race, creed, color, national origin, sex, gender identity, age, religion, veteran status, disability, or sexual orientation. In addition, the City will not discriminate in employment decisions on the basis of an individual's AIDS, AIDS Related Complex, or HIV status; nor will the City discriminate against individuals who are perceived to be at risk of HIV infection, or who associate with individuals who are believed to be at risk.

City of Austin is committed to compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act. If you require reasonable accommodation during the application process or have a question regarding an essential job function, please call (512) 974-3210 or Texas Relay by dialing 7-1-1.

Closing Date/Time: 2026-02-13

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• City of Austin

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