Operator Technician III-IV

Operating conditions when conferring with management and gives a sound explanation to explain judgments made. 

Reviews, coordinates and reports work orders, work activities and equipment clearances with appropriate personnel. Checks equipment to be cleared in advance to guarantee its condition to others.  Informs system dispatch and supervisors of the status of the facility.   Conducts on-line test of equipment before certifying its status and performance.  Checks equipment in advance of its need to guarantee its operation.   Receives and implements load and switching orders from dispatch.  Completes facility logs and reports including entering or uploading data into the CMMS.   Tests the reliability of written work or data.  Retests critical data to make sure it is accurate.  Requests feedback from experts on CMMS or any other data systems to assure accuracy of data entry.

Maintenance Duties and Responsibilities

Inspect, tests, calibrates, and maintains all mechanical and electrical equipment including but not limited to pressure, flow, level and temperature transmitters, and indicators.  Repairs and replaces lighting, gauges, indicators, piping, pumps, valves, and other electrical and mechanical equipment.  Performs minor repairs and adjustments to equipment such as compressors, pumps and valve packing and seals.  Ensures that tools and power equipment are kept in good safe working order.  Uses diagnostic equipment such as ultrasound, acoustic and vibration, to detect gas or air leaks and take vibration data for reliability-based maintenance.  Diagnoses equipment malfunctions and notifies the appropriate personnel to correct the malfunction.  Follows though on corrective actions to ensure the successful resolution of the malfunction.  Sustains a personal interest in the solution until the problem is successfully resolved.   Keeps own part of work moving even when faced with equipment problems or uncertainty with the outcome of solution.   Uses high standard of safety and quality while at the same time minimizing time and costs when taking corrective actions.  Assists Mechanical and Technical personnel with other duties as required.  Uses past experience with current maintenance procedures to resolve equipment issues.  May be required to attend specialized training and or obtain new skills as technology changes to meet the business needs of the facility. 

Environmental Duties and Responsibilities

Monitors and maintains environmental integrity of facilities by collecting and analyzing samples in accordance with operating procedures.   Adds and disposes of chemicals in accordance with operation standards.  Prevents or controls spills of process fluids, chemicals, lubricants, etc. in order to comply with air quality and water quality regulations in accordance with operating procedures.  Acquires or uses a technical expertise on compliance standards to diagnose discrepancies in the plant.  Acquires a current technical knowledge of hazardous waste regulations and how those regulations affect the plant.  Records and reports all emissions and spills for environmental compliance.  Acts as a technical contributor to make sure environmental problems do not lead to a Notice of Violation (NOV).  Accurately reports upset conditions following established procedures.  Finds the causes on noncompliance using own technical expertise of plant operations and regulatory demands.  Uses past experience with noncompliance to resolve current environmental conditions.

Site Specific Duties and Responsibilities

Monitors and operates steam distribution system from production wells to powerplants, injection, and effluent pipeline system.

Monitors S.E. Geysers and Lake Intake Pump Stations to protect NCPA assets from power failures and other changes.

Monitors, operates, and controls Stretford System including process of sulfur. 

Representative Physical and Job Demands

Regularly talks and listens to others to exchange and obtain information to direct the operation and control of Facility.

Regularly required sitting at computer and control center reading displays and inputting data, reliably.  Tests the ratability and accuracy of readings. 

Visually monitors data on computer displays requiring close vision, distance vision, color vision, peripheral vision, depth perception, and the ability to adjust focus.  Assesses own abilities to sustain data input or monitoring of screens when this task is done for long periods of time.

Regularly climbs ladders and walks on platforms near high-temperature surfaces; works on slippery or uneven surfaces in precarious places.

Frequently walks, reaches, kneels, and crouches using feet, legs, hands and manual strength to access and operate plant equipment.

Occasionally lifts, moves and dumps fifty (50) pound loads of equipment, supplies or material.

Occasionally pushes and pulls barrels weighing five-hundred (500) pounds on a hand truck. 

