Electro-Mechanical Technician

Plainfield Renewable Energy (PRE) is a 37.5 MW wood biomass gasification power plant located in Plainfield, CT. Owned by Greenleaf Power and operated by NAES Corporation, the facility uses a single steam turbine and generator to produce renewable energy. PRE is equipped with advanced emissions control technologies, including a high-efficiency baghouse, and scrubbing systems to reduce NOx and sulfur dioxide.

Opportunity Summary

The Electro-Mechanical Technician maintains, troubleshoots, and repairs a wide range of mechanical, rotating, electrical, and control systems that support reliable plant operations. The role includes performing predictive maintenance, calibrating, and testing instrumentation, supporting PLC and SCADA troubleshooting, and assisting with major equipment outages. The technician also contributes to overall plant performance by coordinating maintenance activities, ensuring safety and environmental compliance, and working closely with Operations, Engineering, and vendor teams.

Your scope of responsibility as Electro-Mechanical Technician includes the following primary functions:

Mechanical

• Perform maintenance, troubleshooting, and repair on mechanical and rotating equipment including pumps, valves, gearboxes, conveyors, bearings, fans, air compressors, and turbine auxiliaries.
• Inspect, align, overhaul, and install components associated with biomass fuel transfer systems, air-handling equipment, and steam cycle systems.
• Fabricate, modify, and install piping, supports, and brackets. Operate machine shop tools such as welding equipment, drill presses, lathes, and grinders to produce or refurbish components.
• Participate in predictive maintenance by tracking vibration, temperature, and lubrication parameters to detect mechanical degradation.
• Support facility shutdowns by assisting with planning and coordinating inspections and repairs of the gasifier, boiler, steam turbine generator, and auxiliary and process components.

Electrical / Controls

• Troubleshoot, repair, and maintain electrical systems—including motors, switchgear, MCCs, transformers, protective relays, and variable-frequency drives—while supporting low-, medium-, and high-voltage work in compliance with electrical safety and Lockout/Tagout (LOTO) requirements.
• Calibrate, test, and maintain instrumentation and control devices, and monitor system performance using tools such as multimeters, meggers, and HART communicators to identify abnormal conditions and initiate corrective actions.
• Maintain and troubleshoot excitation systems, battery chargers, inverters, and generator controls.
• Support PLC, DCS, and SCADA logic updates and troubleshooting, and perform field terminations, wiring, and loop checks.
• Support emissions control equipment (baghouses, scrubbers, CEMS) through calibrations, daily checks, calibration gas cylinder changes, and inventory monitoring to ensure environmental compliance.

Integrated Responsibilities

• Utilize the Computerized Maintenance Management System (CMMS) for scheduling, documentation, inventory management, and historical tracking.
• Support startup, shutdown, and operational testing of plant systems to ensure coordinated performance across electrical and mechanical disciplines.
• Collaborate with Operations, Engineering, and external vendors to plan, execute, and validate maintenance activities, and participate in root cause analysis (RCA), reliability improvement initiatives, and plant performance reviews.
• Uphold safety and environmental policies at all times, including hazard identification, proper PPE use, and adherence to all lockout/tagout, confined space, and hot work procedures.

NAES Safe

Safety is a core value at NAES, and as a condition of employment, all employees are expected to remain mentally alert and work safely at all times. Employees must also adhere to all safety warnings and posted signs while on company property. Additionally, they are required to follow all NAES safety rules and procedures. Adherence to these safety responsibilities is one of the key factors in the evaluation of each employee’s performance.

Working Relationships

The Electro-Mechanical Technician reports directly to the Maintenance Manager and receives general direction from the Maintenance Lead and other plant management. This role involves interfacing with all other plant personnel, engineers and OEM contractors during both normal operations and major maintenance activities.

Physical Requirements and Working Conditions

Physical demands include standing for extended periods, climbing stairs and ladders, entering, and exiting equipment cabs, and traversing uneven or elevated surfaces. The role requires routinely lifting up to 50 pounds and performing tasks from elevated platforms, walkways, or in confined spaces.

Work may be performed in conditions involving dust, wood particles, fumes, high noise levels, and extreme temperatures near operating equipment. Outdoor tasks in all weather conditions are required, including in high-heat environments adjacent to biomass processing systems.

The use of personal protective equipment (PPE) is mandatory and may include hard hats, safety glasses, hearing protection, gloves, high-visibility clothing, steel-toe boots, flame-resistant clothing (FRC), respirators, and fall protection. Fit testing for respirators may be required. Strict smoking restrictions are enforced in and around the facility to ensure plant safety and environmental compliance.

Fitness for Duty

All personnel will participate in the Fitness for Duty Program, which includes a post-offer physical examination, drug screening, and post-employment random drug screening.

Work Schedule

The Electro-Mechanical Technician works a standard Monday to Friday day shift schedule, ensuring consistent plant operation and support during regular business hours. This position will also occasionally necessitate extended working hours and flexible shifts as needed, including weekends and holidays, in response to schedules, workload demands, and plant conditions. Periodic callouts or “On call” status may also be required.

