Power Plant Production Technician (DHR) - GRU

Gainesville Regional Utilities (GRU) is seeking a highly skilled Production Technician to join the Energy Supply team at the Deerhaven Renewable Generating Station. This position is ideal for an experienced power plant professional with strong technical knowledge, sound operational judgment, and the ability to troubleshoot and maintain complex plant systems.

The successful candidate will bring hands-on experience in power plant operations and demonstrate strong mechanical and/or electrical aptitude. Responsibilities include monitoring and operating plant equipment, troubleshooting complex mechanical and electrical systems, performing minor maintenance and corrective actions, and supporting safe and reliable plant operations.

The ideal candidate will be able to read and interpret Piping and Instrumentation Diagrams (P&IDs) for troubleshooting, equipment isolation, and operational decision-making. This role requires strong problem-solving skills, attention to detail, and the ability to work effectively in a team-oriented, safety-focused generating environment.

Candidates with broad technical experience across plant operations, mechanical maintenance, electrical systems, and instrumentation and controls are strongly encouraged to apply.

*This position is part of a Progression Through Training Program (PTTP). The posted pay range reflects the full range for the classification; however, the selected candidate’s starting rate will be determined based on applicable education, training, certifications, and directly related experience, in accordance with established placement guidelines.

This is multi-skilled mechanical, electrical, instrumentation, and control maintenance, operations, and administrative shiftwork in a process plant, such as a power-generating facility or central utility plant.

Depending on area of assignment, positions are allocated to this classification report to a designated supervisor or manager and work as a self-directed team or under limited supervision. Work in this class is distinguished from other classes by its performance of advanced, multi-skilled technical and operational functions and the requirement to train and instruct personnel.

South Energy Center: Must be highly skilled in operations and a technical craft and able to work without any supervision and work as a single person shift while supporting better than a 99.99% uptime on critical hospital services including, but not limited to: power, chilled water, steam, heating hot water.

Essential Functions:

Safety must be held as a core value. Employees must be able to recognize hazards and address them through proper mitigation. Employee must be able to recognize when he/she needs additional training or is unfamiliar with a task. He/she must be willing and able to challenge others to work safely and to stop any observed unsafe work practice or condition to resolve the issue promptly. Observes and adheres to OSHA standards and performs permits for items such as proper lockout/tagout, confined space, hot work, etc. of plant equipment and systems in accordance with plant procedures, policies, and practices. This position requires making safety-sensitive decisions that affect the safety of the employee as well as other employees or contractors working with and around this employee or cause catastrophic failure of major equipment.

Monitors, observes, and analyzes equipment and systems’ characteristics and generates written work requests and project requests based on observations. Takes or directs actions required to anticipate, correct, or change a condition as needed. Completes work requests based on observation or determining the need or assigned and completes applicable paperwork.

Operates (starts up, shuts down, monitors, and makes necessary adjustments for) plant main equipment, including generating units and auxiliary systems, including Air Quality Control Equipment (SCR, Baghouse, Circulating Dry Scrubber, etc.). Uses plant support industrial equipment such as forklifts, cranes, hoists, carrier deck, vacuum truck, etc.

Performs preventive and predictive maintenance of minor repairs to plant equipment and systems. This work includes, but is not limited to, working on electrical equipment (AC and DC motors and circuits, switchgear circuit breakers, relays and motor protective devices, transformers, storage batteries, rectifiers, and motor-generator sets), instrumentation (pressure, temperature, positional, flow, etc.), and mechanical equipment (pumps, valves, soot blowers, compressors, etc.). Examines, cleans, and tests of electrical and mechanical equipment in accordance with plant preventive maintenance schedule.

Operates and troubleshoots problems with test equipment, plant controls, alarm and electrical control systems, and fiber optic cables.

Uses plant computer systems correctly, using cybersecurity protocols in daily work, including use of MS Office applications (Outlook, Word, Excel, etc.), work order management software, Human Machine Interfaces (HMI) for Process Control, and PI Historian.

(SEC): Coordinate and hire contractors for emergency repairs in absence of management. Must be responsible for purchasing card usage, training, and administrative duties related to purchasing supplies, spare parts, etc. Able to execute startups and shutdowns of all major and auxiliary equipment and systems in the plant without any supervision.

Non-Essential Functions:

Required to respond in emergency conditions.  May be required to train and perform duties in emergency egress, accidental spill incidents and other safety-related emergencies. 

Assists with cleaning of plant facilities and equipment and general housekeeping.

Performs other duties as assigned.

Graduation from high school or possession of an acceptable equivalent diploma.

Must have journey level knowledge and skill in at least one of the following disciplines:  plant operations, mechanical maintenance, electrical or instrumentation/control and apprentice level knowledge and skill in at least one of the remaining disciplines, either the journey level or apprentice level knowledge and skills must be in plant operations; and three (3) years of operational and maintenance experience at a central utility plant, oil refinery, chemical plant, fossil or nuclear power plant, fossil or nuclear ship propulsion, pulp or paper mill or other similar process plant.

Employees in this classification that are Production Technician Progression-Through-Training Program participants must meet the minimum requirements established in the Production Technician Progression-Through-Training Program. 

Failure to progress to the maximum level of the Production Technician Progression-Through-Training Program within the timeframes established in the program will be grounds for termination of employment.

Note: a copy of the Progression-Through-Training-Program is available upon request

Ability to function effectively in a self-directed work team environment or as an integral part of a rotating shift crew performing multi-skilled, productive work assignments.

Adequate understanding, knowledge, experience and skills of principles and practices pertaining to the installation, repair and maintenance of various types of process plant electrical, electronic and/or instrumentation and controls systems and equipment.

Understanding, knowledge and operation experience of steam turbine units, combustion turbine units and combined cycle units.

Thorough knowledge of occupational hazards, safety rules, regulations and precautions Including but not limited to Hot Work, Confined Space, LOTO, Electrical Energized Work, etc.

Adequate understanding, knowledge and experience in systems, instruments and controls theory.

Adequate understanding, knowledge, experience and skills to utilize computer software, including but not limited to: Outlook, Excel and Access as well as system and equipment diagnostic software.

Skill in use and care of tools and equipment used in installation and adjustment of instruments, electrical systems and equipment.  Ability to inspect and analyze instruments to detect flaws or defects in their operation and make necessary corrective calculations.

Ability to use personal protection equipment including hearing protection, eye protection, foot protection, hand protection, and head protection and use of respiratory protection including self-contained breathing units.  This position requires the ability to use respiratory protection equipment in compliance with Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) regulations. 

Ability to climb and descend stairs and ladders or ride elevators to perform tasks, often on open grating with handrails or from aerial devices, at elevated levels up to 165 feet.