Hydroelectric Power Plant Operator II

The East Bay Municipal Utility District is hiring a Hydroelectric Power Plant Operator II for its Pardee Center in Camp Pardee, CA. The role involves operating hydroelectric power plants, monitoring systems via SCADA, performing maintenance, and responding to emergencies. Candidates should have knowledge of power generation principles and safety regulations. This position requires working rotating shifts and is not remote, as it is based on-site at the reservoir.
The Position
An immediate position is available at East Bay Municipal Utility District’s (EBMUD) Pardee Center based at Pardee Reservoir near Valley Springs, approximately 85 miles from EBMUD headquarters in Oakland.
Under general direction, the Hydroelectric Power Plant Operator II (HPPO) operates hydroelectric power plants and associated facilities. The HPPO monitors and responds to alarms both locally and from remote locations through a SCADA system for hydroelectric generators, raw water pumping plants, raw water aqueducts, river flow controls, water and wastewater treatment systems and equipment. HPPOs work a rotating combination of day and night shifts.
Typical duties include

Inspecting and performing preventive and minor maintenance to hydropower equipment and aqueduct raw water systems.
Operating a computerized control center to monitor and control reservoirs, river flows, aqueducts, water and wastewater treatment plants and systems, chemical plants and related waterways relative to flows, pressures, levels, voltages, electrical loads, lake levels, river flows, chemical residuals and equipment operating conditions.
Administering electro-mechanical lockout/tagout procedures including writing and hanging clearances, issuing danger tags and switching where required.
Regulating electrical loads, river flows, aqueduct flows and storage conditions as required.
Monitoring overall plant conditions through local instrumentation and walk-through inspections, identifying and reporting irregularities to the supervisor and creating and updating work orders in a computerized maintenance management system.
Responding to emergency situations by performing emergency equipment repair, first aid and calling out designated standby supervisor or other standby staff and testing emergency equipment including emergency generators.
Maintaining accurate operating records including electronic logs, electrical generation and ISO reports and recording and inputting meteorological data from field instrumentation.
Ensuring that Pardee facilities are continuously supplied with electrical power through appropriate station or PG&E feeder switching.
Answering, forwarding and dispatching radio and telephone traffic coming into the Pardee Area computer control center during routine operations and emergencies.

Hydroelectric Power Plant Operator IIs should have knowledge of:

Basic math operations (+-*/%)
Operating principles of power generation equipment
Basic electrical, mechanical and hydrodynamic principles
Operating principles of raw water supply system equipment
Equipment layout, instrumentation, and functions and principles of three-phase electrical generation, transmission and distribution systems
Basic computer functions
Safety rules, codes and regulations
Routine facility and equipment maintenance and cleaning methods.

The ability to:

Accurately read and record data from gauges and meters
Recognize unusual, inefficient or dangerous operating conditions and exercise independent judgment within established guidelines
Follow standardized verbal and written procedures
Use computer equipment
Identify and resolve problems and take a timely, effective and reasonable course of action in an emergency
Perform work without immediate or detailed supervision
Observe and accurately record operating conditions and produce verbal and written reports
Read basic electrical station and system diagrams and plans.

The ideal candidate will have experience with hydropower operations and electrical switching operations.
The Hydroelectric Power Plant Operator II salary range starts at $10,503 per month, increasing to $11,028, $11,579, and $12,158 after 12, 24, and 36 months, respectively.
EBMUD is an Equal Opportunity Employer. All qualified candidates will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, creed, sex, gender, gender identity (including transgender status), gender expression, marital or registered domestic partnership status, age for individuals age forty or older, national origin, ancestry, disability (mental or physical), medical condition (cancer and genetic characteristics), genetic information, sexual orientation, military and veterans status, family or medical leave status, pregnancy (including childbirth, lactation or related medical condition), pregnancy disability leave status, domestic violence victim status, political affiliation, and other categories protected by federal, state and/or local laws.


Requirements

A high school diploma or its equivalent.

Two years' experience operating or maintaining mechanical, electrical and electro-mechanical equipment simil