Plant Operator

Salary: $43.14 Hourly
Location : Silver Lake Plant, 425 West Silver Lake NE, Rochester MN 55904, MN
Job Type: Regular FT
Job Number:
Department: Rochester Public Utilities
Opening Date: 10/08/2026

POSITION DESCRIPTION
The City of Rochester invites applications for:

Plant Operator
Rochester Public Utilities
Nature of Work
Under the direction of the Shift Foreman, the Plant Operator is primarily responsible for the safe and proper startup, operation and steam output of the Silver Lake Plant (SLP) boilers and associated auxiliaries, but is also training for, and on occasion assumes on a temporary relief basis, the responsibilities of the steam Shift Foreman. The majority of the operating shift is located at SLP but also requires the Plant Operator to act as a backup for remote operation of the Westside Energy Station (WES) reciprocating engines and Cascade Creek (CC) gas turbines for electrical generation dispatch and compliance. Occasional off-site work such as routine inspections at the Cascade Creek Station, the IBM diesel generators, the Lake Zumbro hydro facility or the Silver Lake dam is also required.

Pay-The 2026 starting wage for this opportunity is $43.14 per hour with advancement to $45.68 in six months.
100% of the contract wage is attained in 3 years from hire.
Work Schedule - Individuals will initially work a day schedule - 7:00 AM to 3:30 PM - while completing training. When training is complete, the individual hired would move into the rotating schedule for the position working a combination of rotating 8-, 10-, and 12-hour shifts.

Benefits - This position is eligible for benefits offered by the City of Rochester. Please review the benefits tab at the top of the page for more details.

To have your application considered for the first round of interviews, please apply by Thursday, October 22, 2026, at 11:59 PM CST.
Applications will be accepted until the position is filled.

The City of Rochester will not sponsor or transfer visas for this position including F1 OPT STEM.

DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

*Operational Responsibilities

• Properly start up, put on line, operate, take off line and shutdown all power plant equipment and systems including boilers, the steam line, gas turbines, reciprocating engines, diesel generators and associated auxiliary equipment.
• Coordinate with Maintenance staff in the proper startup and operation of hydro-electric generators, including auxiliary equipment.
• Operate all generation site electrical switchboards and know the location of all motor control centers, switches, fuses and circuit breakers on plant side of bus.
• Continuously monitor and adjust as necessary auxiliary system parameters, generator conditions, machine loading and station voltages and make adjustments as necessary.
• Ensure assigned equipment is reliable and available by maintaining complete, accurate and legible computer logs that follow the rules and requirements set by the Foreman or Supervisors.
• Comprehend, follow and direct staff to follow electrical and steam dispatch requirements set forth by RPU staff, System Operations, The Energy Authority, MISO, Mayo Clinic and any other agency which RPU is associated.
• Participate in complex, coordinated crew evolutions using clear, concise communications. Use verbal skills when communication is face-to-face, radio-based or via telephone. Utilize professional written communication skills when working with email, training plans, operating procedures, safety programs, etc.
• Collect and analyze generating unit operation by using computer trending, visual inspections, physical rounds and manual readings to make corrections and recommend major maintenance activities.

*Backup Shift Foreman

• Work through and help teach the requirements detailed in the RPU Operator Training Program to satisfactorily complete modules within the specified time limits.
• Learn and assume the duties and responsibilities of the Shift Foreman on a relief basis.
• Cooperate with and provide work direction to other employees.
• Demonstrate a desire to succeed and move ahead in the organization.

Perform other duties as assigned or necessary.

*ESSENTIAL JOB FUNCTIONS
MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS

Education and Experience
High school diploma or equivalent (GED) and completion of a two (2) year accredited curriculum in utility steam plant operation such as a Building Utilities Mechanic (B.U.M.) or Facility and Service Technology (FAST) program; and two (2) years of full-time experience in power plant operations including boiler operation and electrical generation experience with start-up, voltage regulation, synchronizing and loading
OR
An equivalent combination of education and work experience sufficient to successfully perform the essential duties of the job may also be considered at the discretion of the Manager of Power Resources.

Licenses and/or Certifications
Valid Minnesota driver's license.
Minnesota First Class, Grade B Engineers License

Desirable Qualifications
Courses in advanced steam engineering, basic AC and DC electricity
Technical courses or experience in the operation, maintenance and basic understanding of reciprocating engines and gas turbines.
Experience with digital control systems and their application
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

*THIS POSITION MAY BE COVERED BY THE CITY'S HEARING CONSERVATION PROGRAM
Employees in this position are required to use hearing protection and the City of Rochester will conform to all State and Federal requirements in administering this program.

PHYSICAL AND ENVIRONMENTAL CRITERIA
In compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act, the following represents the physical and environmental demands for this position. The employee must be able to perform the essential functions with or without accommodation.

In consideration of the overall amount of physical effort required to perform this position, the work is best described as Medium Work: Exerting up to 50 pounds of force occasionally, and/or up to 20 pounds of force frequently, and/or up to 10 pounds of force constantly to move objects. On rare occasions, work could be described as Heavy Work: Exerting up to 100 pounds of force occasionally, and/or up to 50 pounds of force frequently, and/or up to 20 pounds of force constantly to move objects.