Compensation

This position offers a base pay rate ranging from $35 to $47 per hour, along with eligibility for an annual performance bonus.

Core Qualifications and Skills

We are looking for a skilled Technician with power generation maintenance experience, coupled with a proven ability to contribute effectively to team success and consistently meet performance standards.

• High school education with a solid foundation in technical procedures; an Associate Degree in Electro-Mechanical, Electrical, Mechanical, or Power Plant Technology—or equivalent technical training—is strongly preferred.
• Four or more years of mechanical and electrical maintenance experience in industrial power generation, preferably solid-fuel or biomass facilities.
• Strong knowledge of biomass operations and fuel-handling systems, with the ability to perform preventive, corrective, and predictive maintenance on conveyors, vibrating grates, ash systems, fans, pumps, valves, gearboxes, compressors, and steam-cycle equipment.
• Demonstrated mechanical maintenance proficiency, including troubleshooting, alignment, rigging, lubrication, machining, welding, vibration diagnostics, and diagnosing biomass-related issues such as fuel-flow disruptions, fouling, corrosion, wear, and combustion faults.
• Skilled in electrical troubleshooting up to 13.8 kV, including motors, switchgear, MCCs, transformers, VFDs, protective relays, and control circuits, while adhering to arc-flash boundaries and LOTO requirements.
• Familiar with PLC/DCS platforms, ladder logic, and field instrumentation, with the ability to calibrate, test, and maintain transmitters, valves, analyzers, and related control devices.
• Able to read and interpret mechanical drawings, electrical schematics, and P&IDs, and proficient in documenting maintenance activities in CMMS software to support reliability initiatives.
• Strong analytical, organizational, communication, and teamwork skills, with the ability to collaborate effectively and prioritize tasks in a fast-paced environment.
• Must possess a valid, unrestricted U.S. driver’s license and ensure it remains in good standing at all times.

About NAES

NAES Corporation is a leading provider of operations, maintenance, and engineering services for energy facilities. We have built a reputation as a reliable partner for clients in North America and internationally, offering services across the power generation, oil and gas, and renewable energy sectors. Our growing family of companies allows us to address the entire life cycle of power generation and other industrial plants.

NAES is committed to fostering a diverse and inclusive workplace. We prioritize selecting employees based on merit and competence, seeking individuals of the highest quality, without regard to race, color, religion, national origin, gender, gender identity, sexual orientation, age, disability, military status, or affiliation protected under USERRA, or any other form of discrimination prohibited by applicable local, state, and federal law.

Experience

Preferred

• We are looking for a skilled Technician with power generation maintenance experience, coupled with a proven ability to contribute effectively to team success and consistently meet performance standards.
• High school education with a solid foundation in technical procedures; an Associate Degree in Electro-Mechanical, Electrical, Mechanical, or Power Plant Technology—or equivalent technical training—is strongly preferred.
• Four or more years of mechanical and electrical maintenance experience in industrial power generation, preferably solid-fuel or biomass facilities.
• Strong knowledge of biomass operations and fuel-handling systems, with the ability to perform preventive, corrective, and predictive maintenance on conveyors, vibrating grates, ash systems, fans, pumps, valves, gearboxes, compressors, and steam-cycle equipment.
• Demonstrated mechanical maintenance proficiency, including troubleshooting, alignment, rigging, lubrication, machining, welding, vibration diagnostics, and diagnosing biomass-related issues such as fuel-flow disruptions, fouling, corrosion, wear, and combustion faults.
• Skilled in electrical troubleshooting up to 13.8 kV, including motors, switchgear, MCCs, transformers, VFDs, protective relays, and control circuits, while adhering to arc-flash boundaries and LOTO requirements.
• Familiar with PLC/DCS platforms, ladder logic, and field instrumentation, with the ability to calibrate, test, and maintain transmitters, valves, analyzers, and related control devices.
• Able to read and interpret mechanical drawings, electrical schematics, and P&IDs, and proficient in documenting maintenance activities in CMMS software to support reliability initiatives.
• Strong analytical, organizational, communication, and teamwork skills, with the ability to collaborate effectively and prioritize tasks in a fast-paced environment.

Education

Preferred

• Technical/other training or better in Electrical Engineering or related field
• Technical/other training or better in Electronics Technology or related field
• Associates or better
• High School or better

Licenses & Certifications

Required

• Driver's License

Skills

Required

• Mechanical Aptitude
• Mechanical Maintenance
• Predictive Maintenance
• Preventive Maintenance
• Rotating Machinery/Equipment
• Troubleshooting and Diagnostics
• Verbal and Written Communications

Preferred

• Pneumatic Tools
• Power Plant Fundamentals
• Biomass Energy Systems
• Safety Policies and Procedures Management
• Power Plant Operations
• Power Generation
• Electrical Safety and Hazard Awareness
• Electrical Systems and Equipment

Behaviors

Preferred

• Team Player: Works well as a member of a group
• Innovative: Consistently introduces new ideas and demonstrates original thinking
• Functional Expert: Considered a thought leader on a subject

Equal Opportunity Employer
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