Plant Engineer

The Selkirk Cogeneration Station is a 446 MW natural gas-fired facility in Selkirk, New York, featuring three GE 7EA combustion turbines, one steam turbine, and four auxiliary boilers. Owned by Gate City Capital and operated by NAES Corporation, the plant provides reliable combined heat and power generation. New Athens Generating, located 30 miles south of Albany, is a 1,080 MW combined-cycle facility featuring three Siemens 501G combustion turbines.

Opportunity Summary

The Plant Engineer provides engineering, reliability, and technical support for Selkirk Cogeneration Station and New Athens Generating, helping improve plant performance, equipment reliability, and operational efficiency. Based at Selkirk, this role also leads the facility’s NERC compliance program, overseeing regulatory requirements, internal controls, documentation, and audit readiness. This position offers a unique opportunity to combine hands-on power generation engineering with significant NERC compliance leadership across two natural gas-fired generating facilities.

As Plant Engineer, you will play a key role in the following areas:

Engineering Performance & Reliability – Selkirk & New Athens

• Monitor plant equipment and performance, including combustion turbines, steam turbines, HRSGs, and auxiliary systems, analyzing heat rate, efficiency, and operating trends to improve reliability and performance.
• Investigate forced outages, generation losses, equipment failures, and operational events; perform root cause analyses and implement corrective actions to prevent recurrence.
• Evaluate and optimize DCS, PLC, instrumentation, and measurement systems to support reliable equipment operation and accurate plant performance data.
• Support predictive and condition-based maintenance programs, including vibration analysis, thermography, and oil analysis, to identify equipment issues and improve reliability.
• Develop and maintain engineering procedures, drawings, technical specifications, and configuration documentation to ensure accurate plant records and effective configuration control.
• Coordinate with plant personnel, OEMs, engineering firms, and contractors to troubleshoot technical issues, implement equipment modifications, and develop scopes of work.
• Perform equipment reliability studies and design reviews, recommending improvements that increase availability, efficiency, capacity, and long-term plant performance.
• Manage capital and engineering projects from development through implementation, ensuring adherence to approved budgets, schedules, and contractual requirements.
• Provide engineering and technical support to Selkirk Cogeneration Station and New Athens Generating for plant performance, reliability, troubleshooting, and project needs.

NERC Compliance & Program Administration – Selkirk

• Serve as Selkirk’s primary site lead for NERC compliance, overseeing applicable Operator and Owner compliance obligations and maintaining ongoing regulatory readiness.
• Manage Selkirk’s NERC Internal Control Program (ICP), including procedures, internal controls, compliance evidence, records, and required documentation.
• Monitor and interpret applicable NERC Reliability Standards and regulatory changes, assessing plant impacts and implementing necessary updates to programs, procedures, and controls.
• Manage NERC compliance documentation and reporting, including RSAWs, evidence packages, self-certifications, and other required records.
• Lead preparation for NERC audits, compliance reviews, and regulatory visits in coordination with NAES NERC personnel and other internal and external stakeholders.
• Identify compliance risks and gaps, manage corrective actions through completion, and maintain processes for tracking requirements, deadlines, and compliance responsibilities.
• Develop NERC compliance training and advise plant personnel and leadership on Reliability Standards, regulatory changes, compliance risks, and required actions.

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 Plant Engineer reports to the Plant Manager and collaborates with plant leadership, Operations, Maintenance, and NAES Corporate resources on engineering, reliability, and NERC compliance activities.

Physical Requirements and Working Conditions

Physical requirements include standing for extended periods of time, climbing stairs and ladders, working from elevated platforms and walkways at varying heights, and routinely lifting up to 50 pounds.

Power plant environment that may involve entering confined spaces, crawling through narrow areas, and handling hazardous materials, with exposure to fumes, extreme temperatures, and noise. Work may include high heat near equipment and varying outdoor weather conditions.

Some duties may require the use of protective equipment, which can include hard hats, safety glasses, and eye protection, air masks/respirators, ear protection, chemical suits, flame-resistant clothing (FRC), hot gloves, high-voltage protective gear, and fall protection. Fit testing for respirators may be required. Strict smoking restrictions apply in and around the facility.

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 Plant Engineer works a standard Monday to Friday day-shift schedule. This position will require extended hours, flexible shifts, weekends, holidays, and on-call availability as needed to support plant operations and business needs.

Travel to New Athens Generating is required to provide engineering support, with occasional additional travel for Manager, Owner, User Group, or other offsite meetings.

Compensation

This position offers an annual base salary ranging from $145,000 to $157,000 and includes eligibility for an annual performance bonus.

Professional Expertise & Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Electrical Engineering or a related engineering field is required. Relevant power generation, industrial, or military experience may be considered in lieu of education.
• Demonstrated knowledge of power plant operations, maintenance, and engineering practices within natural gas-fired or similar power generation facilities.
• Experience investigating equipment failures, forced outages, and generation losses through root cause analysis and implementing corrective actions that improve reliability and plant performance.
• Strong experience administering NERC compliance programs within an operating power generation facility, including interpretation and application of applicable NERC Reliability Standards. Experience with NERC Generating Availability Data System (GADS) reporting is a plus.
• Experience managing NERC internal controls, compliance documentation, evidence, audit preparation, self-certifications, and corrective actions to maintain compliance and audit readiness.
• Proficiency with DCS/PLC platforms, plant instrumentation and measurement systems, and plant performance/data management systems such as OSIsoft PI; familiarity with CEMS/DAHS applications is preferred.
• Working knowledge of predictive and condition-based maintenance techniques, environmental regulations, and applicable power plant safety requirements.
• Strong analytical, organizational, written, and verbal communication skills, with the ability to interpret technical and regulatory requirements, manage priorities, and effectively communicate findings and recommendations.
• 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 serve clients across the power generation, oil and gas, and renewable energy sectors throughout North America and internationally, supporting the full life cycle of power generation and other industrial facilities.

NAES is committed to fostering a diverse and inclusive workplace. Employment decisions are based on merit and qualifications, without regard to race, color, religion, national origin, sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, age, disability, military status, USERRA-protected status, or any other characteristic protected by applicable federal, state, or local law.