Description
Install, operate, inspect, and maintain power generation and auxiliary equipment to ensure safe, reliable, and efficient electric power production. Perform testing, troubleshooting, and repairs; support startups, shutdowns, and compliance activities.
- • Repair or replace gas piping, fittings, and components in accordance with codes and procedures.
- • Monitor plant equipment, control panels, and indicators to detect abnormal conditions.
- • Adjust and calibrate controls or instrumentation to meet specified power output and system parameters.
- • Operate generators, turbines, boilers, and related systems using control boards or semi-automatic equipment.
- • Regulate equipment conditions, such as water and fuel levels, using instrument readings or computer systems.
- • Execute corrective actions at prescribed intervals based on charts, meters, and gauge readings.
- • Assist with starting and stopping generators, pumps, turbines, and other plant equipment.
- • Review logs and communicate with operations staff to confirm equipment status.
- • Operate and maintain auxiliary systems, including pumps, fans, compressors, condensers, feedwater heaters, filters, and chlorinators.
- • Clean, lubricate, and perform preventive maintenance on generators, turbines, pumps, and compressors.
- • Coordinate with system operators to balance voltages, loads, and frequencies.
- • Record and maintain operating data, maintenance logs, and reports.
- • Open and close valves and switches in sequence to start up or shut down auxiliary units.
- • Collect and label oil, water, and electrolyte samples for laboratory analysis.
- • Perform adjustments and minor repairs, such as tightening packing, glands, or pipe joints.
- • Assist with synchronizing generator output to match phase, frequency, and voltage requirements.
- • Test, maintain, and, when directed, place emergency generators online; monitor temperature, output, and lubrication.
- • Respond to outage calls and coordinate with required personnel during outages or emergencies.
- • Inspect, test, and validate power distribution equipment using appropriate test instruments.
- • Operate and maintain distributed generation equipment, such as fuel cells or microturbines, for on-site power.
- • Monitor and maintain carbon dioxide removal units, compressors, and pipelines used for carbon capture, storage, or transport.
- • Operate, monitor, and service gasifiers and related equipment, including coolers, quenches, water-gas shift reactors, and sulfur recovery units, to produce syngas or power.
- • Support operation and maintenance of integrated gasification combined cycle systems and associated air separation units.
- • Read and interpret plant drawings, P&IDs, and instrumentation to support troubleshooting and system analysis.
- • Diagnose and troubleshoot gas collection system issues and recommend corrective actions.
- • Inspect well fields at prescribed intervals to verify performance and integrity.
- • Operate and maintain landfill gas, methane, or natural gas-fueled generation systems.
- • Prepare and submit safety, compliance, and operational forms and reports.
- • Trace electrical circuits and verify compliance of electrical systems with applicable codes and standards.
- • Validate well field monitoring data against regulatory requirements and internal specifications.
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Energy & Natural Resources
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Tasks & skills:
O*NET occupational data (work activities, skills, knowledge).
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This site includes information from O*NET by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA), used under the CC BY 4.0 license. Career Clutch has modified some of this information for student readability. USDOL/ETA has not approved, endorsed, or tested these modifications. O*NET® is a trademark of USDOL/ETA.
Last reviewed: Jan 2026