Occasionally uses air-respirator equipment while performing operating functions, working on equipment and in emergencies.

Occasionally required to wear Personnel Protective Equipment (PPE) while performing necessary job functions.

Routinely works near heated surfaces; works on slippery or uneven surfaces in precarious places to adjust or operate equipment.

Occasionally exposed to high voltage and other electrical hazards while working on equipment.

Routinely reaches and grasps hand tools and other objects using manual dexterity and eye-hand coordination to adjust equipment.

Routinely works in outside weather conditions and is exposed to chemicals, wet and humid conditions, extreme cold, and heat while inspecting equipment.  The noise level is frequently very loud.

Routinely listens to operating sounds of equipment to diagnosis equipment malfunctions.

Occasionally operates forklifts, boom truck, and cranes.

Frequently operates Agency vehicles going to and from job locations.

Job Expectations

Acquisition and Use of Technical Knowledge

Possesses or acquires as needed a fundamental knowledge of instrumentation and control theory; powerplant operation theory and process; computerized control systems and software applications, equipment, systems and their capabilities; mechanical and electrical theory and background to operate equipment; measuring devices and hand tools for maintenance work; general contamination and control practices and procedures; basic math, powerplant rules and regulations; physics including pumps/turbine mechanics; switching and clearance procedures; basic principles of thermodynamics and fluid flow; basic water chemistry and chemical processes.  Given this basic knowledge, understands own role within the plant and how that role requires the use of knowledge applied to practical, day to day, operations and maintenance demands.  Hold self-accountable to acquire knowledge needed when a job situation changes, new tasks are introduced to the job, or when improved performance requires acquiring extended or specialized information.  Accepts direction or training in areas that require additional skills.

Possesses or acquires as needed an extensive knowledge of safety, fire, and security rules and procedures.  Given the emphasis of safety at the plant, uses knowledge to improve and report plant conditions and the organization’s safety record.

Acquires knowledge of operations and maintenance procedures on a continuing basis to stay current as a significant contributor to plant solutions, safety performance, and operations and maintenance improvements.

Passes knowledge on to other employees as a way to contribute to the performance of others, or get a job done.

 Assesses and acknowledges own limitations with the fundamental knowledge needed to perform in the job.

Reports for work on time and maintains satisfactory attendance in accordance with Agency policy. Ensures work responsibilities are covered when absent.  Arrives to meetings and appointments on time.

Application of Technical and General Job Skills

 Efficiently and effectively operate, control, and maintains turbine generator units and auxiliary equipment, and be accountable for aspects of the job at the Plant Facility.  

Implement or use existing methods to control the waste of time, money and material resources, such as:

-        Acting to improve work procedures 

-        Conserving resources

-        Expediting a job 

-        Completing a work assignment efficiently 

-        Completing long-term work in an orderly fashion

Work with management to identify and learn from mistakes made and apply what is learned to future situations or plant conditions.

Establish and maintain effective work relationships with those contacted in the performance of required duties.

Review own action to determine the cause of poor working relationships so those relationships can be improved.

Work irregular shifts.

Operate Agency vehicles and equipment safety.

Training and Experience Requirements

High School Diploma or possession of Certificate of Equivalency.  

Any combination of training and experience that would likely provide the relevant knowledge, abilities, and skills to fulfill the entire demands of the job.  A typical way to obtain the required knowledge, abilities, and skills is to have had three (3) years of journey-level experience in operating and maintaining electrical equipment in an electrical power generation station and having completed an equivalent recognized apprenticeship or training program.     

Or completion of the NCPA Geothermal Operating Training Program.  In addition, pass the operator/technician aptitude test and complete the technical training as defined by management as necessary to fulfill the job’s duties and responsibilities.

Drivers License Requirement

Possession of an unrestricted Class C California operator’s license issued by the State of California, Department of Motor Vehicles.  Possession and maintenance of a good driving record as demonstrated by the absence of multiple or serious traffic violations or accidents within the last three (3) years.

EOE