SummaryThe Turbine Controls Technical Specialist is a subject matter expert that provides onsite technical support for APS and contractor employees working on turbine control systems and associated plant automation equipment.
Ensures work is completed in accordance with original equipment manufacturer (OEM) specifications while following industry best practices, standards, cybersecurity requirements and safety practices.
Works in conjunction with engineering, operations and maintenance to provide recommendations for control system modifications, upgrades and maintenance based on equipment performance, system diagnostics and operating experience.
Assists plants with troubleshooting emergent issues and may act as a liaison between plant personnel, engineering and turbine control system OEMs.
Minimum Requirements- 15 years experience as a Technical Field Advisor in the industry. (Technical Field Advisor provides technical support and guidance for the installation, maintenance and upgrade of power generation equipment.)
- A two-year Associates degree in engineering, applied sciences or other technical field from an accredited college can substitute for two years experience.
- A four-year bachelors degree in engineering, applied sciences or other technical field from an accredited college or university can substitute for four years experience.
- Experience and qualifications working with aeroderivative turbines including General Electric LMS100, LM6000, LM5000 or LM2500 turbines.
Preferred Special Skills, Knowledge or Qualifications:- General Electric (GE) Mark VIe turbine control system experience and training.
- Experience with turbine instrumentation, control valves, sensors, vibration monitoring and auxiliary system controls.
- Experience with programmable logic controllers (PLCs), distributed control systems (DCS), human-machine interfaces (HMIs), industrial networks and communication protocols.
- Knowledge of applicable cybersecurity requirements and industrial control system cybersecurity practices.
- Strong problem analysis, troubleshooting and root cause resolution techniques.
- Knowledge of applicable codes, standards, practices, methods and safety standards for turbine control systems and associated components.
- Good communication and technical documentation skills.
- Experience in the utility industry.
- Understanding of project management.
- In-depth understanding of construction, operating and sound engineering practices, safety rules, company policies and union agreements.
Major Accountabilities1) Provides technical guidance and recommendations based on OEM procedures, control philosophies, software documentation, system drawings, configuration files and engineering standards.
2) Identifies and helps resolve technical issues involving turbine control systems, instrumentation, communication networks, protection interfaces and auxiliary control equipment during operation or maintenance evolutions. Diagnoses the root cause, analyzes system performance and determines appropriate corrective actions to improve reliability and equipment availability. Ensures compliance with Environmental, Health and Safety procedures, cybersecurity requirements and applicable regulations.
3) Leads and coordinates control system maintenance, upgrades, software migrations, testing and commissioning activities. Provides technical reports on control system modifications, commissioning, troubleshooting and other maintenance events.
4) Provides technical oversight of OEM representatives, vendors and contractors performing work on turbine control systems and associated equipment.
5) Assists in planning and executing turbine outages and control system projects including but not limited to: writing scope of work (SOW) documents, control system upgrade planning, outage schedule review, budget planning, job plans, commissioning plans, technical evaluations and contract reviews.
6) Provides training and technical mentoring as needed to plant personnel on turbine controls, instrumentation, system operation, troubleshooting techniques and maintenance best practices.
7) Stays updated on current technology as well as industry and competitive developments regarding turbine controls, automation systems and control system lifecycle management.
CIP Requirement:This position requires Critical Infrastructure Protection (CIP) access consistent with North American Electric Reliability Corporation (NERC) standards. The applicant considered for this role will be required to obtain and maintain CIP access for the duration of employment in this position. A full seven (7) year criminal history will be obtained through the pre-employment background check process (or, for current employees, through supplemental background check process) to fulfill the CIP access requirements. In addition, this position requires an additional background check every seven years to maintain access.
Hybrid: Employees in hybrid roles work both in their home offices (virtually) and alongside their colleagues (in person).
In order for employees to build strong relationships and to promote meaningful in-person interactions, hybrid employees are expected to work about 40% of their time in-person at an APS or other (non-home office) location.
- Employees are expected to reside in Arizona (or New Mexico for Four Corners-based employees).
- Working from a home office requires adequate technology and an appropriate ergonomic set up.
- Role types are subject to change based on business need.