Physical demands that may be required continuously (2/3 or more of the time), frequently (1/3 to 2/3 of the time), and occasionally (up to 1/3 of the time) are noted below:

Continuous demands: standing, walking; fine dexterity
Frequent demands: lifting
Occasional demands: climbing, balancing, kneeling, crouching, twisting, bending, reaching, handling

Sensory requirements necessary in the performance of the essential functions of this position include: sight, hearing and touch

Environmental conditions that may exist in the performance of the essential functions of this job include:
Noise (need to shout in order to be heard)
Vibration (exposure to oscillating movements of the extremities or whole body)
Exposure to dust/gas/fumes/steam/chemicals
Work at heights (such as on scaffolding or ladders)
Working around moving machinery (fork-lifts, tractors, mowers)
As a City of Rochester teammate, we believe you are the most important resource for the delivery of high-quality services to our community. The City is committed to supporting the health and well-being of you and your family by offering a comprehensive and competitive benefits package.

The City provides certain core benefits that are at no cost to the employee, such as Base Life and AD&D Insurance and access to an employee assistance program. We also offer voluntary benefits which include medical, vision, and dental, a flexible spending account, long term and short team disability, supplemental life and AD&D insurance, and retirement savings plans.

Benefit summaries outline the City's benefit offerings for our various collective bargaining agreements.

Click on the link below that takes you to the webpage where these are found.
01

By completing your application and supplemental questions you are attesting all information is true, accurate, and verifies your relevant education and experience. Your submitted materials will be used to determine your employment eligibility. Do you understand and agree with this statement?

• Yes
• No

02

What is your preferred name?
03

Will you now or in the future require sponsorship for employment visa status (e.g., H-1B visa status?

• Yes
• No

04

Which of the following best describes your level of education?

• High school diploma or equivalent G.E.D.
• Completion of a 1 year program or certificate
• Less than 2 years post-secondary training
• Completion of a 2 year program resulting in a Diploma or Certification
• Completion of a 2 year program or degree resulting in an AAS Degree
• Completion of a 4 year program or degree
• Completion of a Master's degree or higher
• None of the above

05

Other than your High School diploma/GED, which of the following best describes the field of study for your degree?

• Building Utilities Maintenance (BUM) or Facility and Service Technology (FAST) program
• Power Plant Technology/Operations
• Electric Power Generation Technology
• Electrical Technology/Engineering
• A field of study closely related to the above
• My degree is in an area NOT RELATED to any of the above
• N/A - I do not have a degree

06

Have you had any formal education or training in any of the following areas? (Select all that apply)

• Basic Electricity
• Gas Turbine Operation/Maintenance
• Reciprocating Engine Operation/Maintenance
• Steam Plant Engineering Theory
• Operation of Digital Control Systems
• None of the above

07

Do you currently possess a valid driver's license?

• Yes
• No

08

What type of boiler license do you currently possess?

• I do not currently have a MN Boiler's License
• MN Second Class Engineer, Grade B License
• MN Second Class Engineer, Grade A License
• MN First Class Engineer, Grade B License
• MN First Class Engineer, Grade A License
• MN Chief Engineer, Grade B License
• MN Chief Engineer, Grade A License
• I have a MN Boilers License, but it is not one of the options listed here

09

Which of the following best describes your years of full-time equivalent employment experience in power plant operations, including boiler operation and electrical generation?

• No experience
• Less than 6 months
• More than 6 months, but less than 1 year
• More than 1 year, but less than 2
• More than 2 years, but less than 3
• More than 3 years, but less than 4
• More than 4 years, but less than 5
• More than 5 years, but less than 6
• More than 6 years, but less than 7
• More than 7 years, but less than 8
• More than 8 years, but less than 9
• More than 9 years, but less than 10
• 10 or more years

10

Did your experience in power plant operations, including boiler operation and electrical generation include training or experience in any of the following areas? (Select all that apply)

• OSHA General Safety Courses
• Lock-Out Tag-Out procedures
• Digital Control System troubleshooting
• Electrical switchboards, circuit breakers, and motor control systems
• Operation of mobile equipment
• Boiler feedwater quality testing
• Start up and shut down of steam boilers and auxiliary equipment
• Start up and shut down of back-up electrical generating equipment
• Analyzing operational data using computer trends
• Working with a crew of employees to achieve a common goal
• Taking daily logs of equipment status and maintenance issues
• N/A - None of the above

11

Tell us how your professional, educational, and lived experiences would help you be successful in this role.
12

Which of the following best describes your experience working with Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition (SCADA) systems?

• No experience
• Limited - I am somewhat familiar with SCADA systems, but never worked with them
• Moderate - I monitored small-scale SCADA systems and/or related components
• Extensive - I have independently monitored and controlled SCADA systems for high voltage electrical generation systems as a regular part of my job

13

Which of the following best describes your computer experience/ability:

• No experience
• Limited - I am somewhat familiar with computers
• Moderate - I use a computer occasionally at home and/or at work
• Extensive - I use various computer programs as a significant portion of my job

14

Are you willing to accept the conditions of employment for this role which include:

• Working 8, 10, and 12-hour various rotating shifts which include days, nights, and weekends when training is completed?
• Providing service 24 hours per day, 7 days per week meaning the potential to be called in to work additional hours with limited to no advanced notice?